Bookshop.org awarded B Corp status in recognition of environmental and ethical standards

Online retailer Bookshop.org has been awarded Certified B Corporation status after just 18 months in business.

The certification has been given in recognition of the platform’s commitment to sustainable and ethical shopping and its announcement coincides with Earth Day today (Friday 22nd April).

B Corporations are required to meet higher standards of social and environmental impact, transparency and accountability to stakeholders, rather than just shareholders. Currently there are  4,750 B Corp certified businesses globally across 150 industries.

The platform achieved carbon neutral certification in April 2021, which means every book delivery made through the site in the UK has its carbon emissions offset. The book-buying platform launched in the UK in November 2020 and has since raised over £2m for the more than 750 independent bookshops that use the site.

Achieving B Corp certification is something we have been working towards since we first launched, and it is great to have celebrate the recognition on Earth Day,"  said Nicole Vanderbilt, UK m.d. of Bookshop.org.

“Our customers shop with us because they want to support independent bookshops and we offer an ethical alternative to Amazon, should they not be able to visit their favourite indie in person. Bookshop.org’s recognition as a Certified B Corporation business reaffirms our mission to create a more sustainable alternative to buying books online.”