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Happy Pollution Prevention Week! This week is dedicated to reducing and eliminating sources of pollution to prevent damage to the environment, as well as maintaining the planet’s resources and moving towards sustainability. In order for pollution prevention efforts to move forward, businesses and corporations must also take action in preserving the environment’s natural resources.
Some of the key players advancing environmental preservation in business are social entrepreneurs. They are also known as venture philanthropists, social innovators and social capitalists.
Social entrepreneurs use proven business methods and strategies, as well as innovation, to provide solutions to social, cultural or environmental issues, like pollution prevention. Emphasis is placed on social or ecological value creation while attempting to boost the company’s financial value. The impact of these activities is measured and analyzed to evaluate strategies and maintain the highest standards. Qualitative and quantitative data is used to guide continuous improvement. Interestingly enough, 40% of social entrepreneurs work for for-profit companies, while 36% work for nonprofits.
Examples of environmentally-motivated social entrepreneurs include:
A social enterprise company that is tackling the immense amount of unrecyclable waste created by disposable coffee cups. To help solve this problem, Enviro-grow sells biodegradable coffee cups and kit that turns the used cup into a plant.
A social enterprise that diverts mattress from landfills and recovers the components that are recyclable.
A British startup that minimizes waste by making luxury items like handbags and wallets using decommissioned fire hoses from London’s Fire Brigade.
To learn more about social entrepreneurship and growing a business with a purpose, check out Villanova University.
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