Words by Smiley Team
Designing innovative products and business models, companies are increasingly responding to the need to operate in more ethical and eco-friendly ways.
Throughout the year, Smiley News has captured some of the exciting new business initiatives attempting to drive such positive change.
To reflect on these advances, here's just a selection of those that are giving back to their communities, protecting nature and working towards more sustainable production and consumption.
TapSimple, a digital fundraising platform for charities, expanded at the beginning of the year. Their streamlined technology supports charities such as Cancer Research, the Great Ormond Street Hospital, and Mencap.
An inspiring Michelin star chef, Brad Carter, decided to support a youth charity near his restaurant in Birmingham, donating part of the proceeds from a bespoke chef’s knife to the organisation.
An altruistic entrepreneur, Virginie Charles-Dear, set up toucanBox, a social enterprise that sells kids’ arts and craft boxes. For every box sold, she donates another to disadvantaged children.
In April, The Smithills Collective launched, offering woodland courses to help people get in touch with nature and improve their wellbeing.
Amassing multicoloured pieces of plastic waste from nearby beaches, primary school teacher Claire Vowell transforms devastating pollution into beautiful jewellery.
Hoping to tackle household food waste, Canadian startup Pela were blown away with crowdfunding support for their innovative kitchen composter.
Marie Bee Bloom’s biodegradable face masks won’t harm nature like their plastic counterparts. Instead, you can happily dispose of them in nature where the seeds within them will sprout into new life.
SlowCo advocates for slow fashion, telling its customers: “We invite you to take your time, browse slowly, and get to know the brands at your leisure.”
Ahead of COP26, Glasgow venue SWG3 revolutionised its energy efficiency by installing technology to convert kinesthetic energy from dancers into electricity.
The social media management platform, Hootsuite, partnered with human rights non-profit Witness Change in October to humanise refugees through photo-storytelling.
An incredibly generous social enterprise launched an online Christmas bakery this November to help tackle poverty across Scotland.
It may not sound like the most glamorous of materials, but fungus is the new sustainable alternative to luxury leather according to mycelium-based leather producer MycoWorks. The material has already made a Hermès handbag as well as designs by Stella McCartney and Adidas.
