Social Impact Lab Bremen
The Social Impact Lab Bremen sees itself as a contact point for exchange and networking on the topic of sustainable start-ups and sustainable business in the federal state of Bremen.
bremen.socialimpactlab.eu
BIS Bremerhaven offers a wide range of projects on the subject of sustainability. Both companies and private individuals benefit from the numerous offers that aim to change the environment for the better.
A wide range of opportunities are offered for this, such as the Economy for the Common Good initiative based on Christian Felber's ideas, which evaluates companies, universities and organizations transparently and comparably across all sectors on the basis of 20 aspects such as human dignity, solidarity and ecological sustainability. The Inclusive Bremerhaven network also promotes a self-determined and equal life for all people in the city. Working groups develop projects on the topics of work, housing, barriers and leisure in order to create an inclusive city. Last but not least, social enterprises combine economic thinking with charitable work or social and ecological innovations. Their focus is on solving social challenges, not exclusively on maximizing profits.
It is not only many employees who are asking themselves the question of the meaning of their work, but also more and more entrepreneurs. Ecologically and socially sustainable action is no longer seen as secondary, but as a measurable component of corporate strategy.
The Economy for the Common Good (ECG) initiative is based on the ideas of Austrian political scientist Christian Felber of an alternative economic system. The movement has been active since 2010 and has developed worldwide. It now has 11,000 supporters. There are over 180 regional groups within the movement with over 4,800 active members. There are also 35 ECG associations, around 600 accounting companies and other organizations that are committed to the Economy for the Common Good. Their vision is being disseminated, implemented and promoted in almost 60 municipalities and cities and at around 200 universities worldwide.
A helpful tool is the so-called Common Good Balance Sheet, which makes the results of a Corporate Social Responsibilty (CSR) standard transparently comparable - across all sectors, company sizes and legal forms.
This sheet is used as a CSR assessment procedure for companies, universities, municipalities and other organizations. It is based on the so-called Common Good Matrix and examines 20 corporate aspects on social values’s basis such as human dignity, solidarity and justice, ecological sustainability, transparency and co-determination. Specifically, the companies taking stock will gradually review their business activities in relation to relevant contact groups - from owners and employees to suppliers, customers and their social environment. A maximum of 1,000 Common Good points can be reached in the assessment process.
Social entrepreneurship refers to companies that combine economic thinking with non-profit or social and ecological innovations. Their goal is to contribute to the solution of social challenges instead of profit maximization. However, it does not mean they do not want to earn money.
Social enterprises are financed through the sale of products or services as well as donations or partnerships. The decisive factor, however, is not the source of income, but the company's sustainable and stable financing structure. These companies differentiate themselves through innovative and creative products and services not available on the regular market.
There are currently around 1,700 social enterprises in Germany. With their social innovations, they play an important role in overcoming social challenges. The state of Bremen benefits from these entrepreneurial activities and the resulting social impact. The state's economy becomes more diverse and the impact of social enterprises on society in Bremerhaven and Bremen rises.
"After all, social entrepreneurship is an important component of creative, innovative economic landscapes."
The Starthaus Bremen & Bremerhaven and the Senator for Economic, Ports and Transformation have launched the crowdfunding matching campaign "Social Mission Possible" to provide an incentive for launching projects in the field of social entrepreneurship.
For every amount raised via the crowd, there is an additional financial bonus. Successful projects in the areas of sustainability and social commitment are supported with an additional 20 percent of the amount raised, up to a maximum of 2,000 euros.
The Social Impact Lab Bremen sees itself as a contact point for exchange and networking on the topic of sustainable start-ups and sustainable business in the federal state of Bremen.
bremen.socialimpactlab.euThe SEND network has set itself the goal of further strengthening the ecosystem in Bremerhaven and Bremen for social enterprises and sustainable business and creating good conditions for social entrepreneurs.
send-ev.de
Dr. Barbara Schieferstein