Capsule’s Top 30 B Corp Scale-Ups

As part of our own celebration for B Corp Month, we once again partnered with leading business research analyst Ying van de Walle (Head of Research for the Sunday Times 100) to round up the top 30 B Corp brands that are using business as a force for good. Selected from an overall pool of more than 1,500 UK-based B Corps, the featured companies are privately owned scale-ups that have each shown strong growth potential across a range of industries – from eco-conscious craft beer curators to innovative digital security solutions.

Keep reading to discover the businesses that should be on your radar…

allplants

Meet allplants, the plant-based brand making it easier than ever to go vegan. A frozen meal delivery subscription service, allplants was created by brothers Jonathan and Alex Petrides with the aim of making plant-based products more accessible. Sustainable by name and nature, allplants became B Corp certified in July 2018. Since then, the team has upped their overall score from 82.6 to an impressive 101.3 – and it’s all down to their commitment to squeezing every last drop of value out of the ingredients they work with, and making sure to replenish more than they use. In 2022 alone, they prevented 58.7 tonnes of CO2e emissions and donated more than 40 tonnes of food to their partnered charities, The Felix Project and City Harvest London.

Proof that businesses can be commercially strong and ESG led? allplants secured £38 million in October 2021 – the biggest Series B raise by a direct-to-consumer, plant-based food company in Europe. It also nearly tripled its headcount to around 150 in 2021.

Beryl

Did you know a car’s emissions are 13 times greater than a bike’s? Beryl does. An online bike and scooter rental platform making it more convenient for people to get from A to B, Beryl also champions sustainable travel options to help combat congestion, improve air quality, and protect public health. It’s all part of co-founders Emily Brooke MBE and Philip Ellis’ triple bottom line of ‘People, Planet, and Profit’ – and it seems to be working; the team gained B Corp status in October 2018. They’ve since teamed up with National Grid to make sustainable travel even more accessible, and their pledge to reduce company-wide carbon emissions has been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) – the recognised network for businesses powering the shift to a net-zero economy.

Proof that businesses can be commercially strong and ESG led? This year, Beryl secured £2 million from Frontier Development Capital’s Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative Recycled Fund, which it’ll use to open a UK manufacturing hub.

Bower Collective

Highly effective natural household products in reusable packaging? Sign us up! Bower Collective offers a range of sustainable home and personal care products. Self-defined as ‘the refill revolution’, the brand works by building a tailored basket of products for subscribers based on a quick questionnaire about their daily habits. Customers then use pre-paid envelopes to return their empty packages for reuse and recycling, ensuring zero plastic waste in the supply chain. The D2C has been a member of the B Corp community since 2021 – and its mission to rid the planet of single-use plastics isn’t just limited to its subscription service. The Collective also helps to lead an annual beach clean – tracking the progress to supply the government with useful data to inform environmental policy.

Proof that businesses can be commercially strong and ESG led? In July 2021, Bower Collective raised £2.1 million in seed funding led by Oxford Capital and Doehler Ventures.

Cervest

Using its unique EarthScan technology, Cervest is ‘architecting a new era of climate intelligence’. What does this mean, exactly? Well, Cervest’s AI fuses cutting-edge science, data modelling and machine learning to help organisations identify and prevent climate risks. EarthScan users can pinpoint key vulnerabilities in their portfolio and explore different hazards and risk scenarios to inform their decision-making processes. Cervest was welcomed into the B Corp fold in 2021 – a testament to their commitment to not just tackling but raising awareness around the growing issue of a warming world. To support fellow B Corporations, Cervest awards research users with vouchers for B Corp companies.

Proof that businesses can be commercially strong and ESG led? Cervest raised $30 million in its May 2021 Series A to fund its aggressive expansion into the US and European markets.

