Differentiation in a crowded market is important so they wanted to stand out and help their consumers understand their social and environmental attributes.
Great British Entrepreneur Awards, 2021 Fashion and Beauty Entrepreneur of the Year, and circular economy brand UpCircle is now a certified B Corporation!
UpCircle decided to apply for B Corp Certification to measure its social and environmental performance. UpCircle measured its financial performance from the beginning but wanted to ensure the company was high performing in all aspects. B Corp is also a great incentive for them to follow their corporate social impact and track their progress.
Differentiation in a crowded market is important so they wanted to stand out and help their consumers understand their social and environmental attributes. In addition, B Corp also allows UpCircle to be transparent about how they function and shows what they stand for. It is a rigorous process, but it means UpCircle can be open and honest in a meaningful way, explained company executives.
Discussing the achievement, co-founder Anna Brightman says: “I cannot express how incredible it is to officially be B Corp certified!
“Knowing that the median score for ordinary businesses is 50.9 and that we achieved 96.3 gives weight to our words when we promise that UpCircle is a brand that puts the planet first. Out of all the certifications we’ve applied for, we’re most proud to have been verified by B Lab, because to us, B Corp certification is not just about B Corp certification – it’s about our mission to make the beauty industry accessible and responsible. To call this a significant endeavour is an understatement. We are looking forward to sharing our sustainable and social attributes through the B Corp movement and inspiring our customers. This is only the beginning!”
UpCircle Beauty skincare products are vegan, cruelty-free, palm oil-free and housed in 100% recycled packaging. The company proudly notes that over 100,000 businesses have signed up for the B Corp Impact Assessment since its launch in 2006, and only 3,500 companies are B Corp certified.
The UpCircle B Corp. journey involved three steps:
Stage One
UpCircle had to complete the initial B Impact Assessment (BIA) which is a lengthy questionnaire with over 200 questions, encompassing all areas of business: Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers. This Assessment was then evaluated and reviewed by an analyst to ensure UpCircle was eligible for the certification.
Stage Two
The next stage was verification. UpCircle had to provide supporting documents to their claims made in the assessment and wait for proof to be verified.
Stage Three
UpCircle achieved a verified score of 96.3 points making it a certified B Corp company. This high score puts UpCircle among some of the highest-scoring beauty brands globally.
Find out more about UpCircle, and shop their sustainable products here.
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