Circular Economy

In order to preserve valuable natural resources for future generations and conserve biodiversity, we need to drive the transition to a Circular Economy. Closed-loop, circular economic models reincorporate materials into production cycles to reduce resource exploitation and ensure that we are able to live healthier, more sustainable lives.

Enterprise Brief: Busia Waste to Energy-Eco-briquette Production Enterprise

Published: 31 August 2013
Busia Waste to Energy-Eco-Briquette Production Enterprise provides an alternative energy source produced from local waste resources such as maize cobs and charcoal dust. This helps reduce deforestation, improve the use of waste and promote sustainable development through job creation in Busia. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: GRS Commodities Ltd

Published: 31 August 2013
GRS Commodities Ltd. promotes off-grid renewable bio-energy in Uganda and the surrounding Great Lakes region. The enterprise applies waste-to-energy concepts which utilise biomass in rural communities while also focusing on better waste utilisation farms, with the goal of energy recovery and cleaner agricultural production. 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: 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: 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: New Sun Road

Published: 31 August 2013
Southeast Asia Renewable & Adaptive Energy (SEA-RAE) provides sustainable energy infrastructure for small, remote communities in Southeast Asia. It supplies grid technologies such as photovoltaic arrays and hydro-energy harvesters that are adapted to the needs of local communities and increase their resilience to climate change. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: PROVOKAME

Published: 30 August 2013
PROVOKAME produces innovative 100 % biodegradable plates made from natural fibres and recycled paper, which are also implanted with seeds. The enterprise trains and employs local women from rural areas in the plate production process. The plates are distributed via supermarket chains and organic shops. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Fundación Un Litro de Luz Colombia

Published: 30 August 2013
Litre of Light Colombia produces ecological light bulbs made from PET plastics. Bottles are filled with water and bleach and then installed on the roofs of houses. Each bottle creates the light equivalent of a 60 W light bulb without requiring electricity. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Gogle Energy Saving Stoves and Engineering

Published: 30 August 2013
Gogle Energy Saving Stoves produces improved cookstoves and briquettes in Ethiopia. It works in partnership with international agencies and state institutions, helping to reduce deforestation and contributing to the shift towards clean energy while providing income for local communities. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Pollinate Energy

Published: 30 August 2013
Pollinate Energy trains local community members to become micro-entrepreneurs and helps them build clean energy businesses. Entrepreneurs are provided with small-scale solar systems and other clean energy products, which they sell to slum residents who would otherwise rely on kerosene. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Sustaintech

Published: 30 August 2013
Sustaintech distributes fuel-efficient, smokeless cookstoves to vendors of street food and to small commercial kitchens. Customers benefit from significant cost savings for firewood and improved health. At the same time, the environment benefits from reduced greenhouse gas emissions and less deforestation. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Tamul Plates Marketing

Published: 30 August 2013
Tambul Leaf Plates sells biodegradable disposable dinnerware made from the fallen sheath of the areca nut palm. The dinnerware reduces pollution and deforestation while local communities gain a livelihood through its production and sale. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Au Grain de Sésame

Published: 30 August 2013
Au Grain de Sésame, a locally based enterprise, runs environmental arts and crafts workshops training women in vulnerable situations. The approach uses a new design concept based on an innovative technique for recycling paper. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Life Out Of Plastic - L.O.O.P.

Published: 30 August 2013
Life Out Of Plastic – L.O.O.P. is a 100 % women-owned organisation that raises awareness about plastic pollution. It finances awareness campaigns on the value of marine ecosystems to communities through the sale of up-cycled plastic products and environmental educational services for the private sector. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: 5 Star Stoves

Published: 30 August 2013
5 Star Stoves creates a local bio-energy value chain out of waste biomass. It produces biomass pellets that are then used in updraft gasification stoves for cooking and heating. Stoves are assembled locally and distributed in the community via a franchise model. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Duncan Village Secondary Recycling Cooperative

Published: 30 August 2013
The enterprise collects organic waste from low-income households and processes it into compost, which in turn provides valuable nutrients for their urban food production. By combining composting and sustainable food production the cooperative helps improve community waste management. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Khulumani Gogos Going Green

Published: 30 August 2013
Khulumani Gogos Going Green supplies solar home systems that meet the lighting needs of rural off-grid households. It is run by elderly Khulumani women (“Gogos”) and is financed by loans from a savings and credit group. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: MRDP Sunwater

Published: 30 August 2013
MRDP Sunwater aims to supply solar water heating through black PVC pipe systems, allowing communities – and especially women and children – to save time and money. By reducing the need to gather firewood, the enterprise helps communities save trees and manage their natural resources sustainably. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Muthi Futhi

Published: 30 August 2013
Muthi Futhi is a community enterprise that cultivates and processes indigenous medicinal plants for sale as primary raw materials and in the form of finished herbal products. The pioneering business is designed both to protect the endangered biodiversity of KwaZulu-Natal and to create jobs. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: NABIDI Power

Published: 30 August 2013
NABIDI Power develops and distributes mobile phone and laptop chargers, lamps and radios that use kinetic energy. The first products with casings manufactured from a new bio-polymer made from sugar cane waste, the enterprise’s products help mitigate climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: KARIBU Solar Power

Published: 30 August 2013
KARIBU Solar Power aims to launch a new modular solar lamp via a franchising network. Users pay in small increments, which replicate the required cash flow for kerosene. In this way KARIBU makes high-quality solar lighting and mobile phone charging affordable for low-income communities. Read more
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Celebrate and share the World Environment Day!

Published: 14 June 2013
World Environment Day (WED) is an annual event that is aimed at being the biggest and most widely celebrated global day for positive environmental action. WED activities take place all year round and climax on 5 June every year involving everyone from everywhere. Read more
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SEED Annual Report 2012

Published: 18 April 2013
In 2012, SEED has not only continued to work with a record number of inspiring and innovative grassroots social and environmental enterprises all over the world, but has also formed new partnerships and participated in major events which contributed to the promotion of both gender equality and the green economy. Read more
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SEED South Africa, a partnership between SEED and the Independent Development Trust (IDT) South Africa

Published: 05 March 2013
Progress is being made towards the promotion of social and environmental entrepreneurship within South Africa. Read more
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SEED is partner in the 15th International Business Forum in Pretoria 2012

Published: 21 September 2012
SEED is proud to be a partner in the 15th International Business Forum (IBF) in Pretoria, October 2012, which is part of the dialogue series “Investment Climate for Climate Investment - fostering business dynamics for inclusive low carbon growth". Read more
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