CIRCA5000

Formerly known as Tickr, CIRCA5000 is a fintech-for-good specialising in impact investing – the gold standard of investing sustainably. It works by only investing users’ savings in companies that have pledged to help solve the biggest environmental issues facing the planet – in sectors such as global clean energy, cyber security, pharma breakthrough and education. CIRCA5000 became a B Corp in 2020, and today it holds an impressive overall score of 117.3. Not only is it helping to usher in the new era of socially conscious investing, but it’s also tackling the problem of ‘impact washing’ – when fund managers or bond issuers claim that an investment’s impact on the environment or society is better than it is.

Proof that businesses can be commercially strong and ESG led? CIRCA5000 has raised more than £12 million in funding to date from the likes of Ada Ventures and Love Ventures.

DASH Water

You might remember DASH Water from our January funding round-up. The healthy and sustainable alternative to sugary drinks, DASH produces refreshing, fruit-infused water using ‘wonky’ fruit to fight food waste. Stocked by Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Waitrose, the brand works directly with farmers to make sure they’re compensated for their ‘imperfect but perfectly good’ produce – helping to reduce the staggering amount of edible food thrown away annually (9.5 million tonnes in 2018 alone). Founded by Jack Scott and Alex Wright, who both grew up on farms and saw massive amounts of food go to waste, they became a B Corp in 2020.

Proof that businesses can be commercially strong and ESG led? DASH’s £8.7 million Series A in January this year will be used to increase production and distribution, and invest in R&D. It also plans to expand into new markets across Europe, and increase its presence in Australia where it has a growing market share.

Ecologi

Next on the list is Ecologi, the Bristol-based platform makes it easy and rewarding for businesses to fund collective climate action. All of its projects meet the highest standard in the sector - Gold Standard and Verified Carbon Standard. Through its 40,000 members, including over 19,000 businesses, Ecologi has funded the planting of 63 million trees around the world and avoided over 2.6 million tonnes of CO2e. In 2022, it was in the top 5 percent of B Corps globally, in the Environment and Governance categories, and listed as a LinkedIn Top UK Startup.

Proof that businesses can be commercially strong and ESG led? In June 2021, Ecologi secured £4 million in investment led by General Catalyst.

Finisterre

‘Built to last’ is the philosophy of Finisterre, the Cornwall-based sustainable and ethical clothing brand encouraging consumers to shop less and wear longer. Founded above a surf shop, Finisterre was inspired by a love of the sea – and an instinct to protect it. That was in 2003; the brand became a B Corp in 2018, and recertified in 2021 – raising its score by more than 10 points. In addition to championing sustainability at all stages of its manufacturing process, it also runs The Finisterre Foundation – created to make the ocean accessible for everyone, and inspire people to help look after it. Other projects and charitable organisations supported by Finisterre are The Wetsuit Project, The Seasuit Project, and Get City Kids Surfing.

Proof that businesses can be commercially strong and ESG led? In June 2022, Finisterre raised £4.6 million in a crowdfunding campaign (the second in its history) led by Active Partners.

Good-Loop

Located in Edinburgh, Good-Loop is the advertising company making purpose-led marketing possible, founded by Amy Williams (a former writer at Adweek). On a mission to make connections between brands and people more meaningful, this innovative platform wraps existing video ads in exclusive ethical formats – with interactions unlocking a free donation funded by the advertiser. The result is a boost in engagement as well as significantly higher ad recall – and a whole lot of brand love. A B Corp since 2019, Good-Loop donates 50% of all its ad spend to charity – ensuring a portion of the $600 billion advertising industry sponsors something worthwhile. WWF, The Trussell Trust, and UN Women have all benefitted from the Good-Loop initiative.

Proof that businesses can be commercially strong and ESG led? Good-Loop’s $6.1 million Series A in February 2022 will enable it to open new offices in New York and Chicago, and develop new carbon-reducing solutions.

