After a lot of checks, evaluations, and scrupulous vetting of our business from top to bottom, we're officially a certified B Corp. This matters to us.
We're one of just 32 personal care brands in the UK to achieve certification, and we scored 87 points on our first assessment. That's 10 points higher than the average B Corp in beauty, and miles ahead of the standard business score of 50.9.
Why B Corp matters (and why we bothered)
B Lab, the non-profit behind B Corp certification, believes businesses should benefit all stakeholders, not just shareholders. It sounds revolutionary, but it's really just common sense.
Sarah Brown, our CEO and Founder, puts it this way: "Launching Pai was never about selling skincare. It was about helping people to feel good about their skin, and good about the choice they've made.
"Our B Corp certification is testament to that. What I love most about the standard is that it delves into every single crevice of your business, and isn't static. It forces you to continually evolve and improve.
"Being a good business can't be piecemeal or focused on an area that's easy for you. It must be a continual work in progress, with steadfast commitment from the top. It also requires knowing your flaws, being honest about them, and having a plan to improve. Something Pai has been committed to since day one."
18 months of scrutiny
B Corp certification is thorough. Every aspect of our business went under scrutiny. They examined every aspect of our business: governance, people, community, environment, customers.
We scored particularly well in the Environment category. Not surprising, given we've been certified organic since day one. But the numbers still impressed us.
Our London lab saved 270,900 litres of water last year alone through our closed-loop manufacturing system. That's 900 litres saved with every production batch. We've also kept 54 tonnes of waste from landfill through our packaging choices. Every Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil bottle, every Light Work Cleansing Oil pump, designed to be recycled.
These aren't marketing statistics. They're actual measurements from our actual factory. The kind of data B Lab demands before they'll certify anything.
What B Corp certification actually means
Chris Turner, Executive Director of B Lab UK, said: "Welcoming Pai Skincare to the B Corp community is an exciting moment, because they have an opportunity to lead the way within the beauty industry. Their 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."
In other words, we've joined a club that actually checks your homework.
B Corp isn't a badge you win and forget about. It's a commitment to keep improving, measured every three years. The bar keeps rising. Standards get tougher. Which is exactly how it should be.
For us, it means formalising what we've always done: putting purpose before profit, transparency before marketing speak, and evidence before empty promises. It means our products aren't just certified organic. They're made by a certified B Corp that measures its water usage, tracks its carbon footprint, and publishes its gender pay gap.
Watch this space. The best businesses never stop improving.
Learn more about our B Corp certification or explore B Lab's mission at bcorporation.net.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean that Pai is a certified B Corp?
B Corp certification means Pai has been rigorously assessed across governance, people, community, environment and customers by B Lab, the non-profit behind the standard. Pai is one of only 32 personal care brands in the UK to hold the certification, and achieved a first-round score of 87 points, which is 10 points higher than the average B Corp in the sector.
How long did it take Pai to become B Corp certified?
The certification process took 18 months and involved a point-by-point evaluation of every part of the business. Every area, from environmental practices to governance and community impact, was scrutinised before Pai received accreditation.
What environmental achievements helped Pai earn B Corp status?
Pai's existing organic certifications and sustainability practices stood out in the Environment category. The brand has saved 54 tonnes of waste from landfill through recyclable packaging, and its bespoke closed-loop water system conserves 900 litres per production batch, totalling 270,900 litres saved in the assessment year alone.
How does B Corp certification differ from other sustainability labels?
Unlike certifications that focus on a single area like ingredients or packaging, B Corp evaluates the entire business across five pillars: governance, people, community, environment and customers. As Pai's founder Sarah Brown puts it, the standard "delves into every single crevice of your business" and requires continual evolution rather than a one-off tick box.
Does Pai's B Corp certification mean anything changes for customers?
You can feel confident that Pai is held to an ongoing, independently verified standard across every part of the business, not just its products. B Corp certification isn't static; it requires Pai to keep evolving and improving, so the commitment to doing right by people and planet only deepens over time.
