Last week I had the pleasure of attending B Lab UK’s very first B Social Breakfast, held at the British Library. It was certainly a busy event. Around 200 members of the B Corp community gathered to connect, learn, and reflect on how we can collectively continue to raise the bar for responsible business. It made for some very inspiring conversations – Ffion Williams at Spring4, Jess Gondwé-Atkins at The Unmistakeables, and Keziah Luxmoore at The Trampery, it was great to meet you.
The focus of the event was the important and timely issue of Human Rights in business, and B Lab’s standards to align with the UN Guiding Principles on Business & Human Rights. Every business, regardless of scale, has a role to play in ensuring human rights are respected and upheld across their operations and supply chains. Organisations must understand how their operations and value chains may involve negative human rights impacts, and take action to prevent and mitigate them.
B Lab’s partnership and product manager Kyle Soo chaired a panel discussion with Origin Coffee’s sustainability manager Sarah Walker and Commonplace Collective’s B Corp and sustainability consultant, Laura Matz.
Asking the right questions
One of the central questions Soo asked during the session was simple but powerful: Do you have a robust Human Rights Policy? For many organisations, the honest answer is no. Yet this is set to become a growing requirement, and not just for compliance purposes. Integrating human rights into business strategy reflects a deeper commitment to authenticity and integrity.
Walker highlighted how every cup of coffee carries with it countless stories of the people, places, and processes behind it. She reminded us that the way we consume coffee – and the industry as a whole – is likely to look very different in 20 years, not only in terms of price but in terms of ethics and sustainability.
Another strong theme that emerged was the importance of looking closely at business models. Where you choose to save or cut costs can directly affect human rights. Integrating a robust supply chain code of conduct can help ensure that short-term cost savings do not come at the expense of workers’ dignity, safety, or rights. Matz recommended resources available at Stronger Together.
Final thoughts
The morning was a clear reminder that B Corp organisations are at their strongest when sharing knowledge, challenges, and solutions. The conversation on Human Rights underscored that business decisions, from sourcing practices to cost structures, are never neutral. They have real-world impacts on people’s lives.
If you haven’t already, now is the time to:
- Review whether your business has a Human Rights policy in place
- Consider adopting a supply chain code of conduct to ensure ethical practices are deep rooted
- Check out Stronger Together’s resource library
- And if you are a fellow B Corp organisations, don’t forget to register for B Lab’s Human Rights webinar on 30th September
By taking action today, we can each play a part in shaping a business landscape that is not only profitable, but fair, transparent, and respectful of every individual it touches.
As a final word, it would be rude not to recognise Origin Coffee and Good and Proper Tea for providing refreshments rooted in ethical sourcing – thank you!
Find out more about Magenta’s B Corp journey, and read more of our blogs.