Gousto

Praised by fitness guru Joe Wicks as “the most convenient way to get delicious, healthy food to your door”, Gousto delivers fresh boxes of ingredients to subscribers on a weekly basis. Founded by Timo Boldt in 2012, it’s one of the pioneers of meal-kit subscription businesses in the UK – operating a carbon-busting, food-wasting fighting business model that slashes emissions by 23% with every box ordered. A sustainability section on its website advises members on everything from reusing Gousto boxes to the best recipes for planet-friendly toasties. It also highlights the 24,000 tonnes of food waste the brand has saved, along with 69,000 tonnes of carbon emissions. Gousto became B Corp certified in August 2021.

Proof that businesses can be commercially strong and ESG led? Gousto has raised more than £320 million to date from angel investors as well as the likes of SoftBank and Perwyn.

Habito

Breaking away from the traditional mortgage model is Habito, an award-winning digital advice and brokerage service. While the eight-year-old company admits that sustainability wasn’t at the forefront of its business plan when it first launched, it took only a few months for it to realise it had an opportunity to make a much wider impact on the world. B Corp certified since 2020, its ‘good habits’ include: improving emissions from homes; increasing financial understanding; developing inclusive, safe, and happy communities; reducing homelessness; and getting its own house in order – in other words, staying committed to sustainability behind the scenes too.

Proof that businesses can be commercially strong and ESG led? Habito has raised over £70 million in funding – £35 million of which came in its Series C in August 2020.

JUBEL Beer

Ever wished you could combine the invigorating tang of a fruity cider with the malty tones of a crisp lager? JUBEL Beer has managed exactly that – creating a stunning selection of tasty beers cut with real fruit. It’s both vegan and gluten-free, and described as “dangerously refreshing”. Pursuing a mission of ‘beer done differently’ since 2015, JUBEL has been committed to sustainable practices from the off – and last year it achieved B Corp status. A carbon-negative company, JUBEL partnered with Carbon Footprint Ltd. to certify that it has offset two tonnes of CO2 for every tonne that it has emitted. In 2020, it cancelled out an amazing 42 tonnes of carbon emissions. They’re also a Capsule client!

Proof that businesses can be commercially strong and ESG led? The owner of Magners, C&C Group, owns a minority stake in JUBEL after investing almost £3.6 million in two funding rounds.

Mindstep

Another member of the Capsule community, Mindstep is a medically backed app treating brain health conditions like dementia, depression, and anxiety. But more than just an app, Mindstep is a movement – striving to meet the vast unmet need of the mental health sector. The healthtech was established in 2017, and B Corp certified in 2022; its score of 105.4 is a strong indicator of its responsible ethics – as is its commitment to keeping healthcare affordable. Founder Hamzah Selim says the eventual goal, once clinical trials have been completed, is for Mindstep to partner with the NHS to make the app completely free to use.

Proof that businesses can be commercially strong and ESG led? In early 2022, Mindstep closed a £2.5 million seed round led by Octopus Ventures.

Neighbourly

Neighbourly is next. An award-winning giving platform designed to help businesses become more neighbourly in their communities, it was in fact one of the UK’s very first B Corporations in 2015. Headquartered in Bristol, in addition to organising volunteering, financial donations, and redistributing stock surplus, Neighbourly partnered with brands including M&S, Lidl, Danone, and Aldi to create The Neighbourly Community Fund – which has so far donated more than £1.2 million to over 3,000 local charities and community groups. The Neighbourly Foundation is another not-for-profit that works with Neighbourly to respond to emergency need within communities. A member of the B Corp climate collective, the company has also pledged to reach net zero by 2030.

Proof that businesses can be commercially strong and ESG led? Neighbourly’s latest £1.6 million funding round was led by Guinness Ventures in May 2022.

Ocean Bottle

The world’s most needed bottle is here: Ocean Bottle is the reusable water bottle brand helping to keep you hydrated while reducing ocean-bound plastic. Available in a range of sizes, each Ocean Bottle sold funds the collection of 1,000 plastic bottles – while establishing recycling infrastructure in coastal communities with high levels of plastic pollution around the world. The organisation also offers customisable bottles for sustainable brand promotion. Ocean Bottle’s B Corp status was granted in 2020 – and its goal is to collect 7 billion bottles by 2025. We think they might just do it.

