Although we are still only in the process of clambering out of one of largest and most profound economic downturns the world has ever seen, this impressive collection of social business breakthroughs is a refreshing reminder that there are plenty of companies and business leaders out there who care about more than merely profit at any cost.
From companies like the GAP using social media sites such as Facebook for charity-driven marketing to architectural firms building Rwandan hospitals free of charge, this gathering of social business breakthroughs highlights the remarkable business initiatives that manage to balance ethical and economic concerns simultaneously. As you will see from looking through these inspiring examples, the misconception that the two are mutually exclusive is rapidly going out of style.
50 Social Business Breakthroughs
An Eye-Opening Exploration of Ethically Inclined Business Ideas:
Jordan M — Mar 6, 2011 — Social Good
50
Celebrity Charity Calendars
the L'Oreal 2011 Hairdressers Against Aids Pushes Awarenes
49
Beer Bottle Bricks
The Heineken Wobo is a Booze Bottle That can Also be Used for Building
48
Accessible Bamboo Bicycles
Zambikes International Creates Jobs and Transportation in Zambia
47
Designer Disease Campaigns
Marc Jacob's 'Protect the Skin You're In' Ad Stars Marissa Miller
46
Children's Charity Shops
The 'Me to We Store' Launches in Toronto, Ontario
45
Charitable Champagne Galas
The Moet Chandeliers Ball is a Lavish Access Agency Production
44
Open Air Libraries
This Incredible Karo Architekten Design is a Public Repository Like No Other
43
Positive Impact Retailers
Blue Button is a Social Business Making a Mark
42
Fair Trade Underwear
Pants to Poverty is a Hip Social Enterprise That Raises “Underwearness"
41
Eco Charity Condoms (UPDATE)
Sir Richard's Condoms Are a Philanthropic Pleasure
40
Patriotic Charity Sneakers
The Air Jordan I Retro DW is Designed by Artist Dave White
39
Handi-Capable Cabs
Diamond Cab is Hong Kong's First Wheelchair-Friendly Taxi Service
38
Purpose-Based Marketing
‘Advertising for Good' Has a Social Mission
37
Fair Trade Beverages
LemonAid is a Chic Social Business with a Conscience
36
Social Media Shopping Ads
Get Gap Foursquare Deals with Just a Click of the "Follow" Button
35
Luxury Ethical Cosmetics
Bubble & Balm Creates Locally-Manufactured Fair Trade Products
34
Save the Dolphin Jewelry
The Temple St. Clair Dolphin Pendants and Rings Give Back
33
Tweeting Charity Scarves
Twitter Knitter Uses Social Media to Keep the Cold & Needy Warm
32
Fair Trade Cocoa
Divine Chocolate is a Social Business Partly Owned by Its Farmers
31
Collateral-Free Microcredit
Muhammad Yunus's Grameen Bank Has Revolutionized Finance
30
Extreme Billionaire Donations
‘Giving Pledge' has Mark Zuckerberg Donating Most of His Wealth
29
Charitable Playboy Fashions
These Marc Jacobs For Playboy Shirts Support Designers Against AIDS
28
Social Entrepreneur Associations
‘Ashoka: Innovators for the Public' is World-Changing
27
Handcrafted Sustainable Tea
Namasthe Tea Co. Creates an Ethical Balance
26
Community-Driven Workspaces
The Centre for Social Innovation Promotes New Ideas
25
Ethical Ad Firms
Do Good Advertising is Socially and Environmentally Conscious
24
Social Change Investments
The Ethical Property Company Provides Affordable Offices
23
Sustainable Communications Agencies
Neo Helps Social and Environmental Organizations Succeed
22
Social Business Marketplaces
ClearlySo is a Website Connecting Investors and Enterprises
21
For-Profit Social Ventures
The TOMS Shoes Movement Creates Customer-Philanthropists
20
Alternative Loan Products
Fair Finance Offers Affordable Banking to Urban Populations
