From Data to Change: The Butterfly Effect in B-Corps

The smallest of adjustments in data management, whether in data collection methods, analytical models or the decision-making process, can trigger consequences – just like the butterfly effect. A single insight from data can waterfall through businesses and even industries to shape social and environmental landscapes. 

For B-Corps, like Butterfly Data, where our mission is to balance profit with purpose, this presents a powerful opportunity. By utilising data with intention and integrity, we can drive meaningful change, by transforming insights into actions that benefit not only the business but communities and ecosystems we impact. 

We’ve done some research on our B-Corp community to see how some of the certified businesses like Butterfly have done exactly that.

Oddbox: Food Waste Reduction                                             

This London-based B Corp rescues odd and surplus produce directly from farms to reduce food waste. They've used data analytics to:Find food waste hotspots across UK farmsOptimise collection routes to minimise carbon emissionsTrack and measure the exact environmental impact of each box through lifecycle assessment dataTrack seasonal patterns in surplus produce so they could better predict availability and reduce their own waste further     

Neighbourly: Connecting Businesses with Local Charities

Neighbourly is a community investment platform connecting businesses with local charities and community organisations to help them make a positive impact through volunteering, local fundraising, grants and surplus product redistribution. They have been:

• Analysing data on community requirements and business resources to match appropriate partnerships that address specific local needs
• Centralising social and environmental impact data analysis so businesses can easily generate stories about local impact to share with stakeholders 

TOTM: Planet-friendly Period Produce                                            

A fellow Cardiff-based B-Corp, TOTUM, is developing planet-friendly period care. Their use of data has identified gaps in the market to do greater good:Analysis by survey supported the launch of their ‘Period Positive Workplace Scheme’ which now provides 4500+ sites with their products for a more supportive and inclusive environment Track the lifecycle of their products, focusing on environmental impact to become Carbon NeutralUtilising their manufacturing and sales data to help recover the equivalent weight of cardboard applicators in plastic from the oceans                     

Butterfly Data: Positive Societal Impact through Public Sector Authorities

As a data management consultancy, Butterfly Data enables clients across healthcare, government, defence and other sectors to use their data for a positive impact on wider society. Some of our key contributions include:

• Identifying areas with high vaccine hesitancy to enhance community advocacy efforts for increased uptake of vaccines to protect wider public
• Creating an AI chatbot to provide reliable cancer lifestyle advice for patients and families
• Empowering a naval authority to make informed recruitment decisions to secure a resilient and capable future workforce 
• Building a platform for the UK’s Net Zero supply chain to support national sustainability goals

Small Actions for Meaningful Change

In data analytics, small, intentional actions can create meaningful change. Evidently organisations can use data responsibly and continue to thrive financially, whilst benefiting society and the planet. The challenge moving forward is: how can we refine our data strategies further to strengthen their positive impact?

Talk to us about how we can help use your data for greater societal effect.