No Nasties. All Good.
72% of UK sweets contain nasties like animal gelatine, artificial colours and flavours, and palm oil*. At Candy Kittens we make sweets differently, with none of the nasty gelatine. We see no place for meat or any other nasties hiding in packs on our sweet shelves!
In a sweet industry that’s full of bitter secrets, we’re a B Corp determined to be a force for good. We make gourmet sweets with plants. We've proved it's possible to make irresistible sweets with honest ingredients and no nasties, and we're on a mission to challenge the outdated sweets industry to ditch the gelatine, stop using palm oil and do better!
But the ingredients in our sweets is only one part - our commitment to do good, for people and our planet, extends beyond the pack. Read below to find out more about our B Corp certification, the charities we support, and the journey we're on to achieve our sustainability goals.
*Nielsen, Total Sugar Confectionery, Latest 52 Wks w/e 10/08/2024 based on top 50 sub-brands containing gelatine, palm oil or artificial colours and flavours.
How we're building a future with No Nasties
Palm oil? Not in our sweets.
Using palm oil is a no-go for us. This oil has snuck its way into many food items, and can cause devastating deforestation and habitat destruction for the most endangered species. If it’s a no from the planet, it’s a no from us!
I'm recyclable!
In 2020 we made the commitment to make all of our packaging recyclable. Our pouches can be recycled at supermarket collection points. We work with OPRL and their simple, UK-wide recycling icons across all of our products to make it easy for you to know what to do, so please recycle!
Plant Powered
Did you know other sweets contain meat? Nasty! We believe in the power of plants as an alternative to animal gelatine, so in 2018 we turned our recipe plant based! Today, our range is 100% plant powered. We’ve managed to keep that ‘gimme more’ texture you love by using vegetable proteins and starch, so everyone can enjoy our entire plant powered range.
We're a B Corp, baby!
We became the first B Corp certified sweets brand in October 2022! B Corp is a globally recognised certification that approves businesses that balance purpose and profit. We’re proud to be recognised as using our business as a force for good.
Honest Ingredients
Unlike the rest of the outdated industry, if you give our ingredients list a read, you’ll find you can actually understand everything that goes into our sweets! We don’t hide any meat, E numbers, artificial flavours or artificial colours in our sweets. Instead, we use fruit juice and plants to deliver punchy flavours without any compromise.
The first B Corp certified sweets brand!
Since day one, we’ve been on a mission to shake up the sweet game and challenge the outdated industry to make sweets better. Our ‘better is possible’ outlook has meant a continuous journey to improve our impact on the planet, and our aim to balance purpose with profit was officially recognised in October 2022 when we became a certified B Corp.
In fact, we were the first sweets brand to become a B Corp)! With the average Global company scoring 50.9, we’re really proud to have achieved 86.5 - for context, the pass mark is 80.
But what does it all mean - what is a ‘certified B Corp’?! B Corp is a globally recognised certification that means businesses are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on their workers, customers, community and the environment. Simply put, it means we’re using our business as a force for good. Being part of the B Corp community also gives us the opportunity to connect with other brands who share similar values. From our new London office ‘The Sweet Factory’ which is decorated and styled by fellow B Corp brands, to the collaborations we host via our email newsletter and social channels. We want to shine a light on the great work these brands do - be sure to subscribe and follow us to stay up to date and learn about other like-minded brands!
Achieving B Corp status isn’t just a one-time box-ticking exercise - we’ll need to re-certify every three years. We commit to doing this and to sharing our progress with you openly and transparently - it’s a journey to better that will continue to evolve and grow as we do. You can read more about what we’re up to and how we achieved this status in our 2023 Impact Report. You can also click here to head over to the B Corp website to learn more.
Our packaging
In 2020 we made the commitment to use recyclable packaging for all of our products. Our gift jars are made from 100% recycled plastic waste and are fully recyclable at home. Our pouches are made from the same material (OPE/PE or OPP/PP) as a plastic bag, which means you can recycle them along with carrier bags at larger supermarkets.
Over the past 12 months we have tested paper as an alternative, but we found that plastic was best. The reason being, our sweets are difficult to store in paper as it impacts the flavour and appearance. To ensure our sweets remain as fresh as possible, the paper would need a plastic barrier. This plastic barrier would mean our products cannot be recycled, which is why for now we continue to use plastic packaging.
We’re excited by the recent news from the government that by March 2027 the flexible plastic that our pouches are made from can be recycled at home, making it a lot easier for everyone and a big step towards our ambition of ensuring every pack is recycled. We’ll be sure to keep you in the loop as the changes go live, and you can always ask us questions or share any ideas with us at support@candykittens.co.uk
As part of our commitment to do better, we have a live project looking at alternative materials for our pouches, to move away from virgin plastic. When we have an update on this, you will be the first to know!