19
Check-In for Charity
The Foodspotting Spotathon Challenge Feeds Those in Need
18
Fair Trade Bulk Apparel
Epona Clothing Supplies Ethical Tees for Charities, Schools & Businesses
17
Charitable Sanitary Napkins
Sustainable Health Enterprises Distributes Low-Cost Feminine Pads
16
Smallholder Coffee Farmers
Cafedirect Builds Communities Through Social Business
15
Community-Focused Palestinian Produce
Zaytoun Imports Organic and Fair Trade Products
14
Search Engine Charity
Google Donates $250,000 to iGotITtoo to Digitally Underserved Communities
13
Social Business Info Portals
Via3 Offers Publicity and Networking for Ethical Companies
12
Credit Card Donations
The SwipeGood Model Automates Small Contributions for Big Change
11
Charitable Crowd-Funded Films
The Heartbreak Fund Promises to Give 50% of Profits to Charity
10
Fair Trade Shea Butter
Delapointe's Products are Made by Women in Burkina Faso
9
Socially-Conscious Online Bookstores
Better World Books Aims to Alleviate Poverty Through Literacy
8
Social Advisory Firms
Intellecap is a ‘Think and Do' Tank With Market-Based Strategies
7
Comprehensive Vision Care Access
Aravind Eye Hospital Combats Needless Blindness in Rural India
6
Charitable Twitter Booze
Bid on Signed Fledgling Wine Bottles and a Meeting with Biz Stone
5
Social Enterprise Magazines
Beyond Profit Provides Content to Spark Positive Change
4
Social Business Rehabs
San Patrignano Offers Free Programs for Those with Addiction Problems
3
Dramatic Social Enterprises
13th Theatre Company Uses the Performing Arts to Build Confidence
2
Charitable Location-Based Apps
Every Check-In Changes the World with the CauseWorld App
1
Market-Oriented Non-Profits
Acumen Fund Uses Entrepreneurial Strategies to Fight Global Poverty
Related Ideas
Sustainable Streetwear Store Interiors
Snarkitecture Embraces Recycled Materials for This Store
Upcycled Vintage Sub-Brands
Beyond Retro Founders Unveil New Sub-Label 'Beyond Remade'
AI-Driven Dreamy Fashion Campaigns
ETRO's Spring 2024 Ad Campaign Uses Artificial Intelligence
Minimalist Industrial Cameras
This Braun Instant Camera Concept by Arihant R Israni is Sleek
Innovation-Focused Furniture Design Collectives
Haworth Launches DesignLab to Push Innovation
Water-Scarce Product Concepts
The Drop Store Envisions Products from a World with Less Water
Expressive AR Fashion
Innovation Metaverse Design Story is a Digital Collection from H&M
Inclusive Hotel Soaps
Diamond Brown Aims to Pioneer Inclusivity in Hotel Amenities
Sustainable Versatile Capsules
Reformation Unveils Sustainable Collection Designed by Camille Rowe
Three-Sided Coins
Vdk Created a 3D Coin to Spark Conversations About Money, People and the Planet
Biomaterial Leather Bags
A Big Indian Story is Bringing Sustainable Fashion to India
Graphic-Heavy Fall Collections
Billionaire Boys Club and ICECREAM Release Fall 2023 Collections
Immersive Wellness Experiences
Othership Pioneers Emotional Wellness With Immersive Experiences
Eco Mission-Inspired Bracelets
Ecoalition Launches Eco-Friendly Bracelets to Support Its Mission
Playful Entrepreneurial Metaverses
e.l.f. UP! on Roblox Helps Gen Z & Gen Alpha Build Skills
Eco Storytelling Workwear Campaigns
Patagonia's We Can Get There From Here Tells is Inspiring
Anti-Burnout Beer Campaigns
Heineken Canada Encourages End of 'Hustle Culture'
Digital Sustainable Food Solutions
Special Projects Debuts Eco Lenses to Help with Decision-Making
Brainstorming Business Idea Tools
IdeaMate is the Solution to Fighting Stale Business Ideas
Environmental Cost Receipts
ASKET's Impact Receipts Measure Water Usage, CO2 Emissions & More
Rule-Breaking Fashion Labels
