Green Technologies

Green technologies offer huge potential for increased productivity, resource efficiency and innovation. Eco-inclusive enterprises which apply green technologies significantly contribute to climate change mitigation and economic and social inclusion. SEED-supported enterprises use information and communication technologies to share agronomic practices and extend access to financing, develop e-commerce markets for sustainable consumption and transport, process agricultural waste into energy sources for heating and cooking, produce biodegradable goods such as plates from natural fibres, deliver mobile classroom infrastructure to communities and more.

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: moWoza

Published: 30 August 2013
moWoza is a mobile marketplace that allows informal cross-border traders and SMEs to access price information, order and pre-pay for inventory, receive delivery status notifications and access credit using their mobile phones. By empowering women, it improves their livelihoods and bolsters their business activities. 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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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 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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2011 SEED Gender and Equality Award winner recognised at the Rio+20 UN Women's side event

Published: 14 June 2012
Three of the 2011 SEED Winners will be showcasing their initiative as examples of innovative women-led enterprises. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Nubian Vault Association

Published: 30 August 2011
The Nubian Vault Association (Association la Voûte Nubienne, AVN) offers a global solution aimed at resolving housing problems in the Sahel zone. The solution draws on an ancestral building technique that does not use wood, sheet metal or cement, and can be mastered by skilled masons according to the local market situation. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: FADECO Trading Co. Ltd.

Published: 29 August 2011
The initiative tackles the problem of post-harvest losses by solar drying fruit and vegetables which can subsequently be stored or sold. Drying agricultural products helps to ensure food security during the rainy seasons and creates opportunities for local farmers to access new markets. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Dr Marie Dialo Labortoires

Published: 29 August 2011
The initiative supports local women in cultivating and processing traditional plants for beauty and health products that comply with international standards. It improves the lives of the rural population by equipping women with the skills to transform plants into raw materials for cosmetic and health products, and training them in handicraft production. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Man and Man Enterprise

Published: 29 August 2011
Man and Man Enterprise produces and markets efficient biomass cooking stoves which save 40 % on charcoal compared to conventional stoves. The product thus enables substantial savings on fuel costs while reducing deforestation and GHG emissions. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Rural Transportation and Renewable Products Conversion Centres for Agro-residues

Published: 29 August 2011
VIVUS has developed an innovative rural transportation system enabling the efficient collection of small quantities of crops and agricultural waste in remote areas. The initiative then sells the crops in urban centres and converts the residues into biogas and fertiliser. Read more
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The Green Economy: SEED's activities to help accelerate the transition

Published: 16 August 2011
On 15th April 2011, nearly 200 people gathered in Pretoria to explore the role of social and environmental enterprises in shaping the Green Economy. Read more
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SEED Annual Report 2011

Published: 18 April 2011
2011 was a remarkable year for SEED, where a record number of SEED winners were awarded. Read more
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2009 SEED Winner, Nafore and Afrisolar Energy Kiosks, wins ERM's Low Carbon Competition

Published: 26 January 2011
The Low Carbon Enterprise Fund was established to support small “low carbon” businesses in the developing world. The fund sits within the ERM Foundation - a not-for-profit charity - and provides finance in the form of loans and equity stakes to entrepreneurs in emerging markets. Read more
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SEED Award Winners make headlines

Published: 05 January 2011
Three SEED Award Winners have been featured by other initiatives and organisations. Read more
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From bamboo bikes to biomass briquettes: UNEP unveils SEED Award Winners

Authors: Constance Hybsier Source: UN Environment
A novel solar device that turns waste heat into electricity in rural China, a Ugandan business that manufactures stationary from agricultural waste, a bamboo bicycle project in Ghana and a female-run business in South Africa making a hand-held laundry device that saves water are among the 30 winners of the 2010 SEED Awards, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) announced today. Read more
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Announcement: Meet the 2010 SEED Winners!

Published: 03 November 2010
The SEED Initiative is thrilled to announce its 2010 SEED Award Winners! From bamboo bicycles to fly-fisheries, from businesswomen's collectives to inspired youth, these entrepreneurs are building a more sustainable world, starting in their own communities. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Initiative for Promoting and Distributing Bio-Pesticides

Published: 29 August 2010
Face au manque de solutions efficaces pour combattre les maladies fongiques et bactériologiques dans les cultures, BIOPROTECT offre une gamme complète de bio-stimulants. Ces produits innovants et respectueux de l’environnement représentent une alternative économique pour les agriculteurs, sans nuire à leur santé. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Manufacture and Popularization of Biomass Briquettes

Published: 29 August 2010
Face à la surexploitation des forêts et l’utilisation massive du charbon de bois et du bois de chauffe, SOS Energie vise à mettre en place une filière de production de briquettes de biomasse et de foyers améliorés, tout en formant les ménages et artisans à l’utilisation de cette source d’énergie respectueuse de l’environnement. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Micro Power Economy for Rural Electrification

Published: 29 August 2010
The goal of the initiative is to offer rural customers in Senegal reliable power supply through the innovative business model “MicroPowerEconomy” that enhances social, environmental and economic sustainability for both the rural customers and the power provider. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Papyrus Reeds, Our Future Hope

Published: 29 August 2010
Papyrus Reeds, Our Future Hope is a sustainable enterprise that harvests and processes papyrus reeds and crafts them into highquality products including baskets, purses, and furniture. The reed waste is used as natural manure. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Production and Distribution of Pressurized Biogas in Gas Cylinders

Published: 29 August 2010
The initiative Compressed Biogas proposes to build large biogas plants that will continuously produce biogas from urban, domestic and industrial wastes. The biogas produced will be stored under pressure in gas cylinders for easy distribution to urban and periurban customers as alternative to charcoal and firewood. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Solanterns: Replacing 1 Million Kerosene Lanterns with 1 Million Solar Lanterns

Published: 29 August 2010
Solanterns offers smoke-free, brighter solar lanterns at a lower cost than kerosene lamps; thus, health risks, and fire and environmental hazards are reduced, and investments opportunities are created for microentrepreneurs. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: SolSource

Published: 29 August 2010
The SolSource is an affordable and high-performing solar concentrator designed for the 2.5 billion people globally who rely on harmful solid fuels for their daily energy needs. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Village Cereal Aggregation Centres (VCAC)

Published: 29 August 2010
Village Cereal Aggregation Centres (VCACs) introduce post-harvest technologies and support farmers to engage in safe near-farm cereal storage, in order to increase food security and their capacity to trade competitively. Read more
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