Socially Responsible Entrepreneurship
Because sustainable business opportunities contribute towards an active and economically viable role in transforming social systems, they create the platform for socially responsible entrepreneurship. Through more efficient production processes, preventive strategies, cleaner production technologies and ideas throughout the product life cycle, hence minimizing or avoiding wastes, the infrastructures and operations of business and industry can play a potentially more viable role in sustainability as public stewards. Some enlightened leaders of enterprises are already exploring “responsible care” and product stewardship infrastructures and programs, fostering openness and dialogue with employees and the public and carrying out environmental audits and assessments of compliance. The improvement of production systems through technologies and processes that utilize resources more efficiently and at the same time produce less wastes – achieving more with less – is an important pathway towards sustainability for business and industry.
OVERVIEW
FREE MARKET MECHANISMS
There is increasing recognition that production, technology and management that use resources inefficiently form residues that are not reused, discharge wastes that have adverse impacts on human health and the environment and manufacture products that, when used, have further impacts and are difficult to recycle. Sustainable manufacturing can be implemented at the local level to replace traditional practices with cleaner technologies, good engineering and management practices and know-how that would minimize waste throughout the product life cycle.
Here’s a great 40-minute talk from the Stanford University’s Hoover Institution featuring SunPower’s T.J. Rodgers that shows how free market mechanisms can aid sustainable manufacturing and help create a better world for us all:
ACTIVITIES
- Join CIVICUS, an international alliance of members and partner organizations that is working to establish partnerships between communities and business organizations for sustainable development
- Learn how to start your own recycling center using this guide (PDF) from California’s Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle)
- Make your own non-toxic cleaning products using this resource from Earth Easy
- Learn about and join The Global Network for Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECPnet), a United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) joint program on resource efficiency and cleaner production
- Here is a wonderful information resource for implementation of cleaner production technology manufacturing methods in different industries
SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Small and medium-sized entrepreneurs, in particular, play a very important role in the social and economic development of a country. Often, they are the potential means for rural development, increasing off-farm employment and providing the transitional means for improving the livelihoods of women. Responsible entrepreneurship can play a potential role in improving the efficiency of resource use, reducing risks and hazards, minimizing wastes and safeguarding environmental qualities. Objectives on the local level are to demonstrate the concept of public stewardship in the management and utilization of natural resources by entrepreneurs as well as increase the number of entrepreneurs engaged in enterprises that subscribe to and implement sustainable development infrastructures.
Here’s a video (5 minutes) from The Netherland’s FMO Entrepreneurial Development Bank which talks about where we are now with global sustainability and shares how companies can and are accomplishing profitability with sustainability:
ACTIVITIES
- Check out this resource from the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife to learn how to start a wildlife rehabilitation center
- Join and volunteer with one of Save Our Shores’ community ocean clean up programs
- Start your own environmental action program. HERE’S A PDF Guide by the Institute for Sustainable Communities. The guide outlines how communities can get involved in implementation of an efficient production process for socially responsible entrepreneurship through environmental action.
- Join the Futures Centre a collaborative hub which brings together governments, businesses and communities to track trends and stimulate dialogue and resource sharing for a sustainable future.
- Learn about the Foundation for Sustainable Development’s Internship program that connects young volunteers to local communities and organizational partner to foster public stewardship and sustainable development
- Learn how to start your own community soup kitchen using this helpful guide (PDF) from the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen
