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Our B Corp journey

Ecologi is a <a href="https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">B Corp</a> through and through. Our DNA is based on a commitment to people and planet, not just profit, and the desire to run an ethical business is in our bones. Our whole ethos of <a href="https://ecologi.com/collective-action" target="_blank" rel="noopener">collective action</a> to reverse climate change just wouldn’t work any other way. But becoming a recognised B Corp is no stroll in the park. It’s been a long, sometimes tough, but totally worth it journey. Here’s our story:

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From the day we were first founded in 2018 we knew we just had to become a B Corp. The B Corp movement exists to make business a force for good in the world by prioritising people and planet. Ecologi was set up to give individuals and businesses the power to take on the Earth’s climate crisis. The overlap was huge, and we knew we had the heart, soul and spirit of a B Corp from the word go.

Being a B Corp is a real badge of honour, which isn’t an automatic given just because you believe you run a moral business. You have to <a href="https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/certification" target="_blank" rel="noopener">really prove</a> that the business you run stands for everything that B Corp entails, a requirement that rightly ensures the integrity of the certification. So, in 2019, we set off on our B Corp journey to prove we had what it takes. 
More than two years and 200 fairly detailed questions on how Ecologi is run later, we finally made it official! In December 2021 we announced to the world that we were an accredited B Corp. It was a long process, it was stressful at times, but it was a great learning opportunity that helped us to reassess our performance and plan even better things for the future.

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What was even better than tying the B Corp knot was to have completed the assessment process with a B Impact score of 123.7. To put that into context, most businesses achieve a score of around 80. We told you we were meant to be a B Corp 😉 
Andy Hawkins, Chief Purpose Officer, Business On Purpose (B Leader), had this to say: 
“Supporting Ecologi through their impact assessment has been an inspiration – their commitment to transparency and improving impact was brilliant.”

When we became a B Corp we joined 4,000 (now almost 5,000) <a href="https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/find-a-b-corp/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">other businesses</a> committed to the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance. B Corps promote full public transparency and legal accountability to strike the right ethical balance between profit and purpose. It’s an illustrious list that includes the likes of <a href="https://www.toms.com/uk/impact-emea/planet-emea.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TOM’s</a>, <a href="https://uk.keepcup.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KeepCup</a>, <a href="https://eu.patagonia.com/gb/en/home/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Patagonia</a>, and <a href="https://www.benjerry.com/about-us/b-corp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ben &amp; Jerry’s</a>, to name but a few.

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Once certified, B Corp signs a legally binding agreement to always consider the impact of their decisions on their stakeholders. And in the eyes of B Corp, those stakeholders include everyone; from the company’s employees, to their suppliers, to the community around them, and even to the environment they exist in. We were proud to make this very commitment and to be among the ethical leaders of the business world.

After becoming certified, things really ramped up in the best way possible! Just this month we’ve been recognised as a <a href="https://bcorporation.uk/best-for-the-world-2022/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Best for the World™ 2022</a> B Corp in two categories! Every year, B Lab recognises <a href="http://bcorporation.net/best-for-the-world" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the top-performing B Corps</a> in the five impact areas they assess when awarding B Corp accreditation (Community, Customers, Environment, Governance, and Workers). The global top 5% in each size group and impact area are named as ‘Best For The World’. Our scores were in the top 5% for both Environment and Governance impact areas. And we’re just getting started.

By taking on the mantle of a ‘<a href="https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/news/press/b-lab-announces-2022-best-world-b-corps" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Best For The World</a>’ B Corp, we are aware of our responsibility to model the kind of business we all need to see in the world. We want to prove that competing to not just be the best in the world, but the best for the world, is possible and is a winning business strategy. 
So we’ll continue to work hard and do even better as an equitable, inclusive and progressive business, while encouraging others to <a href="https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/movement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">join the movement</a> and do the same. By working hand in hand with both our own community and the global B Corp community, we aim to improve and make an even bigger impact on the world next year.
Here’s to the next chapter of our B Corp journey…
If you’re not already part of our business community why not see how Ecologi can <a href="https://ecologi.com/business/overview?gclid=Cj0KCQjw_viWBhD8ARIsAH1mCd7jQcOdK334lo9YJB0SGJY0t7IBb7Yg2EkPyMzvivW9n6pyRIAocC8aAvPTEALw_wcB" target="_blank" rel="noopener">help your business</a> offset its emissions and get started on its net-zero journey? If you&#8217;re already partnering with us you can give your impact a boost at any time from <a href="https://ecologi.com/profile" target="_blank" rel="noopener">your profile</a>.

