Who we buy from matters: so I’ll gladly shout about Gousto being a ‘B Corp’
When I first heard ‘B Corp’ I thought B*Witched might at last be taking over the world. Turns out, it’s even more important than that double-denim dream.
A ‘B Corp’ is a for-profit company that goes beyond the legal basics to have a more positive impact on the world around it. These firms are certified by the global not-for-profit B Lab, and while they exist to make money, they do it in a better way than most, with more care for society, transparency, their people and the planet.
And in the interests of that transparency, I work with Gousto. We have a long-term partnership and I am being paid to write and file this blog post, just like I’m paid to post ads about their food boxes.
I have no qualms about this. I like the food. I have a mortgage and kids and we don’t have the option of relying on a single wage. In 2022, very few people do, unless that wage is remarkably high. But I try to choose the companies I work with carefully. I’m not about to start flogging oil, or tout a new brand of fags. We check a firm out online before agreeing to a contract: look for worrying news stories, poor ethical ratings, how they do for sustainability. I’m yet to find a single organisation that is perfect, but as well as we can judge it, we avoid those that do real harm. I never lie about liking or using things that I don’t.
Like anyone who takes money for their time, we ask some questions and make our choice.
And when a firm goes further to do some good, I think it’s worth shouting about. Gousto are not the only B Corp (there are about 5,000 globally, including 700 in the UK), and a few are in the world of food. I’m also an enthusiastic nibbler of Graze snacks, a guzzler of Innocent smoothies, and have no shame in scoffing a Tonys Chocolonely all by myself. All of these firms have also seen the B Corp light. And I reckon there is something strong in them banding together to raise corporate standards, and making an even bigger impact than they could on their own.
And it makes me happier with every mouthful.
If you want to know more about B Corp status (and maybe even start to nudge your employer that way), you can find it here.
[This post is sponsored by Gousto. Obviously.]
