For more than 20 years, Hugo Spowers has been developing zero-emission cars. It’s not only about innovative technology: his vision includes circular business models and an unusual company structure. But is Riversimple – at last – ready to hit the road?
Social enterprise has drifted too far from its roots, says pioneer of the movement Freer Spreckley, who calls for a return to six core principles. In part four of an exclusive series: why regenerative eco-action must guide every decision.
Dutch impact investor Polestar Capital hopes to grow fund to €400m within a year to plug a funding gap for high-potential eco-projects that will enable Netherlands to play a ‘pivotal role’ in the global transition towards a circular economy.
Scottish social enterprises can get their hands on loans of up to £1.5m to help them transition to carbon neutrality, thanks to a new government-funded initiative.
UK’s largest employee-owned business announces new fund with environmental charity Hubbub to back “trailblazing innovations” – with grants open to social enterprises, charities and academic bodies.
STREETS OF AMSTERDAM: A mum-to-be spotted a gap in the market for sustainably produced, gender-neutral kidswear. Now, through renting and repurposing, she’s helping to make a notoriously wasteful industry a little gentler on the planet.
Amsterdam Impact wants to make impact entrepreneurship the default way to do business – which means getting investors on board. Find out how the city is betting on collaboration over competition to spark more deals.
PLUS: ABN AMRO’s sustainable impact fund; UK’s £30m social investment pilot for housing; investor coalition supports ‘just transition’; NESsT gets grant to support impact enterprises in the Amazon region, and more.
STREETS OF AMSTERDAM: Entrepreneur Marius Smit was among the first to convince corporations to pay for the pleasure of picking up trash. Ten years on, his social enterprise Plastic Whale is making waves worldwide.
