Editor’s note: This article was first published in August 2014. Everything in it reflects 2014, including Starbucks with 135,000 employees, TOMS having donated around 10 million pairs of shoes, and Patagonia’s fund investing $500,000 to $5 million per company. SolarCity was acquired by Tesla in 2016 and no longer exists separately.
Business is business, but some companies take very seriously the idea that an entrepreneur should make the world a better place by helping to improve it. This time we look at companies that go beyond protecting the environment, in a ranking put together by Melissa Stanger of Business Insider, in which some companies, beyond their own profit, are constantly fighting to improve the conditions of people less fortunate than themselves.
1. Starbucks pays for its employees’ university education.
Starbucks is one of the fastest-growing companies. Howard Schultz, its chairman and founder, is not only an example of a businessman who has managed to win such a large market share with a product as everyday as coffee. He is also aware that many of his 135,000 workers are just passing through the company, while others would be willing to move up and build a career there.
In June, Starbucks announced that, in partnership with Arizona State University, it would reimburse the full cost of university for thousands of its employees, while many others would receive partial reimbursement. Few companies make that kind of investment in their employees, and naturally many young people appreciate the initiative and work for the company with much more passion.
2. Cisco brings internet access to victims of natural disasters.
Cisco has a Tactical Operations department (TacOps) that always keeps an eye on the weather report so that it can restore internet and phone connections in areas hit by natural disasters. And it does this not only in the United States but all over the world.
When the Philippines was struck by Typhoon Haiyan, Cisco quickly sent 10 paid staff and 300 volunteers so that rescue work would not be hampered by a lack of connectivity. Cisco covers all the costs incurred by the TacOps team.
3. Brilliant Earth sells conflict-free diamonds.
Brilliant Earth is firmly against “blood diamonds”. Founded in 2005, the company supplies customers looking for this kind of jewellery with “ethical diamonds”, which come from partnerships with suppliers that adhere to strictly legal mining practices. It also donates 5% of its profits to benefit communities harmed by the dirty practices in this business.
4. Échale builds homes for low-income people in Mexico.
Échale saw a flaw in Mexico’s social housing system and decided to get to work on bringing about systemic change, helping families build their own homes instead of waiting for help from the government or from governmental or non-profit organisations. Échale’s model has allowed tens of thousands of low-income Mexicans to have the homes they live in today.
5. Gap wants to improve conditions for factory workers.
The clothing company Gap wants factory workers to be well looked after, and not only those who work directly for Gap but also the employees of its suppliers. That is why the company works with the International Labour Organization’s Better Work programme to monitor working conditions in factories around the world and make sure they are fair.
It also wants these factory workers to have other opportunities, so it is trying to give them a career plan that lets them advance at work. The pilot programme took place in Cambodia and was aimed at women. Those who took part were promoted three times faster than those who did not. Remember that clothing companies are at the centre of controversy for subcontracting factories in developing countries where workers are exploited for next to nothing. Gap wants to put an end to that.
6. GoldieBlox inspires girls to become engineers.
GoldieBlox knows that engineering is a largely male-dominated field, so the company’s mission is to make the kind of toys that used to be aimed at boys, but for girls.
It is proving hard to break the stereotype that construction toys are for boys, but little by little the company is growing in the sector, and more and more girls are learning some of the principles of engineering through play, such as axles, levers, force and friction, and simple circuits.
7. Patagonia started a venture capital fund to invest in companies that care about the environment.
Patagonia is broadening its mission of supporting the environment, so it decided to create a venture capital fund called $20 Million & Change to back ventures that try to make a positive impact on the planet.
Patagonia is said to be investing between $500,000 and $5 million in each company, depending on the kind of support they are looking for.
8. SolarCity helps families and businesses with solar energy systems.
SolarCity carries the winning stamp of Elon Musk (the new Steve Jobs), and one of its most innovative and inspiring initiatives has been offering solar leases that can practically eliminate the upfront costs for business owners and homeowners who want a sustainable source of energy.
9. TOMS gives free shoes and glasses to poor communities.
For every pair of shoes or glasses it sells, TOMS donates one to a person in need. The company is estimated to have donated around 10 million pairs of shoes and glasses so far to communities that cannot afford them. It has now also moved into the roasted coffee bean business, and for sales of this product it donates clean drinking water to disadvantaged communities.
Further reading
- Rich and famous people who lived as homeless
- 10 simple product ideas that made their creators millionaires
- 20 new business ideas for 2014–2015
Featured image: ajay_suresh, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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