While we’re all accustomed to taking our reusable bags to the supermarket now and ditching the plastic straws in favour of paper alternatives, it’s a well-known fact that globally, we need to do more to curb the climate crises.
Businesses have the opportunity to make a big impact, and these companies are taking steps towards sustainable processes and eco-friendly swaps. Here are 7 businesses championing sustainability across London and beyond, from food to tech and everything in between.
MPB
MPB’s sustainability mission, in their own words, is “to open up the world of visual storytelling in a way that’s good for people and the planet”. A platform for buying, selling, and trading used camera and video equipment, MPB strives to be as circular in its approach as possible.
In addition to promoting the use of used goods rather than always buying new, over one third of the electricity the business uses is renewable and they have ambitions to reach 100% by the end of 2025. They work with organisations to make their packaging, recycling and deliveries as environmentally friendly as possible, and achieved an A rating from Circulytics in 2022 and 2023.
Olio
Olio is a food sharing app that connects people with local businesses and neighbours to prevent surplus food from being thrown away. Used in 49 countries by over 7 million people, Olio has been a huge success worldwide and has expanded to non-food items like books, toys, and clothes. A certified B Corp, Olio is focused on fighting waste and has shared over 159 million portions of food to date.
Shaku
Shaku creates luxury silk scarves, accessories, and home goods that embrace the slow fashion mindset. This means they prioritise responsible manufacturing, ethical labour, natural materials and products that are built to last and serve as heirlooms rather than trend pieces that are worn once and thrown away. A London-based business, Shaku designs use threads such as silk, cotton, and cashmere, without any polyester or acrylic in sight, and they only create limited edition runs which means there’s minimal textile waste.
Octopus Energy
Renewable energy is one of the biggest ways we can make a positive change for the planet but there’s the misconception that it’s expensive. While installing renewable power systems in your home can be costly, Octopus Energy was created to prove that it doesn’t always have to be. As one of the largest investors in renewables in Europe, managing over 400 green generators, including wind and solar farms, they also install heat pumps, EV chargers and smart metres for their customers at a more affordable price point to make renewables more accessible to all.
Abel & Cole
Abel & Cole is a UK-based organic fruit and vegetable delivery company which focuses on minimising unnecessary plastic use and paying farmers fairly for their labour and produce. For each fruit or veg box ordered, they donate fresh product to a partnered charity and have donated over 103 tonnes of food to people in need. What’s more, they’ve saved more than 20 tonnes of flexible plastic from heading to landfill and nearly 8,000 fewer tonnes of carbon from being emitted.
Medicycle
Plastic waste is a huge problem, and an issue that gets a lot of headline space, but something we don’t talk about as much is medical waste in the UK. Medicine deadstock accounts for thousands of pounds worth of losses for pharmaceutical brands every year, but as one of the most energy- and carbon-intensive industries in the world, it’s also a climate issue.
Medicycle connects pharmacies and their inventories to share the medicines needed for prescriptions to minimise this waste. They’re striving to be a net zero emissions business and are working towards becoming a carbon-neutral company, with sustainability woven into every aspect of their operations.
Green Tomato Cars
Green Tomato Cars is a zero emissions passenger car service that has been operating in London since 2006. This ethical business is ISO 14001 certified and buys credits that are equal or double to their total emissions to make the company carbon negative. Green Tomato Cars also invests in other projects and initiatives that are aiming to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality in the city. In the past 12 months, they’ve saved over 298,731kg CO2 emissions from being released and have expanded to operate in 178 cities internationally.
These seven businesses demonstrate that sustainability is more than just a buzzword. It’s a core principle that guides their operations and has resulted in a significant impact. From circular economies and waste reduction to renewable energy and ethical production, each company is taking meaningful steps toward a greener future.
Their success highlights that sustainable business practices can be both impactful and commercially viable, setting an example for others to follow. Imagine the impact if these principles were adopted widely in a city like London. As consumers, supporting businesses that prioritise sustainability can drive even greater change, because every eco-conscious choice, no matter how small, contributes to a healthier planet.