28 February 2025.
Demi Heath.
Kaitiakitanga (guardianship of the land, sea & sky).

Welcome to our third Sussex Bay blog. As a Brighton & Hove native working in sustainable business, I want to reflect on the importance of the role of business in maintaining and nurturing local environments. Although Brighton is my hometown, I lived and worked in New Zealand for several years, a time that profoundly reshaped how I view our natural world and our place within it.

Te Ao Māori (Māori worldview) sees us as an integral part of nature, with every element of the natural world intrinsically linked. Central to this perspective is the concept of kaitiakitanga, which teaches us to act as guardians of our environment. To work with it to protect and nurture, not to claim ownership over, but to safeguard for future generations. (There’s a wealth of wisdom in Māori culture—though that’s a topic for another blog!)

This idea has gone on to inform my worldview and is a core principle I bring into my professional life. Businesses don’t run solely on profit margins, they exist because of people and the resources of the planet. Therefore, they have a duty to care for the communities and landscapes that sustain them.

What is B Corp?

B Corp isn’t just about making the world a better place. It’s a direct challenge to the old-school capitalist model. Traditional capitalism prioritises shareholder profit above all else, often leaving people and nature by the wayside. B Corps flip that script by championing stakeholder primacy, what you might call Capitalism 2.0.

These businesses recognise that profit isn’t the sole measure of success. They understand that companies thrive only when the communities, employees, and natural resources that support them are cared for. B Corp certification looks to address the endless cycle of taking without giving back. It’s about rethinking business so that every decision benefits society and the environment (the broader stakeholders beyond shareholders).

In tangible terms this may look like any (or hopefully all!) of the following and beyond; paying a living wage, creating long term partnerships with charities, measuring and reducing its carbon footprint, working with its supply chain on more sustainable solutions, actively challenging internal biases to enhance D, E, & I and having transparent governance and accountability.

All of that can sound a bit daunting to the average business but research from B Lab suggests that B Corp-certified companies in the UK enjoy benefits like a 38% boost in brand recognition, enhanced resilience during challenging times, longer staff retention, and more robust growth compared to conventional businesses. These tangible advantages underscore how aligning profit with purpose not only creates positive social and environmental impacts but also delivers measurable business benefits. And the B Corp assessment framework lays out an easy to follow roadmap to get there, step by step. 

B Corps show us that doing well and doing good can, and should, go hand in hand.

Local B Corp Community.

Across Sussex, the regional B Corp community is buzzing with energy and innovation. Here, businesses aren’t just profit machines, they’re driven by purpose and a shared commitment to rethinking what success really means. With 70+ certified B Corps in the region (with more certifying every week!), every member is contributing to a collective shift in how business is done. With the likes of Trusted Housesitters, Bird & Blend Tea, Redroaster, Projects, Ridgeview Wine, and Word of Books in the community to name just a few, they’re proving that a better way of doing business isn’t only possible, it’s already happening. It’s a space where ideas are freely shared, partnerships naturally form, and every success is celebrated as a win for the entire region.

Ultimately, the Sussex B Corp movement is setting the pace for a more balanced, inclusive form of capitalism. One where the well-being of people and the planet holds equal weight to the bottom line. We formed the Brighton B Local, with the support of B Lab UK, in November 2024 and are so excited for what this means for increased positive impact in the region. 

Aligning Values: B Corp and Sussex Bay.

I’ve seen firsthand how Sussex Bay is rethinking growth by putting people and nature first, creating an ecosystem for sustainable innovation - a perspective that aligns perfectly with the B Corp ethos. As Co-Chair for the Brighton B Local, I’m excited to witness how both movements champion the role of community and collaboration. They remind us that success isn’t just measured by the bottom line; it’s about nurturing connection, safeguarding our environment, and building resilient economies.

Whether you’re a business reimagining your role or a community rallying for change, Sussex Bay and the B Corp community share a common vision: putting people and the planet at the heart of everything we do. With that in mind, we see a future that is jam packed with B Corps and business for good that are kaitiaki (guardians) of Sussex Bay with everything thriving in an ecosystem that nurtures itself.