September 1, 2021 Megan Baker
Amber becomes a certified B Corporation
Amber, the Cardiff-headquartered energy management consultancy and utilitech pioneer, has become a Certified B Corporation, joining a growing group of companies reinventing business by pursuing purpose as well as profit. Amber energy has been certified by B Lab, the not-for-profit behind the B Corp movement, as having met rigorous social and environmental standards, which demonstrate its commitment to goals outside of shareholder profit and for the benefit of all stakeholders.
The B Corp certification addresses the entirety of a business’ operations and covers the five key impact areas of Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers. The certification process is rigorous, with applicants required to reach a benchmark score of over 80 while providing evidence of socially and environmentally responsible practices around topics such as energy supplies, waste and water use, worker compensation, diversity and corporate transparency. To complete the certification, the company will legally embed its commitment to purpose beyond profit in its company articles.
Amber is now part of a community of over 3,700 businesses globally who have certified as B Corps. The B Corp community in the UK, representing a broad cross section of industries and sizes, comprises over 400 companies and include well-known brands such as The Guardian, Innocent, Patagonia, The Body Shop, and Abel & Cole. Amber energy is only the sixth business to achieve B Corp certification in Wales.
The energy industry is under near constant scrutiny when it comes to sustainability, and the market is crucial in developing more efficient energy sources and processes. This makes Amber’s B Corp certification a notable step, and signals a shift towards greater accountability and transparency in the sector.
Paul McCorquodale, chief operating and information officer at Amber, said, “We are so pleased to have achieved B Corp status. Being a B Corp is the culmination of our unwavering commitment to doing business in line with our principles, and is testament to the hard work of the entire Amber team and our partners.
“We have long been an advocate for doing business differently, and sustainability is a core part of the service that we offer our customers. As a business, we truly believe that commercial success does not require profit to come before people, planet or principles, and our goal is to be the company that partners want to work with, clients trust to get the job done, and that the most talented people are proud to work for. Our B Corp status will help demonstrate that the way we do business is the way business should be done.”
Chris Turner, executive director of B Lab UK, said, “We are pleased to have B Corps of all shapes and sizes as part of our community – from startups to multinationals, and across many different industries. Business is a powerful force, and one that – as these companies are showing – can be used for good. Being able to welcome Amber to the B Corp community is hugely exciting. Its commitment to doing business differently will be an inspiration to others and really help spread the idea that we can redefine success in business to be as much about people and planet as it is about profit.”