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Move for our planet

We&#8217;re asking our community to get out into nature this Earth Month and walk, cycle or swim for our planet.
One tree will be planted for everyone who signs up and logs an activity, so let&#8217;s get outside and get moving 🏃 🚴 🏊
👉 <a href="https://climategames.com/">Join the challenge</a>

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<h2>Climategames is leading the charge</h2>
<a href="https://ecologi.com/climategames">Climategames</a> is like Strava for sustainability. It was founded in 2021 to let those who enjoy an active lifestyle fight climate change in a way that’s fun, rewarding and healthy.
Thousands of people have already been inspired to take action in over 110 countries. By simply completing workouts, users can fund amazing projects like tree planting, carbon reduction and ocean plastic removal, while gaining rewards.
It’s good for the body and mind, and even better for the planet. Ecologi is proud to be the tree planting partner of Climategames.
👉 <a href="https://climategames.com/">Find out more</a>

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<h2>Move for our planet this Earth Month</h2>
Every ride, stride or stroke taken is another step on the journey to net-zero. Anyone can take part in this fitness challenge during Earth Month. Don’t worry how fast or far you go, it’s getting involved that counts. This is your chance to do some good, gain some wellness wins, and help us reach our goal of planting 500 trees per event.
<h3>To take part</h3>
<ol>
<li>Download the Climategames app via <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.competeimpossible">Google Play</a> or <a href="https://apps.apple.com/app/id1540091655">Apple Store</a></li>
<li>Search for <a href="https://climategames.com/link/fVdoi5Kt8kqsaX9w7">Ecologi</a> in the rewards section</li>
<li>Choose which kind of activity you’d like to do (walking, swimming or cycling)</li>
<li>Get moving, and be sure to track your activity via the app or your smartwatch</li>
</ol>

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Remember that for everyone that takes part during Earth Month, we’ll plant one tree! And for the person who tops the leaderboard in each event (walking, cycling, swimming) we will also gift a 500 tree bundle for your virtual forest. 🌱
👉 <a href="http://climategames.com">Get started</a>

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98% of SMEs see benefits to setting environmental targets

SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) make up 99% of the UK’s business population and contribute half of all business-driven carbon emissions in the UK. The untapped potential for climate action is huge! Even the smallest of actions could make a real difference when taken by thousands of SMEs acting together, whether it&#8217;s measuring emissions or switching to renewable energy.
But knowing where to start on the climate journey can be hard for SMEs, and creating a credible decarbonisation strategy takes time, knowledge, and resources. That’s why we launched our Climate Commitments Survey. 
We gathered insights from 1,000 UK SME owners and decision-makers to understand the challenges, opportunities and barriers they face in their journey to net-zero. The survey was carried out in January 2023 in conjunction with the <a href="https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/">British Business Bank</a>, who advised on survey design, and research analysis and Market research agency <a href="https://onepoll.com/">OnePoll</a>.
<h3>Read the full report </h3>
<div class="ecologi-video-full-width"><iframe src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20230328090053/Ecologi_BBB_Report_V6.pdf" width="960" height="900" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div>
 📁 Download the PDF report <a href="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20230328090053/Ecologi_BBB_Report_V6.pdf">here</a>

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<h3>SMEs are ready to do their bit for our planet  </h3>
Our survey found that SMEs are committed to doing more to protect the planet, and ready to reap the business benefits of doing so. Of those that had set environmental targets, almost all (98%) had experienced some business benefits. These range from improved brand image (43%), attracting more eco-conscious customers (38%), increased productivity and innovation (37%) and employee loyalty (34%), with over a third (31%) seeing increased revenue. Over three quarters (77%) of business leaders also agreed that having an environmental strategy is good for business.

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<h3>SMEs have some key barriers to overcome on their climate journey </h3>
Despite the commitment to do more, and the acknowledgement that sustainability is good for business, financial constraints (39%), time (27%), and a lack of business return (24%) are the biggest barriers SMEs face in taking climate action. Barriers like these are even harder to overcome during an economic downturn, but reassuringly, despite 25% saying the tough economic conditions are having a negative impact on their environmental commitments, only 3% plan to decrease investment in them.

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<h3>SMEs have the desire to get to get to net-zero, but need a little help</h3>
There is a clear desire to get started on the path to net-zero, and clearly many more SMEs would take action if it was more straightforward and accessible. More than four in 10 (41%) of SMEs said they would like their business to have a net-zero strategy, but feel confused about how to get started. It’s also encouraging to see that 80% of SMEs have either measured their carbon footprint or plan to in the near future, and that 52% would calculate their carbon footprint if it was free and straightforward to do. 
The desire is clearly there. Now we need to make sure SMEs have the tools and support they need to start their net-zero journey, particularly with corporate sustainability commitments coming under increasing scrutiny and tighter regulation around the corner.

