Social enterprise, business for good, conscious capitalism; it has many names but one purpose: to make a difference while making a profit.

The industry is booming with start-ups and old standbys gaining more and more market share as people look for new ways to make a positive impact on their world. Here’s a roundup of Inspired’s favourite, tried and true, businesses for good.

1. Who Gives A Crap
We do! And so do the thousands of people who order this toilet paper made from recycled paper. Who Gives a Crap also donates 50 percent of their profits to WaterAid to build toilets and improve sanitation in the developing world. So far they have provided over 46,000 people with a year’s access to a toilet and saved 4,604 trees by using recycled paper. How good is that?

 2. Omology 

One of our very own, Kimberly Kay, founded Omology in 2014 and has been sharing the bliss ever since. Her startup yoga company hosts community yoga classes, usually held outdoors with grass underfoot and sun overhead to fund great causes locally and globally. Omology’s mission is to fund projects that empower women and girls and provide access to education. There’s nothing better than hitting the mat as a midday desk break, or an after work wind down knowing that your practice is serving others. (Omology is on hiatus while Kimberly works in human rights in London, stay tuned!)

3. Toms

We couldn’t compile a list of our favourite businesses for good without including one of the originals, TOMS. Since 2006, this shoe company has been selling their iconic slip-ons with the promise that for every shoe sold, a new pair of shoes will be given to a child in need. Nine years later, 45 million pairs of shoes have been donated. TOMS also has expanded into handbags, eyeglasses, and accessories, but our favourite remains the classic slip-on shoe.

4. One Night Stand

If you’re after some simple, trendy sleepwear and want to support young people sleeping rough or at risk of homelessness, One Night Stand is your brand. They’ve partnered with OzHarvest to delivery one meal for a young person sleeping rough for every purchase made. They’ve also pledged 50 percent of their profits to projects that support young people with employment opportunities and shelter. Their ethos is simple, “We believe that the world is waking up to business playing its part. If all for-profit companies give something every time they sell something, we will all be a part of positive social and environmental impact.” We agree!

5. Thankyou.

We’re pretty excited for our supply of thankyou. hand wash products to arrive at IA headquarters. We made the switch for our office because thankyou. products are eco-friendly, not tested on animals and all about giving back. After expenses, 100 percent of their profits fund life-changing water, food or health and hygiene projects. Thankyou. Group, originally thankyou. water, has expanded into food and body care products and is one of the fastest growing social enterprises in Australia. We can’t wait to see what products they come out with next.

6. Words with Heart

Prepare for beautiful stationery overload if you hop on to Words with Heart’s website orInstagram. Their beautiful designs carry empowering messages like, “Dream big, work hard, have courage” and “Girls just wanna have fun…damental human rights”. They earn their spot on our list for their commitment to producing eco-friendly products with 100 percent recycled paper, vegetable based inks, solar power, and no harsh printing chemicals, not to mention their awesome mission of funding education for underserved women and girls! Writing to-do lists is so much better when it’s not a notepad that changes the world.

Feeling inspired?

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