A Better Mistake Melds the Worlds of Music, Art, and Fashion
Unisex Screen-Printed Apparel
House of Miracles Launches the New Creative Faith Collection
Experiential Mental Well-Being Events
Batiste's Refresh & Reflect Events Connect & Uplift Students
Upcycled Leather Bag Designs
Síofra Caherty Turns Waste Materials into Special Bag Designs
Co-Browsing Shopping Platforms
buywith's Next Gen Co-Browsing Patent Helps Customers Shop Together
AR Shopping Malls
American Express' Door to Shop Small Highlights 10 Small Businesses
Conscious Shopping Promotions
Hey Harper is Holding 40% Sales Throughout November
Eco-Friendly Inclusive Apparel
SHEIN Launches evoluSHEIN Line Designed to be Accessible for All
Circular Design Challenges
The 'Make It Circular Challenge' Tackles Climate Change
Solution-Based Menswear
BRIC Boasts Elevated Essentials That are Fitted Perfectly
Upcycled Object Exhibitions
Nendo and Daniel Arsham Design, Break, and Create Functional Objects
Talent-Focused Creative Capsules
Swarovski Debuts a Collaboration with Dover Street Market Paris
Product-Tracking Digital Brochures
'Another Tomorrow' Partnered with 'EVRYTHNG' for Transparency
Experiential Social Clubs
Marshalls' Good Stuff Social Club Empowers & Connects Women
Perception-Challenging Art Exhibitions
Raise the Moral Studio Presents the Becoming Familiar Show
Viral Video Databases
Viral Ideas Offers Inspiration for a Content Creator's Next Big Video
Inclusive Social VR Programs
Meta Invested in a Social VR Research Team Alongside Universities
Creative Side Hustle Platforms
The 'Rassa' Platform Helps Users with Creative Ventures
Social Commerce Apps
GIST is an App-Based Social Platform for Sharing Purchases with Friends
Ethical Premium Bedding
Linen Reform is Revolutionizing the Home Textile Market
Avant-Garde Coffee Table Books
New Society Hosts 'Decentralization, Please Save Culture' Event
Outdoor-Inspired Collaborative Capsules
Merrell 1TRL & Trippin Unveils the Natural Highs Campaign
Black Female-Identifying Entrepreneurs Grants
The Startup Collective by Aveeno is Now Live
Integrated Influencer Marketing Platforms
SocialTalk Helps Users Discover, Track, and Connect
Charity-Supporting Chunky Shoes
Joe Freshgoods 'Performance Art' Supports Various Organizations
Wasteful Shopping Billboards
Not On The High Street's Billboards Highlight a "Don't Gift Guide"
Futuristic Vision Design Books
Nike Introduces the New No Finish Line Book Highlighting the Future
Food Entrepreneurship Programs
Nestle Launches Its New 'Youth Entrepreneurship Platform'
Web3 Start-Up Accelerators
L’Oréal and Meta are Set to Launch a Metaverse 'Startup Accelerator'
Product Exploration Retailer Tools
These New Instacart Discovery Tools Connect Brands to Retailers
Mindfulness-Encouraging Challenges
Better Than Yesterday is Inspired by the "New Mindset" Movement
Reformulated Skincare Rebrands
Bath & Body Works Underwent a Large-scale Shift to Cleaner Products
Contemporary Eco-Conscious Footwear Brands
Juntos Stands Out for Its Commitment to Sustainability
Plastic Waste Brand Initiatives
Roberts Beauty Partnered with Oceanworks to Reduce Plastic Use
Eco-Friendly Cannabis Packaging
Hippo Premium Packaging Earth Friendly Collection is Sustainable
Eco-Friendly Telecom Companies
SK Group Showcased Over 40 Sustainable Technologies at CES 2023
Inspiring Daily Bodycare
method's Unleash Your Inner Shower Celebrates Personal Transformations
Experiential Online Marketplaces
REVERSIBLE Launches the Omni-Channel Retail Aggregation Service
Uplifting Latin Business Campaigns
UPS is Championing Latin and Hispanic-Owned Small Businesses
Climate Crisis-Fighting Glasses
Paradigm Eyewear Launched Its ISCC-Certified Winter Collection
