Enterprise Brief: Energy Unlimited
Published: 31 August 2014
Powered By Nature (PbN) provides affordable clean energy devices for households by importing and locally sourcing products, training entrepreneurs and sub-distributors in marketing them, and retailing through its own stores. Through its activities, the enterprise reduces energy poverty in Malawi. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Switch ON- ONergy
Published: 31 August 2014
The enterprise overcomes the obstacle of last-mile distribution of solar energy products by providing solar energy solutions to rural communities using a full-service distribution infrastructure. Through partner collaboration, the enterprise trains rural entrepreneurs, funds innovative development projects and provides after-sales services to customers. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Frontier Markets
Published: 31 August 2014
Frontier Markets (FM) is a sales and service distribution company that provides access to affordable clean energy products. By creating service and repair centres, focusing on education and following an end-to-end supply chain, FM improves energy access in rural India for low-income families. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Proplanet
Published: 31 August 2014
Proplanet transforms materials that are hard-to-recycle, such as long-life Tetra Pak and plastified paper, into paper fibre, sustainable construction materials, and urban furniture, thereby reducing pressure on landfills. Through biodegradable food packaging with FSC certification, it helps to substitute plastics. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Diseclar
Published: 31 August 2014
Diseclar has developed a method to create furniture made from recycled plastic and agro-industrial waste including sugar cane pulp, coffee and rice chaff. Customers benefit from long-lasting products, while the local community benefits from job creation and positive environmental impacts. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Recycling for Environmental Recovery
Published: 31 August 2014
The enterprise will establish a plastics recycling plant to produce secondary raw materials for the plastics industry in Morocco and abroad. It seeks to improve health and safety for waste workers, particularly those involved in waste collection. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Honey Products Industries
Published: 31 August 2014
Honey Products Industries creates an agribusiness value chain out of high-quality honey. The honey is sourced from independent smallholder beekeepers, packaged and processed in factory hubs and distributed across the country via a franchise model. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Electricity4all
Published: 31 August 2014
Electricity4All provides solar battery kits that can power households and small-to-medium businesses, independent from the grid, by using renewable solar energy. By implementing a network of solar energy kiosks, Electricity4All improves access to affordable and sustainable electricity in rural communities Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Last Forest Enterprises
Published: 31 August 2014
Last Forest provides a marketing platform for 68 kinds of organic and forest-based products and spreads the message of fair trade principles, sustainable harvesting, biodiversity and value-added indigenous products. Incubated by the Keystone Foundation, the enterprise also provides business development services. Read more
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The circular economy and opportunities for small businesses
Published: 28 August 2014 Anais Mangin, Francesca Culcasi
Current ways of production and consumption are not sustainable, disregarding the efficient use of natural resources, the minimization of toxic materials and the emission of waste. Read more
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Early stage impact investing: a call for action
Published: 18 August 2014 Anais Mangin
The exponential growth of small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs) in Africa, Asia and Latin America has contributed significantly to the burgeoning green economy. Read more
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How Women Entrepreneurs are contributing to the Green Economy
Published: 01 August 2014 Anais Mangin
Particularly women are increasingly perceived to play a significant role in realising the transformation to a greener economy and poverty reduction in countries with developing economies. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Mozambikes
Published: 06 July 2014
Mozambikes assembles and sells quality bikes at affordable prices. It customises bikes with logos and colours and encourages companies and non-profit organisations to buy advertising space or branded bikes outright and distribute them to rural areas. Read more
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2014 SEED Awards Applications – Now Open Grassroots Green Entrepreneurs Can Win Business Support Package
Amélie Heuër, Mellab Shiluli Source: UN Environment
Start-up social and environmental entrepreneurs who have developed innovative products or services and are working with local communities can win a tailor-made business support package through the 2014 SEED Awards, which open for nominations today. Read more
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SEED Awards 2014 - A Call for Applications
Published: 11 February 2014
Start-up social and environmental entrepreneurs who have developed innovative products or services and are working with local communities can win a tailor-made business support package through the 2014 SEED Awards, which open for nominations today. Read more
SEED Awards 2014 - Apply by 8 April!
Published: 01 January 2014
The SEED Initiative has just launched the 2014 SEED Awards to support entrepreneurs for sustainable development. Read more
From Plates that Grow Food to Certified Cocoa: UN Awards Innovative Green Enterprises at Green Economy Symposium
Published: 31 October 2013
The 34 winners of the 2013 SEED Awards were announced today. Read more
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SEED Symposium & International Awards Ceremony 2013
Published: 02 October 2013
On October 31, the 2013 SEED Symposium and International Awards Ceremony took place in Nairobi in the framework of the Global South-South Development Expo (GSSD Expo) organised by the UN Office for South-South Cooperation and hosted by UNEP. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Blessed Bee for Life
Published: 31 August 2013
The beekeeping enterprise Blessed Bee for Life provides farmers with tools and equipment for beehives, teaches them about beekeeping and helps them sell their honey products. Women are fully integrated into production, reducing not only poverty but also environmental degradation. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Awamu Biomass Energy Ltd.
Published: 31 August 2013
Awamu Biomass Energy Ltd. produces and distributes micro-gasifier improved cookstoves that use renewable energy from readily available dry organic waste. The enterprise is also increasing agricultural profitability and sustainability through the environmentally responsible production of fuel for the stoves. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Nuru Energy
Published: 31 August 2013
Nuru Energy provides portable rechargeable lights and the first commercially available pedal power generators, giving rural communities energy for their daily activities. By introducing an affordable alternative to kerosene, the enterprise also helps reduce CO2 emissions. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Solar Serve
Published: 31 August 2013
Solar Serve specialises in the manufacture and distribution of solar cookstoves and clean cookstoves. Customers benefit from reduced costs for fuels and improved health, while pressure on the environment is decreased due to the reduction of deforestation and carbon emissions. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Trees for Global Benefit
Published: 31 August 2013
Trees for Global Benefit is a cooperative carbon offsetting scheme linking farmers in Uganda to the voluntary carbon market, combining carbon sequestration with rural livelihood improvements through small-scale, farmer-led, agricultural and forestry projects while reducing pressure on natural resources in forest reserves. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Tia Nuru
Published: 31 August 2013
Tia Nuru enables and empowers individuals through consultation, educational events and training in how to build sustainable living systems. In this way, the enterprise reduces the environmental footprint of their customers while promoting new services to the local community and preserving local resources. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Growing a Sustainable Future: Sustain for Life Hospital Gardens
Published: 31 August 2013
Sustain for Life demonstrates sustainable agriculture techniques to produce nutritious food for hospitals while training vulnerable and marginalised community members, mainly women. The enterprise improves livelihoods at two locations in southwest Uganda and creates new markets by selling surplus food. Read more
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