Proof that businesses can be commercially strong and ESG led? Ocean Bottle has raised £7.1 million to date thanks to Norwegian impact investor TD Veen.

Oddbox

Another brand fighting food waste, Oddbox is helping to debunk the myth that wonky fruit and veg isn’t fit for serving up. When you subscribe to Oddbox, no item is ‘too big’, ‘too small’, or unsightly – and all of it is delicious. Proud to be a B Corp since 2020, the Oddbox team (including founders Emilie Vanpoperinghe and Deepak Ravindran) makes sure every bit of their produce is used by donating any extra food to FareShare; they also donate boxes to London-based City Harvest and KIND in Liverpool. To date, they’ve gifted the equivalent of 1,860,310 meals, saved 10,703 tonnes of food, reduced CO2 emissions by more than 12,000 tonnes, and saved 1,222 million tonnes of water. Pretty impressive, right?

Proof that businesses can be commercially strong and ESG led? In 2021, Oddbox raised £16 million in funding from Burda Principal Investments to improve its website and expand its footprint in the UK. In March 2022, it launched its subscription service in Scotland.

OLIO

If it’s not already slotted in among the rest of your handy smartphone apps, OLIO is certainly one to add. It’s the number one free sharing app helping neighbours give away and exchange food and household items. Calling itself ‘the feel-good way to declutter’, OLIO is used by neighbours all over the world – with 6 million users in total. A carbon-negative company, OLIO has proven itself to divert more greenhouse gases than it produces, encourages users to switch to green mobile data providers, and even redesigned its website to decrease emissions by 40%. Founders Tessa Clarke and Saasha Celestial-One completed OLIO’s B Corporation certification process in September last year.

Proof that businesses can be commercially strong and ESG led? A $43 million Series B in September 2021 will be used to accelerate OLIO’s international expansion plans and allow it to focus on 10 key markets in Latin America, Northern Europe and Asia.

Patients Know Best

‘Patients know best’ according to the healthcare enterprise named just that. Funded by hospitals, health boards, and local practices, Patients Know Best helps patients take control of their health by enabling them to access and share their personal health records with organisations and, in turn, allowing for a more efficient treatment process. The Cambridge-headquartered business became B Corp certified in 2015. Sitting in the top 10% of world social businesses and honoured with the B Corp Best For The World Award in 2021, the healthtech brand has consistently ranked for its company values and commitment to upholding its mission. Along with its own pledge to achieve net zero, it’s also supporting ‘a greener NHS’.

Proof that businesses can be commercially strong and ESG led? Patients Know Best has raised £7.6 million to date, and counts Balderton Capital among its investors.

Peppy

Another healthtech revolutionising the way we look after ourselves is Peppy, an app addressing underserved areas of healthcare such as menopause, fertility, men’s mental health, and other men’s and women’s health issues. The app is funded by employers and accessed by employees, with users benefitting from on-demand resources and advice from real, human experts. Peppy’s founders Dr Mridula Pore and Max Landry celebrated its B Corp status in February last year, with a score of 104.3. As well as making healthcare more accessible for working professionals, Peppy offers guidance for employers for handling sensitive healthcare issues. It’s also a remote-first business, which has a positive impact on its carbon footprint.

Proof that businesses can be commercially strong and ESG led? Peppy plans to use its $45 million Series B funding from January 2023 to offer its employee healthcare platform to the US market.

Raylo

Don’t wait to buy the tech you want – instead, rent it from Raylo. Providing a lease-based service, Raylo makes it possible to own the latest gadgets at cheaper rates. Created with the aim of reducing the shocking number of devices that end up in landfill each year, Raylo’s range of items available for lease includes smartphones, tablets, and laptops. And for every 10 customers, one kilogram of plastic will be saved from the waste stream. B Corp certified since December 2022, Raylo also refurbishes old devices when you no longer need them. Call it the greener way to stay connected!

