Pukka becomes a Certified B Corporation

Pukka Herbs has announced that it is now a certified B Corporation, joining an international network of businesses committed to high standards of social and environmental performance.

As a Certified B Corp, Pukka is now rigorously assessed on the mission that it was founded on: to connect people, plants and planet through the incredible power of organic and fairly traded herbs. The company says that being a member of B Corp “cements its ongoing commitment to meet higher standards of transparency, accountability and performance, offering a positive vision of a better way to do business”.

There are over 1,800 Certified B Corporations from more than 120 industries in 50 countries with one unifying goal – to redefine success in business.  Globally, B Corps have combined revenues of a mid-sized country (over $29bn). Pukka became the 102nd B Corp in the UK.

joncraig-co_-uk-20160518-26Tim Westwell, Pukka’s co-founder said: “Sebastian and I started Pukka with the aim of doing good through commerce. Although Pukka has grown to become a leading herbal wellbeing company this vision is still at our heart. It’s wonderful to have it enshrined through being a certified B-Corp and to have joined a powerful lobby of other pioneering businesses that share this intent. Watch out world – there are positive changes ahead.”

Sebastian Pole, Pukka’s co-founder adds: “Tim and I made a commitment right from the start to be true to our purpose, an organisation which gives something back to everyone who it touches. Our business model was therefore built around doing things the right way. Our membership of B Corp means no matter how big we grow this commitment will never be lost.”

Pukka scored 93 out of 200 in its first B Corp assessment. The performance standards B Corps meet are comprehensive, transparent and verified. They measure a company’s impact on all its stakeholders (for example workers, suppliers, community, customers and the environment). The score recognises the work Pukka has done to develop new ways to ensure that it is making a demonstrable contribution to global equality, poverty and the environment. For example:

  • Pukka is working with FairWild guaranteeing that the plants used from the wild have been harvested in a sustainable way and that the collectors have been paid fairly for their work.
  • All the company’s teas are now certified as ‘fair’ through a new scheme called ‘Fair for Life’, which it says is one of the fairest, most equitable and transparent fair trade systems in the world.
  • 100% of the herbs sourced for Pukka’s teas and wellbeing supplements are certified organic by the Soil Association.
  • And, as a member of 1% for the Planet, Pukka gives 1% of its turnover to support environmental causes.

Picture: Pukka co-founders, Tim Westwell (left) and Sebastian Pole