There are around 400 B Corps in the UK, with Bristol being the second largest hub (outside of London). As more businesses strive to become certified, this number continues to grow. So, in order to celebrate the local companies who have achieved, or are in the process of achieving, B Corp status, we’d like to take the opportunity to bring attention to their efforts.
This week the subscription service Ecologi takes centre stage.
What is the business about?
Ecologi was founded back in 2019 by three friends: Elliott Coad, Lucy Jack and Alex Price. The initial idea behind the organisation was to create an easy and accessible way for people to offset their carbon emissions, hence the subscription-style payment model.
This essentially allows users to donate a small amount per month which funds various reforestation and carbon-offsetting projects in places like Mozambique, Madagascar and Nicaragua. To help increase their impact, Ecologi even gives subscribers the option to plant extra trees in the UK. With these local projects, it’s possible to see the exact location of the tree and get a photo of it too.
Ecologi offers three types of payment plan – personal, family and business – meaning that almost everyone can get involved. A small donation each month means that 12 trees can be planted and one whole footprint (average UK citizen) can be reduced every year. That’s 10.6 tonnes of CO2!
How is Ecologi using business as a force for good?
With the assistance of partners like Protect Earth and Eden Reforestation Projects, Ecologi has helped individuals and businesses not just reduce their carbon footprint, but go one step further and become carbon positive.
In their first year alone Ecologi managed to plant over 2.2 million trees. By June 2021 they had planted over 15 million trees and, as part of the 1t.org Trillion Trees initiative, they have pledged to plant 1.7 billion trees by the year 2030.
While these numbers are great, and the rate at which these trees are planted is certainly increasing, Ecologi makes it very clear that quality comes first. All projects are verified by independent certifications, like Gold Standard, which ensure that carbon mitigation efforts work not in isolation, but alongside other sustainable development goals.
What does the future hold for Ecologi?
Having recently secured a £4m investment from General Catalyst (a venture capital firm that has supported the likes of Deliveroo, Grammarly and Airbnb), Ecologi now has the opportunity to scale up their workforce and operations. This investment will allow them to expand their team and buy more resources upfront, thus enabling them to take on more projects.
Ecologi has also submitted their B Corp Impact Assessment for review. Becoming certified will formalise their commitment to upholding the highest standards of social and environmental performance as their business continues to grow. Ecologi, we love you and are cheering you on – the planet needs a whole lot more like you!
For more information about Ecologi visit their website here: https://ecologi.com/.
And for more information about becoming certified visit: https://businessonpurpose.uk/bcorp
