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  • Home > Green & social business

Green & social business

Being a green business is very important in today’s world. Business owners have an increasing responsibility to be environmentally friendly and reduce their business’ carbon footprint. With green business ideas and information on organic wholesalers and green gadgets, learn how you can not only start an eco-friendly business but also how to improve the green credentials of an existing business.

Social enterprises often also have an environmental focus, or have other social or ethical business goals at their core. Below, there is information on setting up a social enterprise including legal issues, funding, ethical business practices and examples of existing social enterprises as well as expert advice on how you can become a social entrepreneur.

  • ethical shoppers
    Who are ethical consumers?
  • conscious consumption
    What is conscious consumerism?
  • Charity vs social enterprise: What’s best for your new business?
    Charity vs social enterprise: What’s best for your new business?

Key topics

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What is a startup cooperative business?

What is a startup cooperative business?

Looking to find out what a cooperative business is? Read on for the advantages and disadvantages to running a co-op and for some successful cooperative business examples…

equality and diversity startups

Equality and Diversity: the Startup Pioneers

Why is diversity and inclusion an important trend in the startup space? And which of the SU100 businesses are leading the way? Read on to find out more...…

Sharing Economy Companies

Sharing Economy Companies

How is the sharing economy becoming more prominent in the startup sector? And which small businesses are showing up when it comes to sharing?…

ethical businesses

Ethical Businesses: Festival Favourites

Meet the hottest sustainable startups using their business flair to keep the planet cool.…

Impact investment

Impact investment: the Startups guide

In the UK, impact investment is an investor trend that looks to bring about some social good. Read on to find out how to attract an ethical investor, and for some key examples of business ethics…

How to become a B Corp

How to become a UK B Corp

B Corporations – B Corps for short – are taking the business world by storm. Here's all you need to know about this exciting movement, and how to turn your business into a B Corp…

how to run a carbon neutral business

How to run a carbon neutral business

Your small business can make a big carbon-cutting impact! The 6 steps to running a carbon neutral business and why it’s the must-make business move of 2019 – all explained here…

ethical shoppers

Who are ethical consumers?

Choosing organic, local or sustainable products and services is becoming increasingly popular in the UK. Discover who ethical consumers are and how to best target them…

conscious consumption

What is conscious consumerism?

With more people using their purchasing power for the positive, learn about conscious consumerism and how your start-up can appeal to these customers…

How to create an environmental policy statement for your small business

This environmental policy template will help you get started if your business wants to boost its green credentials…

Five trailblazing young eco-entrepreneurs to watch in 2017

Five trailblazing young eco-entrepreneurs to watch in 2017

A new wave of young entrepreneurs are breaking ground in sustainability. We look at five founders whose businesses are making the world a greener place…

How I founded a start-up that gives back to the community

How I founded a start-up that gives back to the community

Catherine Gazzoli started Piccolo to further the work of The Food Education Foundation. Eight months on, she reflects on how she ensured her commercial business would fulfill social commitments…

Green statistics: The truth about green businesses

Green statistics: The truth about green businesses

Here are five easy ways start-ups and small businesses can reduce their carbon emissions immediately…

Wayne Hemingway MBE: How to get one over on the establishment in business

Wayne Hemingway MBE: How to get one over on the establishment in business

Speaking at ACCELERATE 2016, creative entrepreneur Wayne Hemingway talks to Startups about ethics, social conscience and “bastards in business”…

In Success stories

How I combined profit with purpose to create a thriving social enterprise

How I combined profit with purpose to create a thriving social enterprise

It's not easy to start a business to drive social change. Lauren Roffey, founder of Baked: Cake with a cause, shares tips for budding social entrepreneurs…

What is an ethical business?

We look at what it takes to be an ethical trader, where the opportunities lie and why one small step towards helping the planet could benefit your business……

What exactly is a social enterprise?

What exactly is a social enterprise?

We look at the business model that balances creating a healthy profit with a social mission to see if you’ve got what it takes to be the next John Bird……

Why it pays to be a social enterprise

Why it pays to be a social enterprise

The co-founder of social start-up Fluency shares the benefits of running a business with a social ethos at its core……

8 ‘needs’ of social ventures to attract funding

8 ‘needs’ of social ventures to attract funding

What early-stage social innovators need to get funding to grow – and 5 ways to choose the right incubator or accelerator programme to make it happen…

How I started ethical business ElephantBranded

How I started ethical business ElephantBranded

ElephantBranded founder James Boon on the six rules he has followed to make his ethical company a success…

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