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.

Fostering the Circular Economy: Role of MSMEs | Policy Landscape Paper India

Published: 01 September 2021Authors: Amar Munnolimath, Camilla Shearman, Dr. Shilpi Kapur Bakshi, Mehar Kaur, Shweta Gautam
The Circular Economy (CE) policy context as it relates to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in India is essential to integrating and mainstreaming the transition to the circular economy in India. Read more
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Climate Finance, Fin-techs and the Missing Middle in Thailand | Scoping Paper, Thailand 2021

Published: 16 August 2021Authors: Mirko Zürker, Net Pornlumon Nirachatsuwan
This scoping paper provides the basis for the implementation of the collaborative, multi-step process of the SEED Hack for Climate Finance in Thailand in 2021. Thailand’s high environmental richness and fastly evolving landscape of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) present a significant opportunity for the country to meet its climate action and development objectives. In particular, climate-smart SMEs- offering products and services for climate change adaptation and/or mitigation- are well-positioned to absorb and scale the environmental, social, and economic impacts of global climate finance flows in line with Thailand’s climate action objectives. Read more
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SEED and UGEFA on the platform of European Development Days (EDD) 2021

Published: 27 July 2021
The EDD 2021 opened its platform for different actors in green and inclusive transition, to connect with and discover each others activities. SEED and UGEFA hosted a joint online stand to showcase their enterprise relevant actions. Read more
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#GO4SDGs Presents: Innovative solutions for MSMEs in a green recovery

Published: 13 July 2021
#GO4SDGs Presents: Innovative solutions for MSMEs in a green recovery was an official side event at the 2021 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development hosted jointly the GGKP, SEED and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Read more
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Meet the SEED Awards 2021 Winners and Runners-up

Published: 13 July 2021
Announcing the winners of the 2021 SEED Awards for Entrepreneurship in Sustainable Development, at the UN’s High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). Read more
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SEED Awards 2021 Winners

Published: 13 July 2021
The SEED Awards for Entrepreneurship in Sustainable Development is an annual awards scheme designed to identify the most innovative and promising locally led start-up eco-inclusive enterprises in developing and emerging economies. Read more
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SEED Awards 2021 Runners-Up

Published: 13 July 2021
The SEED Awards for Entrepreneurship in Sustainable Development is an annual awards scheme designed to identify the most innovative and promising locally led start-up eco-inclusive enterprises in developing and emerging economies. Read more
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Journeys to Scale

Published: 12 July 2021Authors: Luis Ebert, Mirko Zürker
In this primary edition of a series of reports, we illuminate the black box of eco-inclusive entrepreneurship by providing readers with a first-of-its-kind comprehensive typology on eco-inclusive SMEs. Read more

Eco-Inclusive Enterprises Driving Green Recovery Pathways

Published: 09 July 2021Authors: Benita Rose, Mirko Zürker, Sonya Ong
This snapshot report is intended for national policy makers and shapers; global policy and finance institutions; researchers and civil society networks. Drawing on direct insights from micro, small and medium enterprises as well as eco-system support organisations, it highlights the existing support gaps, concrete examples and new opportunities for catalysing a green, inclusive recovery from COVID-19. Read more

CNN features SEED and UGEFA enterprises in Uganda

Authors: Source: CNN
CNN features SEED supported enterprises 'Village Energy and Khainza Energy' and UGEFA supported enterprise 'WEYE Clean Energy' for their innovation and activities to contribute to a sustainable future. Read more

Hack for Climate Finance, Bangkok

Published: 16 June 2021
Learn how to tap into growing international capital earmarked for climate change purposes.



Join us on 30th June 2021 at 3:00-5:00 pm (BKK/GMT+7) Read more
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Showcasing and replicating break-through policies for sustainability

Published: 14 June 2021
SEED piloted a new Lab format together with the GO4SDGs platform: the SEED Regional Practitioner Labs for Policy Prototyping. The Labs showcase innovative, breakthrough policies and policy programmes, the Labs were based on the theory of change that replication is an effective and efficient way to solve similar problems across geographies. Read more
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SEED Participates in GO4SDGs High level launch in Asia and the Pacific

Published: 22 April 2021
This session presented best practices and initiatives of circular economy models among MSMEs in the Asia and Pacific region, with discussions highlighting policy and finance instruments that support enterprises. 

