These foodie names are all about conscious (and delicious) eating
If you’re trying to live a greener lifestyle, looking at what’s in your food basket is a great place to start. Certifications can be a bit of a minefield – but one which is pretty simple to get your head around is B Corp status. Arguably the ultimate eco-credential, it’s a legal certification which shows a company meets high standards of social and environmental performance, assessed in a rigorous process by non-profit network B Lab. These companies are in the spotlight more than ever this year as it’s B Corp Month, and we’ll be getting involved by highlighting some of the names to have on your radar. Here, we focus on B Corp food brands, from vegetable box companies to chocolate and ice-cream.
B Corp Food Brands To Know (And Eat)
allplants
Born out of a desire to inspire people to eat more plants, allplants is a vegan food delivery service focusing on frozen, chef-prepared dishes. The business has always put the planet front and centre, and in 2018 its efforts were rewarded when it became a certified B Corp. Its plant-based dishes are cooked slowly by hand, carefully portioned to minimise waste, and quickly frozen to lock in all the goodness, ready to be enjoyed when suits you. It’s perfect for easy everyday meals which are nutritious and fuss-free. allplants.com
Jude’s
Over 20 years ago, Theo Mezger set out to create something special from the milk of his local cows. He began working away in his Hampshire barn, and in December 2002 he walked to the village pub and sold the very first tub of Jude’s ice cream. Before long, some of the country’s top chefs were buying it for their restaurants. The ice cream is made using the traditional batch method, relying on local suppliers to cut food miles. And on the community side of things, Jude’s runs a programme for schools, and surplus stock is donated to food banks and charities. judes.com
Rubies in the Rubble
A third of all food produced globally is wasted – but brands like Rubies in the Rubble are working to change this. The pioneering company takes surplus ingredients that would otherwise go to waste and turns them into condiments. Ketchups and relishes are made from fruit and veg from farms, while mayos are made with aquafaba – an egg replacement found in chickpea water. Sustainability is in Rubies’ DNA, so it’s no surprise it gained B Corp status. Its ‘Goodism’ blog is also worth a read, offering everything from recipe ideas to tips on home composting. rubiesintherubble.com
Abel & Cole
Having been in the business for over 30 years, Abel & Cole is a pioneer in the world of sustainable food. The company is most famous for its delivery boxes, which are packed with produce from British farms – fruit and vegetables, meat and fish, plus pantry items and baked goods. It has always been a trailblazer, flying the flag for organic farming long before it was cool, and even helping farmers on their mission to become certified organic. Helping charities is also a big part of the brand – the brand’s recent One Box: One Portion scheme has seen one million portions of fruit and veg delivered to those in need. abelandcole.co.uk
Pip & Nut
Nut butter fiend? Make sure your habit is doing good for the planet by opting for brands like Pip & Nut. Not only does it whizz up some of the most delicious nut butter around (the coconut almond is particularly good), all its products are free from palm oil. Pip & Nut is also big on its community initiatives, offering the opportunity to donate a jar of peanut butter to a food bank – for every jar donated, they donate another. It also sources the chocolate for its Nut Butter Cups from ethical supplier Luker. All this helped the company achieve B Corp status in 2019. pipandnut.com
Proper
For guilt-free snacking, stock up on crisps and popcorn from Proper. The brand became B Corp certified in 2018, making it the first B Corp certified snack company in the UK. That was thanks to things like: not using palm oil in products, donating to charities, and creating vegan snacks. It also treats its staff properly, offering equal parental leave, providing access to mental health support, and even allowing unlimited holiday. Not only that, but staff are being trained to be carbon literate, meaning they’ll be equipped with knowledge to go and help the planet outside the confines of the Proper HQ. proper.co.uk
Divine Chocolate
The origins of Divine date back to 1993, after structural changes in the cocoa market in Ghana prompted Nana Frimpong Abebrese to create a farmer-owned co-operative to help farmers sell their own cocoa. Kuapa Kokoo – which translates as ‘good cocoa farmer’ in the local language of Twi – was soon certified to sell Fairtrade cocoa. Then, in 1998, the co-operative launched The Day Chocolate Company alongside British company Twin Trading. The brand name Divine was created – and the rest is history. This co-owned model means farmers earn part of the profit, and ensures their voices are heard. In 2016, Divine became a B Corp company. All chocolate is made with pure cocoa butter, sugar from Malawi and vanilla from Madagascar, then flavoured with Fairtrade nuts, fruit and other ingredients. Divine indeed. divinechocolate.com
Bother
Forward-thinking delivery service Bother is all about delivering things to us when we need them, using AI to suss out our unique shopping habits. It sells everything from loo roll to laundry detergent, but there’s also a store cupboard section featuring items like chocolate, cereal, pasta, jam and beans. It’s designed to make our lives simpler, but also to reduce the carbon footprints of households, eliminating the need for refrigerated vans and storage – plus plenty of products on the service are from eco-friendly brands. As well as being a certified B Corp, Bother is a net carbon zero company, planting a tree every time we shop. bother.com
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