How Sustainable Entrepreneurship is Shaping Our Future for Good

By Kent Gregoire, an EO US East Bridge chapter member who co-founded Stakeholder Business to accelerate the evolution of business into a sustainable force that builds a world that works for everyone.

Entrepreneurs have long been at the forefront of innovation, driving progress and reshaping industries. Their willingness to take risks, disrupt markets, and reimagine the world positions them uniquely to lead the charge toward sustainability. As we approach Sustainable Entrepreneurship Day on December 14, we celebrate the role of entrepreneurs as catalysts for change. Sustainable entrepreneurship is the next frontier of innovation—one that blends purpose with profit to build companies of consequence that benefit people, the planet, and the bottom line.

5 Real-World Examples of Sustainable Entrepreneurship

The following five companies provide a roadmap for creating lasting impact through sustainability, as demonstrated by entrepreneurs already making a difference.

1. Eliminating Waste: The First Step Toward Impact

Eliminating waste is one of the simplest yet most powerful steps an entrepreneur can take. It’s not just about cutting excess but about redefining efficiency and purpose. Transitioning to renewable energy, streamlining resource use, and adopting circular economy principles are accessible ways to reduce costs and minimize environmental harm. Waste elimination goes beyond immediate results; it creates a foundation for long-term innovation and resilience.

Consider Tom Szaky, founder of TerraCycle. By turning non-recyclable waste into new products, Szaky has redefined the concept of waste itself. TerraCycle collaborates with individuals, schools, and businesses to collect hard-to-recycle items and transform them into raw materials for manufacturers. This approach not only diverts waste from landfills but also inspires others to view waste as an opportunity for creativity and profit. Szaky’s vision demonstrates how eliminating waste can spark broader changes in consumer and industry behaviors.

2. Creating Virtuous Cycles: Momentum for Continuous Improvement

Sustainability thrives in systems that generate virtuous cycles, where each step forward fuels further progress. When businesses reduce energy costs, they free up resources to invest in new technologies, driving greater efficiencies and setting off a chain reaction of improvements. Customers increasingly value businesses that prioritize sustainability, fostering loyalty and creating revenue streams that can fund even more impactful initiatives. Collaboration with stakeholders—whether suppliers, partners, or communities—strengthens these cycles, making them self-sustaining.

A compelling example comes from BeeLine, a company founded by Mark Jenner and Tom Putnam. BeeLine produces minimalist bike navigation systems designed to reduce urban traffic congestion and emissions by encouraging cycling. The more users adopt BeeLine, the more the company reinvests in technology to enhance the user experience, further promoting eco-friendly transportation. By creating a virtuous cycle of innovation, community impact, and reinvestment, BeeLine illustrates how entrepreneurial solutions can address complex challenges while driving business success.

3. Fostering Mutualism: Thriving Together

Mutualism recognizes that businesses don’t exist in isolation. Success is deeply intertwined with the well-being of employees, suppliers, customers, and communities. Empowering employees to participate in sustainability initiatives unleashes creativity and ownership, while partnerships with suppliers can drive shared progress toward sustainable goals. Aligning business objectives with community needs builds trust and ensures a broader, more meaningful impact.

Take the example of Bureo, a company founded by three friends, David Stover, Kevin Ahearn, and Ben Kneppers, who wanted to tackle ocean plastic pollution. Bureo works with coastal communities to collect discarded fishing nets—the largest source of ocean plastic—then transforms them into high-quality recycled materials for products like skateboards, sunglasses, and outdoor furniture. By engaging local communities in the collection process, Bureo not only reduces waste but also creates jobs and fosters environmental stewardship. This mutualistic approach ensures benefits are shared across all participants, amplifying the company’s impact.

4. Pushing Beyond Compliance: Leadership Through Innovation

Compliance with environmental regulations is necessary, but true leadership comes from pushing beyond what’s required to embrace innovation and transformation. Entrepreneurs who go beyond the minimum often discover breakthrough products, processes, or markets that set them apart. Sustainability commitments also inspire loyalty and trust from employees, customers, and investors, creating a deep sense of alignment with the company’s mission.

One entrepreneur embodying this ethos is Lauren Singer, founder of Package Free. Frustrated by the amount of waste she encountered in daily life, Singer built a business focused on zero-waste living. Package Free offers reusable and compostable alternatives to disposable products, while actively educating customers about reducing waste. Singer’s commitment to sustainability has not only created a thriving business but has also spurred a broader cultural shift toward zero-waste lifestyles. By going beyond compliance to reimagine what’s possible, she has built a brand that inspires change on an individual and systemic level.

5. Leveraging the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Entrepreneurs don’t innovate in isolation. They thrive within ecosystems that provide the resources and support needed to bring ideas to life. Access to funding, infrastructure, and talent is essential for translating ambitious visions into tangible solutions. Collaborating with other entrepreneurs and established organizations can amplify impact and accelerate progress.

For instance, Emani Bey and Kevin Williams, co-founders of Green Grease Environmental, have leveraged partnerships to scale their innovative waste oil recycling business. The company collects used cooking oil from restaurants and food service providers, converting it into biodiesel and other renewable energy products. By working with local businesses, Green Grease Environmental not only reduces waste but also strengthens its network and creates economic opportunities. Their success is a testament to how a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem can fuel sustainability efforts.

A Call to Action: Build Companies That Matter

Entrepreneurs have always been the source of innovation, finding opportunities in challenges and redefining what’s possible. Sustainable entrepreneurship is the next evolution of this legacy. By eliminating waste, creating virtuous cycles, fostering mutualism, and leading through innovation, entrepreneurs can build companies that not only succeed today but create lasting value for future generations.

As Sustainable Entrepreneurship Day reminds us, the power to change the world lies in the hands of those willing to think differently. The entrepreneurs highlighted here demonstrate that sustainability is not only achievable but also profitable, transformative, and deeply inspiring. 

This is the moment to lead. Entrepreneurs have the tools, vision, and drive to build companies of consequence—enterprises that deliver purpose, profit, and impact. Let’s seize this opportunity to make sustainability the cornerstone of a thriving future.