In this blog, we’re excited to highlight Impact Enterprise 20, an innovative initiative co-launched by ANDE Member Change Fusion and ANDE Partner UNDP Thailand that aims to grow social impact investment in Thailand. The program has supported 20 impact enterprises to achieve financial sustainability, while also addressing the business challenges that these enterprises face. 11 Finalists have received guidance on impact measurement and management, and tailored business and impact acceleration assistance through a series of customized and interactive workshops. Impact enterprises also have the opportunity to connect with impact investors and venture capitalists, as well as receive support from social impact practitioners and senior experts from UNDP Thailand. 

Meet the 5 impact enterprises that work to achieve the environmental-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Local Alike is a social enterprise that uses sustainable tourism as a tool to support sustainable economic, social, and environmental development among local communities. As tourism is one of the key drivers of the Thai economy, to enable economic benefits for the rural population, Local Alike works on community-based tourism (CBT) by empowering local communities with the knowledge and skills in managing tourism sustainably. Local Alike has empowered 200 villages to embrace CBT in 42 provinces in Thailand, engaged 40,000 plus travelers into the project, and at the same time, they have supported 12 communities in initiating development projects with CBT Fund from profit sharing.

Local Alike’s impact has contributed to achieving SDGs, GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, GOAL 10: Reduced Inequality, GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, and GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.

Fisherfolk is a women-led social enterprise that supports small-scale fishermen by paying fair prices for their sea catches that are sustainably sourced and processed locally without chemicals.

Fisherfolk was developed as a commercial unit out of the Federation of Thai Fisherfolk Association. It works on educating local fishermen on conservation, how to use friendly fishing equipment, and how to source only from those who abide by rules and are a chemical-free catch. Fisherfolk has helped 500  fisherman households to increase their income through fair-priced purchases and employment at Fisherfolk’s local processing facilities. Approximately, 100 fish and crab shelters were built per year by using 20% profit from the Fisherfolk.

Fisherfolk’s impact has contributed to achieving SDGs, GOAL 5: Gender Equality, GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, and GOAL 14: Life Below Water.

moreloop is an online marketplace that facilitates the selling of surplus fabrics from garment factories and upcycled fabric products. Inspired by the concept of Circular Economy, Amorpol Huvanandana who has been passionate about making changes for the environment, and his partner Thamonwan Virodchaiyan who runs a family garment business co-founded moreloop in 2018.

moreloop has transformed garment wastes into environmentally-friendly products which made them one of the key players of the up-and-coming sustainable fashion market in Thailand. It also has extended the lifespan of textile fabrics and minimized wastes produced by the garment industry of 31 tons fabrics upcycle and 465 tons COs saved. moreloop’s impact has contributed to achieving SDGs, GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, and GOAL 13: Climate Action.

Fang Thai Factory is a social enterprise that up-cycles rice straw into biodegradable paper and packaging material to add value to agricultural waste and mitigate air pollution. After the harvest season, rice farmers face two key challenges, temporary lack of income and the air pollution effect caused by rice straw burning. To address these issues, Fang Thai was established in 2014 to transform rice straw into biodegradable paper and packaging products.

Fang Thai Factory has helped 80 farming households to generate extra income through employment opportunities. It has also reduced 28,000 plus tons of CO2 emissions per year, and the rice straw paper saves 3.03 kg of CO2/m2 by using waste instead of virgin material for production. Fang Thai Factory’s impact has contributed to achieving SDGs, GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, and GOAL 13: Climate Action.

Inno Waste is a food waste management solution with innovative machines and know-how enabling the conversion of food waste into nutritious soil and EM in a short period of time. Since food waste contributes to over 60% of all wastes produced, Inno Waste has chosen to tackle food wastes through recycling machines. Inno Waste processed 73 tons of food waste, reduced CO2 emission by 184 tons, reduced cost of waste management by THB 1 million, and generated income for the community by THB 1 million. Inno Waste’s impact has contributed to achieving SDGs, GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, GOAL 13: Climate Action, and GOAL 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal.

ANDE acknowledges that climate entrepreneurs face extraordinary challenges in accessing finance, developing climate-focused business models, and a lack of enabling policies. With support from Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and in partnership with the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), ANDE has been working on a new entrepreneurial ecosystem snapshot. Our latest research aims to identify key organizations that are actively supporting climate and environmental entrepreneurship in Southeast Asia. By doing so, we seek to understand challenges in the region’s climate entrepreneurial ecosystem and how we can best move forward together.

Join the report launch on Thursday 19th August at 10:00 – 11:30 AM (GMT+7) to hear what we found!