Gen Z Sustainability Initiatives
Puma's Voices of a RE:GENERATION is a Project with Changemakers
Bravery-Celebrating Short Films
Simons Launches 'All is Beauty' as a "Catalyst for Change"
Accountable Workplace AI Policies
Google's AI Principles Guide Ethical Use of AI Tools
Anonymous Gratitude-Exchanging Platforms
'A Little Optimism' Let's People Share Weekly Gratitudes
Wasteful Fashion Campaigns
Vestiaire Collective Reminded People to Shop Mindfully on Black Friday
Community-Supporting Business Models
Ben & Jerry's' 'Linked Prosperity' Model Drives Positivity
Sneakerhead Mentoring Programs
eBay's Sneaker Academy Turns Sneakerheads Into Entrepreneurs
Uplifting Breast Cancer Initiatives
The Uncovered Project by Rethink Breast Cancer Supports BIPOC
Updated Sustainable API Features
Google Adds New Features to its Ingenious Project Sunroof
Loneliness-Combating Social Campaigns
Hinge Launches the New One More Hour Campaign and Fund
Charitable Shopping Assistants
Give Freely Harnesses the Power of Online Shopping for Good
Kindness-Promoting Marketing Campaigns
Once Upon a Coconut Launches 1 Million Acts of Kindness
Irreverent Ethical Soap Campaigns
Pure Rush Soap's New Ad is a Fresh Take on Sustainable Branding
Anniversary-Honoring Graphic T-Shirts
Places+Faces Launch Collaboration Tees for 10 Years
Forest-Protecting Fashion Brand Initiatives
Canopy Leads an Initiative So Save the Forests
Accessible Mixed-Reality Media
Chapter 2 Welcomes New Society to Revolutionize the Media Frontier
Circular Fashion Docuseries
The Road to Circularity by Coachtopia Shares Sustainability Challenges
Idea-Testing Startup Tools
Startup Idea Tester Streamlines the Early Stages of a Business
Inclusive Gaming Initiatives
RNIB and Twitch are Creating Change for Gamers with Sight Loss
Chance to win £10,000
Meet the Cornish upcycler inspiring people
Artful Reflective Art Exhibitions
Rice Roshan Showcases The Space in Between Exhibit
Game-Inspired Sustainable Streetwear
Broken Planet Unveils it new Space Trails Collection
Mindful Illumination Holiday Campaigns
Santa & Cole Presents a Warm Embracing Light Campaign
Community-Driven Clothing Companies
'Bombas' Makes a Donation for Each Item Purchased
B2B eCommerce Retailer Platforms
Walmart Business Streamlines Access to Essentials
Online Sustainable Fashion Toolkits
Fashion Takes Action Features an Important Resource
Private Social Photo Apps
The 'Retro' App Focuses on Mindful Sharing with Select Others
Affordable Lifestyle Directories
'I Have This Friend' Makes Aspirational Living More Accessible
Entrepreneur Brand-Building Tools
IndieLogs Helps Founders Stand Out Through Personalized Profiles
Innovative Accountant Conferences
Xerocon Focused on Insights on Small Businesses and More
Individualism-Focused Apparel Capsules
Gap Debuts a Collection with The Brooklyn Circus
Sustainable Brand Certificates
b, halfmoon Recently Became a Certified B Corporation™ (B Corp™)
Socially Conscious Wine Producers
Lubanzi Wines Boasts a Range of Delicious Beverage Options
Review-Based Marketing Campaigns
These Amazon Campaigns Bring Real Reviews To Life
AI Business Consultants
15-Minute Business Plans Helps Entrepreneurs and Business Owners
Marketing Mentorship Platforms
Sprout Social Launches as a New Business Mentorship Network
Mindful Sabbatical Planners
This Planner Helps People Navigate and Reflect on the Work Breaks
Plant-Based Retail Platforms
Earth Pass Connects Eco Consumers and Vegan Brands
Pro-Community Social Media Apps
Take Creates Real Life Interactions Through a Social Network
Inspirational Learning Management Tools
'Get Inspired' Offers Digestible Snippets of Content
Entrepreneurial Mentorship platforms
