Black Isle, the leading Scottish organic craft brewery, has announced that it has become a Certified B Corporation.
It joins a community of more than 6,200 businesses around the world dedicated to creating a more sustainable and inclusive economy.
B Corp certification is awarded to companies that meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency. To become certified, companies must undergo an in-depth assessment process and meet strict criteria set by B Lab, the non-profit body which oversees the certification process.
Black Isle has long been committed to prioritising environmental causes in its business practices, using organic ingredients in its brewing process from its inception in 1998. The brewery stands at the heart of a 130-acre organic farm where wildlife is encouraged to thrive. Thousands of native trees have been planted alongside newly-created ponds and wetlands.
The Black Isle brewery farm has also allowed for strong links to be forged with the local community. Volunteers are invited to help out in the market garden to learn about permaculture and nature-friendly growing techniques.
Black Isle Brewery founder David Gladwin
Local schoolchildren visit the farm twice a week to benefit from time spent in nature and to learn about a soil-to-table approach to food production. The organic fruit and vegetables from the market garden are used in salads and as pizza toppings in Black Isle’s craft beer bars in Inverness and Fort William.
“We’re thrilled to join the B Corp community and be recognised for our commitment to sustainability and ethical business practices,” said David Gladwin, founder and managing director of Black Isle Brewery.
“We believe that businesses have a responsibility to operate in a way that balances profits with their broader responsibilities to employees, customers, communities and the planet. Being a part of the B Corp community allows us to share ideas with like-minded businesses from all sectors and build on what we’ve achieved so far.”
