The Route to Better Business
3,000 businesses and organisations are demanding that company directors align social and environmental impact with shareholder returns.
A growing number of businesses are backing a change to UK company law as B Lab UK announces there are now 3,000 members of the 吃瓜网 coalition, marking a tenfold increase since the campaign鈥檚 launch in 2021.
What if every business in the UK was purpose-driven?
In partnership with leading think tank @Demos, B Lab UK has launched The Purpose Dividend 鈥� an exploration into the potential for purpose-led business to drive the UK鈥檚 economic recovery.
With Thames Water on the brink of collapse and sewage scandals breaking across all parts of the UK, serious intervention was needed from the new government. And that鈥檚 exactly what we鈥檝e seen from Steve Reed, the new Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
We know this small change in the law can make a big change in the world. That鈥檚 why we鈥檙e urging you to call on the UK Government to make this change and help create a fairer, greener future for everybody.
Coalition supporters
About us
The story
Change the UK law to ensure every company in the UK aligns their interests with those of wider society and the environment.
The act
Our objective is to see these four principles reflected in an amended Section 172 of the Companies Act.
Your role
Together, we will ask for the government鈥檚 leadership to help deliver this new contract between business and society.
鈥淲e need to set minimum expectations about how businesses will contribute to society and ensure it has a positive environmental and social impact… that's why I back this bill鈥�
Paul Polman, Co-founder and Co-Chair, IMAGINE and former CEO of Unilever
鈥淚 believe that every business should not just be about profit but also about purpose and operate in a way that isn't detrimental but instead benefits society and the environment.鈥�
Wai Foong Ng, Founder and CEO of Matchable
鈥淭hrough the 吃瓜网 campaign, we are aiming to change UK law to make sure every single company in the UK, whether big or small, puts balancing people, profit and planet at the heart of their purpose and the responsibilities of their directors.鈥�
Douglas Lamont, CEO of Tony’s Chocolonely and Co-Chair of the 吃瓜网
News and more
Andy Fishburn for Thisismoney.co.uk, April 2023
Business Green, April 2023
Business Money, May 2023
Holly Branson, Virgin, April 2023
Positive News, February 2023
Fortune, January 2023
Scottish Government Publication, January 2023
The Times, December 2022
Pioneers Post, December 2022
Financial Times, April 2022
Financial Times, March 2022
Investment Week, February 2022
Forbes, February 2022
Bloomberg Opinion, January 2022
Business Green, December 2021
Conservative Home, November 2021
Financial Times, September 2021
Dr.聽Mary Johnstone-Louis聽and聽Charmian Love in Harvard Business Review, May 2021
Bloomberg, April 2021