Becoming a B Corp isn’t a finish line. It’s a commitment to continuous improvement.
Earlier this year, Ozone completed our B Corp recertification and achieved a 14-point increase from our initial assessment. While it’s always nice to see the score go up, the real value sits underneath the headline. It shows up in the systems we strengthened, the questions we asked ourselves, and the ways we’ve embedded impact into how we run the business day to day.
To unpack what that really looked like, we spoke to Ashleigh Banks, Ozone’s B Corp Project Manager, about the biggest challenges, the biggest improvements, and what we’re focusing on next.
What does recertifying as a B Corp really mean for us, beyond earning the badge again?
Recertification is a reminder that impact isn’t something you set and forget. For us, it’s a non-negotiable commitment to keep doing better every year.
It gives us a structure for reviewing how we operate, where we’re falling short, and what we need to improve. It also gives us accountability, not just to a standard, but to our people, our producers, and the wider communities we’re part of.
That 14-point lift reflects more than improved policies. It reflects the collective work of teams across Ozone choosing better, and putting the effort into making it stick.
What was the biggest challenge during this round of recertification?
This recertification was challenging and deeply rewarding, mostly because it required us to get very specific.
To put it plainly, the B Impact Assessment is a big beast. It includes more than 250 detailed questions and each one needs evidence, context, and clarity. It’s not enough to say we do the right thing. You have to prove it, document it, and show how it’s embedded into the way the business runs.
One of the biggest operational challenges was emissions tracking across a global team. Understanding what data we needed, how to capture it consistently across the UK and NZ, and how to monitor it in a way that matched the increasing rigour of the process was a steep learning curve.
It was also a meaningful one. Every hard part strengthened our systems and sharpened our understanding of our impact.
Where did we see the most significant improvements since our first certification?
Our biggest leap forward was in the Environmental pillar, where we increased our score by 8 points. This was a significant project in its own right.
With the support of Alix from Go Well Consulting, we undertook comprehensive GHG mapping and analysis, set environmental targets, and created a carbon reduction plan that’s focused on practical action.
Since our baseline years (UK FY20 and NZ FY21), our global team has reduced emissions by 37%, equivalent to 398 tonnes of CO₂. We’re incredibly proud of that progress, and just as proud of the foundations we’ve put in place to keep improving from here.
How does B Corp shape the decisions we make across the business, from sourcing to our eateries?
At Ozone, purpose-led decision-making isn’t new. The business was built on family values, long-term relationships, and deep respect for quality and craft.
What B Corp gives us is structure and accountability. It helps us measure our impact, understand where we can do better, and build a roadmap forward. The heart of our decisions has always been guided by our values. B Corp helps us formalise what already matters to us.
You see it in our sourcing, where we’ve built 20-year relationships with some of our producer partners. You see it in our kitchens, where a low-waste mindset and thoughtful sourcing shape how our menus come to life. Try giving our chefs an ingredient they can’t pickle, ferment, or turn into a sauce. They’ll take it as a challenge.
What’s one area you’re most excited to keep pushing over the next few years?
Our carbon emissions journey.
We’ve invested the time to properly understand our footprint, and now we have a clear reduction plan to guide us forward. The next chapter is about action. That means improving the quality of our data, making measurable changes across our sites, and delivering on the ambitious targets we’ve committed to.
It’s long-term work, and it will shape Ozone’s future in a very real way.
Why this matters
Recertifying as a B Corp isn’t about the badge on our door. It’s about who we are as a business and the impact we choose to make every single day.
It’s about staying accountable, staying curious, and staying committed to building a better future for the people and communities we serve.
This journey isn’t over. If anything, it’s the beginning of the next chapter, and we’re excited to keep moving forward, one meaningful decision at a time.
