Social enterprise

Social enterprise is attempting to change the world by harnessing the innovation and discipline of business to tackle poverty, climate change and other challenges.

Peter Holbrook, chief executive of Social Enterprise UK and chairman of the Social Enterprise World Forum, says these businesses’ “primary purpose is to tackle a social or environmental problem”. That distinguishes them from a stock-market-quoted company, whose legal responsibility is to its shareholders first.

Pants to Poverty, which makes underwear using Fair Trade-certified cotton and guaranteeing workers a decent wage, is a riposte to the sweatshops of Bangladesh. Its products are premium but some consumers are willing to pay for minimum welfare standards.

Social ...

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