  Read more

COVID-19 Recovery & Small Enterprises: A SEED-GEC Global Policy Roundtable

Published: 23 March 2021
In January 2021, SEED and the Green Economy Coalition held an online, interactive roundtable gathering small enterprise networks, policy practitioners, NGOs and think tanks to exchange knowledge and share interventions on how to ensure that our Green Recovery efforts are impacting small businesses. Read more

Effective implementation of circular economies

Published: 03 March 2021Authors: Camilla Shearman, Sonya Ong
At the 2020 SEED Practitioner Labs for Policy Prototyping (PLPP) in Ghana and Thailand, multi-stakeholder groups designed support mechanisms to leverage the participation of socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable MSMEs in the circular economy. We provide recommendations based on the solutions developed to guide future circular economy policy implementation. Read more
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Call for Applications: SEED Awards 2021 offers support, visibility and funding up to €15,000 for social and environmental SMEs

Published: 01 February 2021
Up to 48 prize packages will be awarded to innovative and promising locally led enterprises in social and environmental sectors from emerging economies. This year, in its 14th cycle, two award categories are offered. Read more

SEED Covid-19 Resilience Workshops and Grants (SEED Alumni Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe)

Published: 28 January 2021
During a 2-day workshop in each of the three target countries (Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe), SEED will provide you with the most relevant tools to work on your enterprise resilience. Read more

Siyabuddy, a SEED Story from South Africa

Published: 27 January 2021
Siyabuddy empowers community members to collect waste from different sources like shopping centres, hospitals, illegal dumping sites, etc. The company trains the collectors on waste separation, pays them per kg collected and ultimately sells the collected waste to recyclers all across South Africa. Read more
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Moving towards a conducive environment for green, circular, and inclusive MSMEs in Ghana

Published: 25 January 2021Authors: Amanda Panella, Camilla Shearman, Doris Awortwi-Tandoh, Kodjo Barnor, Letitia Varney, Thomas Wiredu
This policy brief investigates how green MSMEs face challenges when accessing finance, finding markets, and navigating a dynamic policy landscape and explores how partnerships between policy makers and ecosystem players can help target support of the MSMEs and overcome these barriers.  Read more

Phasing out Single-Use Plastic (SUP): Creating a New Default | Thailand, Policy 2020

Published: 07 January 2021Authors: Linde Wolters, Sonya Ong, Supapim Wannopas
This two-page overview created from the SEED Practitioner Labs for Policy Prototyping in Thailand outlines the key messages of the GIZ CAP-SEA Pilot Project on reducing single use plastics. Read more
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Achieving Smart Agriculture Potential through Efficient Data Connectivity and Management

Published: 07 January 2021Authors: Linde Wolters, Sonya Ong, Supapim Wannopas
Through the SEED Practitioner Labs for Policy Prototyping Thailand 2020, ListenField presented its policy solution through providing agronomic insight for sustainable and profitable farming. Read more
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Recommendations for Supporting SMEs in the Transition to Circular Economy: A Perspective on Thailand

Published: 07 January 2021Authors: Linde Wolters, Sonya Ong, Supapim Wannopas
Discussions with stakeholders from the public and private sector, financial institutions, MSMEs and their intermediaries at the SEED Policy Lab led to a series of recommendations outlined in this two-page summary of the key messages from SEED's policy brief.  Read more

Phasing out Single-Use Plastic (SUP) Creating a New Default | Thailand, Policy 2020

Published: 07 January 2021Authors: Linde Wolters, Sonya Ong, Supapim Wannopas
Phasing out single-use plastics (SUP) in Thailand demands a commitment from different sector stakeholders - the private sector, as producer and purchaser of the material, plays an influential role in providing alternatives and realising sustainable consumption and production. Read more
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Recommendations for Supporting SMEs in the Transition to Circular Economy | Thailand, Policy 2020

Published: 07 January 2021Authors: Linde Wolters, Sonya Ong, Supapim Wannopas
This Policy Brief from SEED's Practitioner Labs for Policy Prototyping highlights the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)'s research on the barriers and challenges faced by the private sector hindering a transition towards sustainable production and adoption of circular economy business models. Read more
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Mainstreaming Credit Assessment and Appraisal to Accelerate the Access to Finance for Solar MSMEs in India | Climate Finance, India 2020

Published: 24 November 2020Authors: Kathrin Kirsch, Nithin Ramu
The climate finance solution developed by Tata Cleantech aims to mainstream the credit appraisal process for solar MSMEs by clustering SMEs, automation and standardisation of the credit assessment process, including a securitisation mechanisms to reduce collateral requirements and developing a secondary redeployment market for solar rooftop systems. Read more
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