At 3ti, our motto is ‘To Leave Something Better Behind®’, which simply means that we’re working to create a better planet for everyone and a better, more sustainable world for our children and our grandchildren.
It’s been just over one year since we achieved certification as a B Corporation, joining a growing group of companies reinventing business by pursuing purpose as well as profit. 3ti was certified by B Lab, the not-for-profit behind the B Corp movement, for having met rigorous social and environmental standards that represent its commitment to goals beyond shareholder profit.
We’ve been tackling these challenges since 2019 and since then we’ve installed over £15 million worth of solar PV across our customer’s rooftops, land and car parks.
Why did we become a B Corp?
As the UK’s leading designer, funder, installer and operator of Solar Car Parks (SCPs) our mission is to get businesses & vehicles “Driving on Sunshine®” by deploying large-scale solar arrays in car parks, on waste land & rooftops whilst also growing an extensive, reliable EV charging network with our easy to install, multi-award winning pop-up, mini solar car park, Papilio3®.
We use our unique three technology (“3t”) approach, integrating solar, batteries and EV charge points to help organisations to generate onsite renewable energy from their existing sites, rooftops and car parks to reduce electricity costs and carbon emissions.
Promoting positive change for the planet, through clean, low carbon, low cost energy is part of 3ti’s commitment to providing the UK with sustainable, effective solar and battery boosted destination and workplace EV charging.
The B Corp certification addresses the entirety of a business’ operations and covers five key impact areas of Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers. The certification process is rigorous, with applicants 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. To complete the certification, the company will legally embed their commitment to purpose beyond profit in their company articles.
We were extremely proud to achieve a B Impact score of 98.9 out of 100!
B Corp committed to continuous improvement
We understand that the net zero target is monumental. 82% of global energy still comes from fossil fuels and in the UK, 40% of our electricity still comes from gas. To achieve net zero by 2050, we need to electrify the transport sector and heating. At 3ti we are passionate about renewable energy and believe that providing low carbon electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure is the key to decarbonising the transport sector and working towards net zero targets.
In the spirit of B Corp, we’re continuing to reduce our own carbon footprint and developing new carbon neutral solar car park structures that remove the need for concrete foundations and use wood instead of steel. These are just some of the plans that we have for 3ti in the near future.
New technology innovations to support renewable energy
In December 2023, we were proud to announce a new £2 million Papilio3 V2X Fast Hub project (funded with £1.3 million by the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero, delivered by Innovate UK) to explore how electricity stored in electric vehicle (EV) batteries can be used to smooth out peaks in supply & demand on the UK’s electricity grid.
3ti is leading a consortium of British companies and bringing together our renewable energy expertise with advanced EV power solutions provider Turbo Power Systems (TPS), smart energy company GridBeyond, and EV & decarbonisation experts Cenex, in a 17-month collaboration to deliver a state-of-the art system, including a six-month real-world demonstration. We will integrate bi-directional DC charging & associated power management systems into our pop-up, mini solar car park & EV charging hub, Papilio3.
Smart Microgrids support a more sustainable & reliable energy transition, helping the UK to meet its Net Zero & Energy Security targets. 3ti is developing cutting-edge Smart Microgrid technology, enabling customers to generate revenue from providing flexibility.
Industry recognition as a B Corp
In the past twelve months we have won numerous industry awards for Papilio3, winning the EV Charging Technology at the British Parking Awards and the Best New Technology category at the Transport + Energy Awards just last month. The most prestigious recognition of Papilio3, however, was the Innovation Award that we received from the Renewable Energy Association in June 2023.
- Finalist of Net Zero Champion – Engineering Matters (Announcement 27th March 2024)
- Winner of Best New Product / Technology – Energy & Transport Awards
- Winner of the EV Charging Technology Award – Evolution, British Parking Awards
- Winner of the Innovation Category – British Renewable Energy Awards
- Finalist of Product Innovation of the Year Category – Edie awards
- Winner of the Innovation Category for EV Infrastructure Provider 2023 – E-Mobility awards
- Winner of Best New Product 2022 – EVIE awards
We’re also very fortunate to be working with some of the most well-known brands in the country, including projects at Bentley Motors. And just a few months ago we installed our technologies at Silverstone in time for the British Grand Prix.
We look forward to bringing you more news on our mission ‘To Leave Something Better Behind®’.
About B Corporations™
Certified B Corporations are for-profit companies that use the power of business to build a more inclusive and sustainable economy. They meet the highest verified standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. To date, there are almost 4,000 B Corps in 150 industries and 74 countries around the world.
About B Lab™
B Lab is transforming the global economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet. A leader in economic systems change, our global network creates standards, policies, and tools for business, and
we certify companies—known as B Corps—who are leading the way. To date, our community includes over 3,500 B Corps in 70 countries and 150 industries, and over 100,000 companies manage their impact with the B Impact Assessment and the SDG Action Manager.