GrowthMentor Connects Individuals for 1:1 Support
Immersive Eco-Conscious Employee Training
Les Nouveaux Géants Attempts to Revolutionize Training
Awareness-Raising Poverty Campaigns
Oxfam Australia Debuts a Platform Called 'Unaccept Inequality'
SaaS Influencer Marketing Tools
Beeing Social Launches 'Buzz Bee Buzz' for Influencer Marketing
Climate-Awareness Soft Art Sculptures
GREEN GRADS Features Roberta Schreyer's Dreamstones
Outdoor Activity Challenges
L.L.Bean is Inviting People Outside for Mental Health Awareness Month
Celeb-Backed Advocacy Agencies
Pharrell Launches Progressive Creative Agency Called 'Mighty Dream'
Billboard-Transformed Tent Shelters
Wunderman Thompson Morocco Creates the Life-Saving Outdoors
Social Good Ski Initiatives
Christy Sports Launched the Nordica Unleashed Outreach
Supportive Entrepreneurial Communities
The Zenpreneur Community Provides Resources and Support
Screen-Limiting Phone Apps
Takebreak Encourages People to Have a Better Work-Life Balance
Society-Reflective Spring Fashion
YONGHAO XIE Presents Into a Better World for the SS23 Season
Circular Collaborative Seating Designs
Aquafil Joins noho and ECONYL on a New Project
Hispanic-Focused Business Opportunities
PepsiCo Unveils the Newest Greenhouse Accelerator Program
Story-Focused Empowerment Campaigns
Shyaway Debuts the '#jutstgoforit' Women Empowerment Campaign
Post-Launch Entrepreneurial Newsletters
One Year Wiser Interviews People One Year After Launch
Network-Connecting AI Solutions
Village AI Connect with Your Network to Close Deals
Sustainability-Focused Building Renovations
Climate Group Launches the Renovation Revolution
Mental Health Branding Initiatives
L.L.Bean Digitally Detoxed for Mental Health Awareness Month
Long-Lasting Jacket Campaigns
The Jacket Maker's #HangOnToIt Concept Honors Reliable Relationships
Ethical Supply Chain Initiatives
'ASOS' is Taking Steps to Weed Out Vendors Who Use Child Labor
Modern Business Card Scanners
Spreadly Scan Brings Networking to the Modern Age
Ethical AI Commitments
Samsung's Ethical AI Aims to Pioneer a Positive Impact
Inclusive Try-On Programs
Perfect Corp. Connects Beauty Brands with Digital Beauty Innovation
Hiring Bias Workshops
Intentional Endowments Hosts Insightful Workshops for Employers
Cocktail-Inspired Togetherness Activations
Smirnoff's Global Connectivity Initiative Launched
Social Good Brand Practices
Dignity Coconuts Positions Itself to Combat Human Trafficking
Comprehensive Business Loyalty Solutions
BusinessQR Helps Brands Build Customer Loyalty
Circular Luxury Clubs
'More' Supports More Conscious Shopping and More Accessible Luxury
Waste-Reducing Eco Partnerships
This Year City Furniture Partnered with Habitat of Humanity
Collaborative Nonprofit Group Campaigns
The 'Little Labels, Big Impact' Campaign Raises Awareness
Children-Supporting Trust Initiatives
The Children who Trust Again Campaign Supports Abuse Victims
Empowering Educational Initiatives
Sight School Empowers Individuals with Visual Impairments
Charitable Anniversary-Celebrating Initiatives
Earth Therapeutics Emphasizes Mental Health
Daily-Prompting Social Journals
Journal. Invites Users to Share Their Thoughts and Feelings
Entrepreneurial Community Building
VenturePals Steps in to Help Solo Entrepreneurs Find Community
Business Slogan Generators
The Slogan Generator Will Create a Catchy Slogan for Any Business
Diverse Leadership Inanities
Civic Nation Launched a New Initiative Dubbed the Change Collective
Educational CSR Initatives
Shimanto Bank Contributes to Bangladesh's Education Assistance Trust
Philanthropic Investment Banks
Builders Vision Helps Build a More Humane and Healthy Planet