We are thrilled to celebrate the new year with our B Corp recertification and a total of 113.6 points, up from 88. This achievement reflects a commitment across the team to keep raising the bar. We’ve strengthened our performance in all five areas of the assessment, with an average increase of 5.1.
B Corp certification is so much more than a label; it’s a rigorous benchmark for what it means to be a well-rounded business. It measures our performance across workers, customers, community, the environment, and governance. It requires us to formally commit to prioritising people and the planet and to recertify every three years. For us, it’s about applying the same culture of continuous improvement to ourselves that we expect of our partner brands.
The B Corp ethos is part of our day-to-day at Piper, but more importantly, it’s reflected in every investment we make. We back businesses that combine purpose with performance because they deliver stronger, more sustainable growth. Well-rounded brands that look after people and consider their impact don’t just do the right thing; they outperform. That’s why half our portfolio is certified B Corp (including Borough Broth, whose B Corp wall frame is on the way) and why we’ve invested £65m in female-led brands across our last two funds, with two-thirds of Fund VII backing women-led businesses.
We certified under the old B Lab Standards V1.6, among the last to do so. From January 2026, all companies will be certified on the new B Lab Standards V2.1, which is a complete overhaul of the process and retires the points system. So while we’re proud of our 113 points, the real story is the 25-point jump since our last certification, proof of our commitment to continuous improvement, a principle that sits at the heart of the new standards. You can read all about the changes here.
Here are 5 things we did to improve:
- Started tracking and publishing our emissions, including taking responsibility for our % ownership of our portfolio as part of our Scope 3 emissions.
- Created a decarbonisation plan and emissions budget to reach a 50% reduction across our portfolio by 2030.
- Overhauled our ESG due dilligence process so that we know the impact of a business before we invest.
- Refreshed our Piper handbook and policies, including introducing enhanced maternity and secondary parent leave and pay.
- Monitor the gender and diversity of brands approaching us for deals and who we invest in, and proactively work to improve the diversity of our networks.
This progress wouldn’t have happened without leadership and collaboration. Our Head of Sustainability, Georgia Jones, has driven projects both within Piper and across our partner brands. A big thank you to the Sustainability Champions in those businesses; your commitment and transparency make all the difference.
As we look ahead, the new standards set a higher expectation for what good looks like. They demand deeper integration of sustainability into strategy and culture, something we’ve always believed in. At Piper, continuous improvement is part of who we are. It’s why we invest in brands that share this mindset and why we work so hard to embed it in our own business.
Any questions on B Corp or how we do sustainability, email our in-house expert, Georgia.