We are extremely proud to announce we have certified as a B CorporationTM, becoming the highest ranked renewable energy company in the UK B Corp community. B Corporations are businesses that meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance, public transparency, and corporate accountability to balance profit and purpose. Thrive has long been committed to purpose beyond profit and now, with the support of our 5,000+ shareholders, we have embedded this commitment in our company articles.
Thrive was one of the UK’s first mission driven businesses, founded 26 years ago to help people power the UK’s transition to clean energy, with the ultimate aim of reducing carbon dioxide pollution to avoid dangerous climate change. As well as creating value for our shareholders, we carefully consider the interests of all stakeholders, from the towns and villages who host clean energy projects to the wildlife which frequents them. This demonstrates how environmental and social performance have been embedded in our DNA since day one.
Matthew Clayton, Managing Director at Thrive Renewables said:
“Thrive Renewables has been working as a force for good for over a quarter of a century. During that time our vision, of a clean, smart energy system driven by the investment of many, has underpinned every decision we make. From funding one of the UK’s first wind farms in the 1990s, we have grown into a £93 million business with 16 wind, hydro and heat projects in our portfolio and new battery storage, wind and geothermal electricity generation projects in development. Additionally we’ve invested in pioneering technologies such as tidal and developed innovative deal structures to widen ownership of renewable energy projects. Collectively, our projects prevented over 75,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2019.”
Clayton continues:
“We feel it is particularly important for us as a mission-based business to undergo rigorous external assessment of our performance on governance, workers’ rights, how we treat our customers and the wider community and, of course, the environment. We are pleased to have scored well in all those areas and are working towards further improvements.”
Thrive 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 460 companies and include well-known brands such as The Guardian, innocent, Patagonia, The Body Shop, and organic food pioneers Abel & Cole.
Kate Sandle, Director of Programmes and Engagement of B Lab UK:
“Congratulations to Thrive Renewables on joining the B Corp community and showing true leadership in renewable energy sector. 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”.