Proof that businesses can be commercially strong and ESG led? Raylo’s latest £110 million funding secured in January this year will be used to expand their product list to things like e-bikes, as well as to continue investing in its AI-based platform that assesses risk for each sale.

Switchee

Helping to make houses feel more like homes is Switchee, the social housing technology trailblazer trying to improve the quality of life for people living in rented properties. Switchee started out by reimagining the humble thermostat into a product that automatically reduces energy bills, puts users in control, and even looks great too. In addition, its SaaS dashboard helps landlords stay on top of their to-do list items like boiler replacements and electrical safety checks. A member of the B Corp community since January 2023, Switchee is also a Living Wage Employer (snap!).

Proof that businesses can be commercially strong and ESG led? Switchee secured a £6.5 million investment in October 2022, which will be used to fund additional R&D and expand into Europe.

Thirdfort

You might remember Thirdfort from our Top 50 Tech Scale-Ups To Watch list. Part of the B Corp community since July 2022, Thirdfort was created to protect life’s big transactions – enabling individuals to do business with confidence. Its innovative technology assists with ID verification and detects money laundering and payment fraud, and its risk management software allows professional service providers to run more thorough due diligence. Thirdfort offers the same level of support for its employees as it does for its clients – providing physical and mental health support, extended parental leave, flexible working, and personalised learning and development programmes.

Proof that businesses can be commercially strong and ESG led? Thirdfort has raised £19.5 million to date, with contributions from lead investor Breega and the founders of Zoopla.

Thrift+

Every year, the world produces 100 billion tonnes of clothing – and every year, 70% of this is sent to landfill. But not if Thrift+ has anything to do with it. An online second-hand clothing marketplace, Thrift+ is making it easy for people to buy and sell pre-loved garments. Established in 2017, the company became B Corp certified in September last year – a testament to its efforts to tackle textile waste. It has successfully recirculated more than 500,000 items of clothing, helped sellers donate £1.5 million to charitable causes, and partnered with leading fashion brands from around the world – and with Capsule too! We’re proud to name Thrift+ among our clients.

Proof that businesses can be commercially strong and ESG led? £9 million from the likes of Fuel Ventures and Triple Point now backs Thrift+’s mission.

TOTM

‘Shaking up the period industry for good’ is the promise of Capsule client TOTM, provider of ethical and sustainable period products that are free from plastic, chemicals, dyes and fragrances – and shame. Operating from Cardiff, TOTM uses its platform to challenge the stigma surrounding periods, raising awareness, busting taboos, and ultimately empowering menstrual wellbeing. Since 2015, it has made more than 3 million periods more sustainable, physically recovered the plastic equivalent to over 5.6 million applicators from the ocean, and offset more than 650,000 kilograms of carbon emissions. Qualifying for B Corp status in August 2022 was a major milestone along founders St.John Pearce-Burke and Kate Herbert’s mission to balance purpose and profit while powering real change.

Proof that businesses can be commercially strong and ESG led? TOTM secured early backing from 1818 Ventures and has since crowdfunded via Crowdcube – bringing its total raised to date to £4.6 million.

Vivobarefoot

Founded by seventh-generation cobbler Galahad Clark, who runs the company with his cousin Asher, minimalist shoe brand Vivobarefoot is reconnecting people and planet through high-quality, friendly footwear. Its patented ultra-thin sole technology offers maximum sensory feedback and freedom for your feet, and it's proven to have a positive impact on your physical health. Vivobarefoot joined a growing list of B Corp companies in 2020; not long after, it launched the Livebarefoot Foundation – an in-house incubation hub which provides funding for community projects, ecotourism ventures, and more. Its annual impact report is titled ‘Unfinished Business’ – a nod to the new progress its team is making every day.

Proof that businesses can be commercially strong and ESG led? Taiwanese shoemaker Stella International.

