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Paul Polman, a ‘Crucial Voice’ for Corporate Responsibility, Steps Down as Unilever C.E.O.
When Mr. Polman first took over at Unilever, financial analysts were skeptical of his sustainability efforts. But in recent years, Unilever’s stock price has shot up, more than doubling during his tenure.
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Inexpensive Impact: The Case for Frugal Innovations
Over 4 billion people around the world lack necessities like food, water, energy, health care and housing. This represents not only a major social challenge but a major market, as low-income consumers have an annual purchasing capacity of US $5 trillion. Rajat Chabba and Sheena Raikundalia at Intellecap explore how entrepreneurs are developing innovative, frugal products to meet these customers’ needs – and why an ecosystem approach is needed to help them scale their solutions.
- Categories
- Technology
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How SDG business strategies are already generating $233bn in revenue
According to the Business & Sustainable Development Commission, achieving the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) could open up $12tr of market opportunities in food and agriculture, cities, energy and materials, and health and well-being alone, creating 380 million new jobs by 2030 in the process.
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Running Out of Gas: Can This Innovative Solar and Battery Electric Generator Fight Energy Poverty – And Climate Change?
The electric generator market is predicted to grow to US $27 billion by 2023. But as the industry grows, so too will the need for fuel to power it – a major challenge in a world struggling to reduce carbon emissions and climate change. Portable Electric believes it has found a solution: a portable generator that can be powered by solar and wind to provide completely renewable, mobile energy – at three times the efficiency of traditional generators. The company's founder, Mark Rabin discusses the technology, and its uses in everything from micro-grids to disaster relief.
- Categories
- Energy, Technology
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Press release: ImpactAssets Expands Executive Leadership Team
Margret Trilli brings strategic and executive leadership to extend organizational excellence and drive continued growth toward a multi-billion-dollar impact investing platform; founder Tim Freundlich promoted to Chief Executive Officer to lead business innovation and field-building; Gabe DiClerico named CFO to elevate finance administration capability.
- Categories
- Investing
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Cracking the Nut: How a Cashew Enterprise Empowers Women in Rural Bali
Each day, East Bali Cashews (EBC) processes about 800 pounds of raw cashews, preparing them for snack production. The Indonesian company was launched about five years ago after a health care volunteer saw the impoverished conditions many agricultural workers face, and it now employs 400. But the statistic that most impresses Nadia Putri, an MBA candidate at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, is that more than 80 percent are women. After interning there this summer, Putri details how EBC works to advance women by providing training in everything from English to Excel.
- Categories
- Social Enterprise
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Press release: New Digital Platform for Scaling Up Inclusive Business Worldwide Launches in New York
Produced as part of the Inclusive Business Action Network’s knowledge sharing initiative “iBAN blue”, the platform provides up-to-date knowledge and insights for those working to deliver sustainable business models that benefit the world’s poorest.
- Tags
- SDGs, sustainable business
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Viewpoint: The myth of sustainability is damaging the social enterprise sector
The reality is that many social enterprises need the support of grants or donations to survive. In the UK, 37% of social enterprises receive grant from a public-sector body.