Nairobi — Kenyan beverage company African Originals has become the first gin and cider manufacturer in Africa to receive B Corp certification, a designation awarded to firms meeting high standards of social and environmental performance.

The Nairobi-based firm joins a network of nearly 10,000 companies globally that have achieved the certification, which is issued by B Lab, a non-profit that assesses companies on their impact on workers, customers, community, and the environment.

African Originals sources ingredients from local farms and runs enterprise development programs targeting women and youth.

It has also committed to phasing out plastic use by 2026 and reducing its reliance on paper by 2027.

The company recorded 80 million unit sales in December 2024 and has attracted international investment, including a $2 million injection in September to support expansion into new markets.

According to B Lab Africa CEO Lucy Muigai, African Originals represents a growing interest in sustainable business practices within the continent's beverage industry.