'We're all changing the world': How B Corps are turning competition into collaboration

In the corporate world, profit is often the number one goal, but certified B Corporations are different. Although they want to make money, B Corp companies are equally concerned with environmental impact, employee wellbeing, and community transformation. This drive takes away competition and replaces it with a passion to work together with other like-minded businesses.  

“All B Corps want more B Corps,” Philip Everett-Lyons, founder of the B Corp Hattiers Rum, told The Big Issue. “We’re all changing the world one step at a time. We’re unified, singing from the same song sheet. That strong need [to change the world] eliminates competition regardless of what sector you’re in.” 

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Since his company became B Corp certified in November 2020, Everett-Lyons has celebrated each announcement of a new B Corp in the drinks sector.  

“We pick up the phone to anyone in the spirits sector and say they’ve done amazingly in becoming a B Corp,” he said. He follows up his congratulations with his personal mobile number if support is needed.  

Last year, Everett-Lyons started working out how he could collaborate with other B Corps in his industry, deciding on a one-off, speaker-led event where eight different brands spoke about their company’s purpose alongside selling their drinks at the bar.  

This year, for B Corp Month, Everett-Lyons wanted to make it a bigger event. After seeing last year’s collaboration, 15 B Corp brands have opted in and will have their alcohol for sale during the month of March at X+Why, a B Corp flexible working space in London. There are two planned events during the month, with the space being offered out to other B Corps in the daytimes for away days,
meetings and socials.  

Although each of the brands selling their alcohol want to make profit through the month, they are participating for a “higher purpose”, and no one has mentioned being worried about their competitors, who will be selling from the same venue.  

One of the brands joked with Everett-Lyons on a Zoom call when he initially proposed the idea. “Philip, you’re telling me I will be sharing a roof with my competitors and I’m using my marketing budget for this – I’m out,” she told Everett-Lyons. “Only joking! Don’t be silly – of course we’re in.” 

This cohort hopes the visibility they gain from working together means other brands and retailers will want to up their game. “We’re like a group of challenger brands,” he said. “We’re showing them that it’s this way forward.” 

He’s also hopeful that collaboration will help lesser-known brands get on the radars of consumers, who’ll be introduced to brands whose drinks not only taste great but are doing good.  

Collaboration isn’t just happening within the alcohol industry.  B Locals are geographical collectives of B Corps across the UK, working to support local community groups and charities. The B Corp Beauty Coalition is made up of 26 beauty B Corps with the aim of strengthening sustainability standards in the beauty industry. Travel by B Corp is a collective of hotel groups, holiday parks, small-group adventures, and tailor-made travel companies, all with the aim of helping UK consumers to travel better by choosing B Corp certified travel businesses. 

Rather than being fierce rivals, so many B Corps are keen to network with and support each other as they continue to make their world a better place.  

“We are all great friends with a common purpose,” Everett-Lyons concluded. “We have
a common purpose to do things greater than ourselves.” 

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