Edinburgh ecotech pioneer Pawprint has revealed it has exceeded a recently-launched crowdfunding campaign, surpassing a target of £700k.

With two weeks still to run on the month-long crowdfund campaign, the startup has secured funding from over 230 investors, enabling it to continue ramping up development of its employee engagement platform and “accelerate climate action at scale”.

In addition to the crowdfunding success, Pawprint also confirmed it has secured certification as a B Corporation (or B Corp), recognising its commitment to sustainability, ethics and accountability.

Achieving B Corp status means Pawprint met rigorous social and environmental standards which represent its commitment to goals outside of shareholder profit.

B Corp certification addresses the entirety of a business’ operations and covers five key impact areas of Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers.

Applicants are required to reach a benchmark score of over 80 while providing evidence of socially and environmentally responsible practices relating to energy supplies, waste and water use, worker compensation, diversity and corporate transparency.

Christian Arno, Founder and CEO of Pawprint, commented: “To me, B Corps are setting the standard for how business can change the world for the better.

“It was incredibly emotional for me to find out we’d achieved B Corps status, because the way B Corps are run cuts to the very core of what I believe in and the basis on which Pawprint was founded.”

Pawprint now joins a global community of more than 4,000 B Corp certified businesses which includes organisations such as Patagonia, innocent and The Guardian.

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Chris Turner, Executive Director of B Lab UK, added: “We are delighted to welcome Pawprint to the B Corp community. This is a movement of companies who are committed to changing how business operates and believe business really can be a force for good.

“Being able to welcome Pawprint to the B Corp community is hugely exciting. 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.”

Pawprint focuses on reducing carbon emissions through its employee engagement platform, Pawprint for Business.

The platform, which is used by businesses such as Tesco Bank, Brewdog and Royal London, enables businesses to engage, support and unite employees in reducing their carbon footprints at home and work.

The firm was highlighted by the UK Government as a Climate Leader during COP26, and was the only SME invited to speak at the FTSE’s recent Race To Zero event.

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