<h3>SMEs can lead the sustainable revolution</h3>
While challenges remain, our survey found plenty of reasons to be hopeful. It’s clear to take action on the climate crisis, we need to make sure that every SME, no matter how small, has access to affordable and easy-to-use tools and solutions. From measuring their carbon footprint, to setting targets and reducing emissions, all the way through to funding the best in climate action projects on the planet.
At Ecologi, we’ve designed a suite of products and services, custom-made to help SMEs on their journey to net-zero: 
<a href="https://ecologi.com/business/zero">Ecologi Zero® </a>&#8211; The free and easy-to-use carbon footprinting tool for small and medium sized enterprises.
<a href="https://ecologi.com/business/climate-positive-workforce">Climate Positive Workforce®</a> &#8211; A simple but impactful way to offset your team&#8217;s emissions while funding climate solutions and planting a company forest. 
<a href="https://ecologi.com/business/impact-shop">The Impact Shop</a> &#8211; Browse and fund the very best climate solutions at the click of a button through our pay-as-you-go store for positive climate impact. 
<a href="https://ecologi.com/business/integrations">Ecommerce and integration</a> &#8211; Plant a tree for every sale, product or new team member with our Shopify, Zapier and API integrations.
You can access the full data set <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSz3Pl5MG9hBGK4qc71FCE2iIHPF5aBbCERxhhXBDtuYsO7HBOwb51GWg_MlwF41Y7T419JxZpdk6aE/pubhtml" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>

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On the ground in Kenya with Eden Reforestation Projects

Nothing beats seeing our impact in real life. Since June 2021, we’ve been the sole funding partner of a project restoring a vast area of degraded forest in the hills of Western Kenya. It’s one of the largest projects we’ve supported to date, and in September 2022 we were lucky enough to visit the site, meet our tree planting partners from <a href="https://www.edenprojects.org/">Eden Reforestation Projects</a> face to face, and see all that amazing impact for ourselves.
<h3>A trusted partner </h3>
At Ecologi, we only work with reforestation partners who we trust to plant trees responsibly. So you can be sure that the money you contribute to these amazing projects will genuinely make a real difference in restoring forest ecosystems and supporting livelihoods.
We’ve now got <a href="https://ecologi.com/articles/blog/get-to-know-our-reforestation-partners">10 incredible reforestation partners</a>, who operate planting sites across 16 countries. It’s vital to us we partner with like-minded organisations who implement community-led projects that both enhance biodiversity and improve the lives of local people. So our partners go through a rigorous diligence process to check they’re the right fit. Once onboarded, we work closely with our partners to ensure that the projects we implement together are long-lasting and impactful. We cherish our relationships with our reforestation partners &#8211; after all, we couldn’t do this without them!

<h3>Our visit to Kenya </h3>
It’s hard to believe, but our trip to Kenya was the first time we’d visited an international planting site since we were founded in 2019. We wanted to go much sooner, but the complications and restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic meant that this was the first time we could make the trip safely. Still, better late than never, and the delays meant the team were absolutely raring to go when they set off to visit <a href="https://www.edenprojects.org/">Eden Reforestation Projects</a> in Kenya in September 2022. 
We set out to observe the project and see what was happening on the ground, and in doing so, evaluate its progress and success. It’s important to us we monitor and evaluate all the projects we support, to make sure that we’re funding the biggest impact possible in these beautiful ecosystems.

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To put it simply, we were absolutely blown away by what we saw and experienced. The sheer magnitude of area encompassed by the Kass FM project, which is fully funded by Ecologi, along with the warmth and spirit of the planting and nursery staff upon our arrival, was truly unforgettable.
Having spent so long working remotely, moments like these make it all worthwhile. Over the trip, our team on the ground visited the Kass FM planting site, as well as two nurseries where seedlings for the project are grown &#8211; Nkoben and Tendwet.

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Importantly, we got to meet and engage with local staff members, discussing everything from planting techniques and species variety, to how working for Eden has quite literally changed their lives. Connecting in person allowed us to learn more about their monitoring and evaluation processes too, and ultimately strengthened our relationship with an incredible planting partner.   
But don’t just take our word for it, check out the video below to get a glimpse of the impact our community is funding.
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Our B Corp journey

We were born to be a B Corp

But we had to make it official

We did it - and aced our scores!

We’re now in (really) good company

We take the B Corp pledge to heart

Celebrating all the wins along the way

We’re not resting on our laurels…

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Join our Earth Month fitness challenge, in partnership with Climategames

Climate Commitments Survey: 98% of SMEs see benefits to setting environmental targets

On the ground in Kenya with Eden Reforestation Projects

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