Emma Heathcote-James, founder of the Little Soap Company, is “thrilled” to receive the coveted Sustainable Development accolade at the 2026 King’s Awards for Enterprise. What began as a hobby in her Cotswolds cottage kitchen in 2008 has blossomed into a thriving multi-million-pound UK enterprise known for its commitment to eco-friendly, sustainable practices.
The Little Soap Company’s ethos centers on putting people and the planet before profit. Emma’s passion for creating all-natural, plant-based soaps is reflected in her carefully crafted product lines—Organics, Naturals, Eco Warrior, and Little Beast—now available in major supermarkets including Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, and Boots. The company employs 11 people and sells a bar of soap every 30 seconds.
The King’s Awards for Enterprise, the UK’s most prestigious business honours, recognise excellence across innovation, international trade, sustainable development, and social mobility. The Sustainable Development Award is a particularly distinguished accolade, granted to only 15 to 30 businesses nationwide each year. Emma notes the rigorous process the company underwent to meet the high standards set, emphasizing the challenges of genuinely sustainable business practices in an industry rife with greenwashing.
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“We’ve always believed in doing business differently,” Emma says. “Every decision our team makes prioritizes people and planet before profit. This award shows that it’s possible to succeed financially while staying true to sustainable values.”
Little Soap Company has been B Corp certified since 2020, one of only three UK soap makers with this certification, and achieved an improved score of 90.7 upon recertification in 2023. For three consecutive years (2022-2024), the company has been declared carbon negative by Carbon Neutral Britain, offsetting more than twice its entire Scope 1–3 emissions.
All products are vegan certified, cruelty-free, and made in Britain using 100% recycled and recyclable packaging. Fragrances are exclusively derived from pure essential oils, avoiding synthetic additives altogether.
Emma’s inspiration came from a personal need for gentle, natural soap after struggling to find suitable products following her grandmother’s passing. “No soaps in supermarkets met my criteria for natural, fragrance-sensitive skin,” she explains. What started as homemade batches for friends and family quickly evolved into a full-fledged business, driven by a responsibility to create products that do good rather than contribute to waste.
Choosing to manufacture exclusively in the UK, despite the higher costs compared to overseas alternatives, underscores the company’s commitment to quality, authenticity, and ethical production. Emma personally endorses every box, standing behind the brand’s values.
She hopes to see more natural soap options on supermarket shelves, encouraging competition that lifts industry standards. “It shouldn’t just be us as the sole natural choice – all products should be genuinely natural and responsibly made,” she adds.
Emma and her team will celebrate their achievement at a royal reception at St James’ Palace this July, followed by a staff barn dance in October. Looking ahead, international expansion is the next key goal. “The world is our oyster now, and this royal recognition will help pave the way,” Emma concludes.