In a world facing growing environmental pressures and global uncertainty, small businesses across the UK and stepping up – proving that meaningful change often begins close to home.

One small business success story featured in the new Novuna Business Finance sustainability report is Surrey based Simon Rolfe, co-founder of Sea Change Wine.

Simon Rolfe explains how him and his colleague didn’t set out to launch a wine brand that would also champion ocean conservation — he simply wanted to do something meaningful with his experience in the drinks industry. “I’d worked in the drinks industry for years,” he explains, “but I kept feeling there was more we could do, especially about the environment. Plastic pollution in the oceans was becoming impossible to ignore.”

Like many in the wine industry, Simon had seen how the industry often focuses on taste, branding, and sales — but rarely on its environmental impact. “I’ve worked at some of the big companies, and none of them seemed to be taking plastic pollution seriously. It felt like a gap and a real opportunity to make a difference, even if it was just a small one.” For Simon, the choice wasn’t just about business — it was about responsibility. “We asked ourselves; how could we bring together local wine producers and global consumers to help protect our oceans? That’s how Sea Change was born.”

The idea sparked during a conversation in Canada, where Simon and two friends, who also worked in the drinks industry, were attending a conference. “We were just chatting, the three of us.” Simon recalls, “We all worked in the wine industry, and we wanted to do something with purpose. We’d all worked for big drinks companies and wanted to do something that gave back.” That conversation became the main inspiration towards creating and linking a UK-based wine company, and a global cause.

Simon puts it simply: “Wine’s always come from somewhere. You’ve got these people in Europe making the wine, us in the UK bottling and selling it, and people all over the world drinking it. That’s local and global working together.”

With that connection in mind, Sea Change set out to build a wine that matched its values. “We said: let’s try and make the most environmentally friendly bottle of wine we can. This wasn’t just something we put on the label; it involved looking at every detail.”

For example, “we took the plastic capsule off the bottle — it’s just for looks, you take it off and bin it. So, we got rid of it.” Simon knows it might seem like a small step, but it’s meaningful. “Many wine bottles come with plastic capsules covering the cork and neck — but these aren’t needed to enjoy the wine and often end up as landfill. We just thought: why?”

But Sea Change is about more than packaging. From the beginning, the company committed to supporting ocean charities like Ocean Generation. “It’s not just about donating. It’s about awareness too — the charities we support help educate people, especially younger people, about the issues,” Simon says. Their approach is about linking people with the story behind ocean plastics, encouraging growers, retailers, and drinkers to all play a part.

Simon’s story is released alongside research from Novuna Business Finance which highlights the top sustainability obstacles facing UK SMEs:

–       Rising energy costs (55%),

–       Shifting government policies (48%),

–       Inflation and interest rates (40%),

–       Global economic events (37%), and climate change (33%).

Simon’s business story is included in full in the latest Novuna Business Finance report, Global Local: Small Business and Sustainability in a Changing World, explores how major sustainability issues are affecting small businesses nationwide. The report comes at a time marked by significant geo-political shifts, evolving climate change policies and growing concern about future barriers to progress.

Looking to the future, Simon is honest about what Sea Change can achieve. “We’re not going to save the world with a bottle of wine,” he says openly. “But if we can raise some money, raise awareness, and support good people doing good things — then that’s worth it. It’s about making a difference, step by step.”

The ripple effect has been significant as well, Simon notes how hospitality is shifting: “People want something with a story.” Sea Change fits well on restaurant and bar lists because “customers like the idea that they’re helping clean up the ocean while having a glass of wine.”

From that conversation in Canada to over 40 countries where Sea Change is now sold, the project has grown fast. “It was a side hustle at first, we were still doing our day jobs. But it’s grown fast. I think people get it.”

Launching a sustainable wine brand hasn’t been without hurdles. Simon admits, “One of the hardest things was convincing people in the trade that you can care about the planet and still make good, sellable wine. Sometimes they see sustainability as a ‘nice to have’ or just a marketing gimmick.”

“But for us, it’s real. We had to find the right partners who shared those values — growers who care about the land, suppliers who could help us make eco-friendly packaging. It took time, and not everyone was on board.”

Simon is clear that the people that who buy the wine have a significant power in changing mindsets and buying habits “If people choose Sea Change, or any brand that cares about the environment, it sends a message to the whole industry. It says: this matters to us. It pushes growers, suppliers, and retailers to change.”

Simon’s vision for Sea Change is steady growth and bigger impact. “We want to keep expanding, bring more growers on board, support more ocean charities, and get the message here’s still a long way to go, but every bottle sold is part of the solution.”

He also hopes the wine trade will embrace sustainability more widely. “If big companies start taking responsibility, if retailers push for change, we can shift the whole market. That would be a sea change for real.”

Simon concludes, “At the end of the day, it’s about people — growers, drinkers, charities — all coming together. It’s about knowing that your little bit, your glass of wine, can help make a difference. That’s what keeps us going.”

Jo Morris, Head of Insight at Novuna Business Finance, commented: “I’d like to thank Simon, for sharing their stories with us in this report and as guest on the ‘Sustainable Business Podcast’.  Sea Change’s example shows how businesses, in very different sectors share something important in common: they are all making a significant local impact in the communities where they live and work, while also staying mindful of global conversations and actions around climate change and net-zero goals.

“At Novuna Business Finance, we know that the path to sustainability looks different for every business. What these examples show is how small businesses are finding practical, often creative ways to respond to environmental challenges while staying true to their values and local communities. By sharing their experiences, we hope to offer useful insights and support others who are navigating similar decisions—through research, funding, and by giving them a platform to tell their stories.”

The report with Simon’s full story is available now on the Novuna Business Finance website, along with exclusive podcast interviews where business owners share their experiences in their own words