SolarAid created demand in the African market, leading to a 720% increase in solar light sales in Tanzania in 2012. How? The international charity’s goal is to provide a brighter future for African villages, combating poverty and climate change at the same time, this way linking social impact with environmental impact.
Case Studies of Good Businesses
Business case studies serve as examples of successfully implemented sustainable business models, which not only benefit the planet and the people but also lead to an increase in profit. To inspire and highlight how purpose-driven brands acquire a competitive advantage, we brought a couple of instances, broken down by category, based on The Guardian’s Sustainable Business Case Studies. They illustrate our core belief, how economic growth, social prosperity, and sustainability go hand in hand.
Communicating sustainability
To build the solar light market in rural Africa, SolarAid set up SunnyMoney, a social enterprise to develop a unique distribution model. They worked with headteachers, appointing them to promote the benefits of solar lights and the dangers of toxic kerosene, reaching the heart of communities in areas with weak transport and communication infrastructures.
Buying solar lights reduced the carbon footprint of people, saving each family money and allowing children to study an extra hour each day with the new lights. SolarAid can serve as a role model for future leaders, creating demand in a difficult environment, while also enabling people to live more sustainably. They achieved this through putting environmental and social objectives ahead of financial imperatives.
SolarAid created demand in the African market, leading to a 720% increase in solar light sales in Tanzania in 2012. How? The international charity’s goal is to provide a brighter future for African villages, combating poverty and climate change at the same time, this way linking social impact with environmental impact.
Communicating sustainability
To build the solar light market in rural Africa, they set up SunnyMoney, a social enterprise to develop a unique distribution model. They worked with headteachers, appointing them to promote the benefits of solar lights and the dangers of toxic kerosene, reaching the heart of communities in areas with weak transport and communication infrastructures.
Buying solar lights reduced the carbon footprint of people, saving each family money and allowing children to study an extra hour each day with the new lights. SolarAid can serve as a role model for future leaders, creating demand in a difficult environment, while also enabling people to live more sustainably. They achieved this through putting environmental and social objectives ahead of financial imperatives.
SolarAid created demand in the African market, leading to a 720% increase in solar light sales in Tanzania in 2012. How? The international charity’s goal is to provide a brighter future for African villages, combating poverty and climate change at the same time, this way linking social impact with environmental impact.
SolarAid created demand in the African market, leading to a 720% increase in solar light sales in Tanzania in 2012. How? The international charity’s goal is to provide a brighter future for African villages, combating poverty and climate change at the same time, this way linking social impact with environmental impact.
A company that successfully integrated sustainability in its business, cut its impact on the environment, stepped up its contribution to the community and encouraged healthy lifestyles among its staff is UK-based Commercial Group.
Engaging Employees
Their Green Angel concept engages employees in actively promoting sustainability, acting on issues that matter to them, such as reducing waste contaminants, waste to landfill and volunteering with a community project. With a purpose-led approach, they aim to create a sustainability ripple-effect, encouraging workplace behaviors to be replicated at home.
This program significantly cut Commercial Group’s environmental footprint, saved money for the company, led to business growth and also improved staff wellbeing, having a positive impact on human capital.