We are the first dairy cheesemaker in the UK to receive B Corp™ certification.
Sharpham Dairy is proud to share that we are now a Certified B Corp business, the first UK dairy cheesemaker to achieve this globally recognised certification.
This means we meet the highest standards of social and environmental impact; we put people and planet up there with profit and we are using our small, South Devon cheesemaking business as a force for good.
Becoming a B Corp is something that owners Greg and Nicky Parsons, and Production Manager Peter Haworth have been working towards for almost two years. The B Corp certification process is rigorous and challenging and to have achieved it during such a difficult period is a credit to the hard work and enthusiasm of the small Sharpham Dairy team.
B Corp measures a company’s entire social and environmental impact across five key impact areas - governance, workers, community, environment and customers. In fact, the underlying commitment to ‘purpose beyond profit’ had to be legally embedded in Sharpham's company articles in order to complete the certification.
Greg Parsons said:
“After almost two years of external scrutiny we are delighted to have received B Corp’s prestigious recognition. When we took over Sharpham Dairy in 2019, my wife Nicky and I set out to cultivate an ethical business that our team, suppliers, customers and retailers would be proud to be associated with.
"Throughout the B Corp process you look at things more forensically and you make decisions that are for good. It really encourages you to look at all elements and at how you can approach things differently."
So, Sharpham Dairy is now part of a community of 4,800 businesses in 78 countries. In the UK, the B Corp community numbers around 800 companies and includes well-known brands such as The Guardian, innocent and Patagonia; and here in Devon we join companies like Riverford Organics, Finisterre and Two Drifters Distillery.
Certification is proof that we care about our community, our team, our customers and our planet. But this is only the beginning. Being a B Corp recognises the positive impact we have now, but it also commits us to improvement. It gives us a framework to conduct business and to grow in a way which balances profit with purpose, and we are up for the challenge!
Chris Turner, Executive Director of B Lab UK, said:
“We are delighted to welcome Sharpham Dairy to the B Corp community. This is a movement of companies who are committed to changing how business operates and believe business really can be a force for good. We know that they are going to be a fantastic addition to the community and will continue driving the conversation forward.
“We are pleased to have B Corps of all shapes and sizes as part of our community – from startups to multinationals and across many different industries. Business is a powerful force and B Corps demonstrate that you can do good in any sector.”
For more information about B Corporation click HERE
Images
Top: Owners Nicky & Greg Parson.
Bottom: Production Manager Peter Haworth