Wagestream

Financial wellbeing app Wagestream rewards frontline workers with early access to up to 50% of their accrued wages. Available through global employers such as Hilton, Pizza Hut, and the NHS, the app has one million global users – with 70% reporting that they feel more in control of their money, and happier as a result. Since happier employees are more productive employees, this benefits their companies too. Founded by charities, Wagestream has held B Corp status since May 2022 – with special recognition for its efforts to provide economic empowerment for the underserved.

Proof that businesses can be commercially strong and ESG led? Wagestream raised $175 million in its April 2022 Series C, and plans to funnel it into US expansion and new app features.

WeAre8

Imagine a social media app that’s full of inspiration, free from hate, and good for the planet? Sounds too good to be true, right? Wrong. WeAre8 is a fresh social platform that uses AI technology and human moderation to keep members safe – supporting creators, bringing people together, and protecting the planet. Officially a B Corp since 2020, for every ad campaign that runs on WeAre8, it donates a percentage of its media budget to fellow B Corp Ecologi (the tree-planting eco warriors we mentioned earlier in this very list) as well as other climate projects around the globe. It was founded by serial technology entrepreneur Sue Fennessy.

Proof that businesses can be commercially strong and ESG led? In March 2022, WeAre8 closed an £11.4 million Series B round, which saw investors including Channel 4 Ventures and Centerstone Capital contribute to scaling its TV advertising campaign.

Wild

Wild by name and nature, next on the list is a sustainable, natural deodorant brand providing plastic-free, compostable refills made with vegan ingredients and free from parabens. Wild’s model is a subscription-based service that sends your order straight to your door on a schedule chosen by you. Not only is it the ultimate in personal hygiene convenience, but its deodorants are stylish too – with the option to choose a colour or design to suit you. Wild was first established in 2018, and it completed the rigorous B Corp certification process in January 2023. Today, it has successfully diverted 80 tonnes of throwaway deodorants from landfill and planted 300,000 trees.

Proof that businesses can be commercially strong and ESG led? Wild raised £5 million in a funding round led by JamJar Investments in early 2022. The funding will support its international expansion and help it dip its toe into other personal care segments.

Yoti

A digital security company, Yoti develops software that covers identity and age verification, document eSigning, and authentication. In June 2022, Yoti partnered with Instagram to trial its age verification technology. Established in April 2015 and B Corp certified just four months later, Yoti wasted no time in proving its public commitments on ethical and moral issues. As part of these commitments, the leading identity platform supports the 5Rights framework, the Fair Tax Charter, the Biometrics Institute, and Responsible 100. It also holds regular events to advance discussions around digital identity and identity protection.

Proof that businesses can be commercially strong and ESG led? Yoti has been bootstrapped since Gamesys co-founders Robin Tombs and Noel Hayden launched it in 2014 with their own investment. But it took its first external investment in 2022 to help further expand internationally in the US, Canada and Australia.

Zappi

Allow us to re-introduce you to Zappi, the leading consumer insights platform helping businesses transform their advertising and production innovations with reliable, data-driven insights. The pioneering martech ranked in our January funding round-up, and it counts McDonald’s, Heineken, and PepsiCo among its users. Zappi became B Corp certified in March 2022 and was one of the first consumer insights data platforms to do so. In terms of its B Corp commitments, the company is pursuing carbon neutrality as a cornerstone policy – all the while investing in employees’ personal development and striving to have a positive impact on communities by using tech for good.

Proof that businesses can be commercially strong and ESG led? Zappi’s latest $170 million growth capital, raised in December 2022, will be used to expand its data sets across new markets, verticals and categories. It now has over 300 team members in 13 countries.

How can you become a B Corp?

Want to learn more about how you can improve your company’s impact on society and the planet? You’ve come to the right place.

As a B Corp ourselves, the Capsule team is clued up on the rigorous certification process – which takes a deep dive into your business model to ensure you meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. You can certify as a B Corp if you operate for profit in a competitive market and have been doing so for at least 12 months. To learn more about the process, check out our useful guide.

And don’t stop there. Get in touch with us to discover how our unique approach to insurance can help you access the best policy at the best price.