The ENTREPRENEURSHIP encyclopedia

Global warming refers to the well-documented increase in the average temperature of the earth’s surface. Global warming is caused by both natural factors and human activities, such as the burning fossil fuels, which releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Rules, practices and processes by which a business is run. It would include the policies that a business has.

A Grant is a financial gift to a company, individual or organization such as research funding or donations from philanthropic organizations, which do not need to be paid back. Grants can sometimes include vesting or waiting periods before recipients are given access to the full amount of the money.

Grants are a major source of funding for companies and organizations. Securing grant funding involves identifying opportunities through grant giving foundations and other organization, then writing and submitting effective grant proposals. There are many types of grants, including programs for rural nonprofits, the arts, educational initiatives, environmental protection, and much more. 

Green bond is a type of fixed-income instrument that is specifically earmarked to raise money for climate and environmental friendly projects.

Green Certification is a third-party certification of a company, product, or service as environmentally friendly. There are many third-party certifications, some of which include the ability to use a seal or logo to promote a product or service.

An entrepreneur is a person with a business idea for a product or service who takes the initiative and risks involved to make this idea a reality. A green entrepreneur, also known as an “ecological entrepreneur,” is someone whose product or service benefits the environment, or improves upon a product or service that is currently causing environmental damage. Green entrepreneurs are driven by a desire to solve environmental/social problems, as well as make a profit. They build business models founded upon “triple bottom line” principles, taking into account people, the planet, and profits.

A Green Marketing is a marketing strategy that promotes the environmental and social benefits of “green” products and services to make them more attractive to consumers. The aim of green marketing is to educate consumers about the positive aspects of what a company does, and/or the negative implications of what the competition does, thereby tapping into the consumers’ pocketbook via their conscience.

There is considerable debate these days over what makes a product “green.” In general, if a product’s design, packaging, manufacture, or source materials have a lower environmental impact than other similar products available on the market, then it could be considered a green product. Examples include non-toxic cleaning supplies and compostable plastic utensils.

A  supply chain is the process by which companies source, design, manufacture and deliver products to customers. Green supply chain management, or “greening the supply chain,” is an effort to reduce the environmental impact of each stage in the life cycle of a product, from the sourcing of the raw materials used to construct it, to its distribution and sale, and finally, to its potential to be recycled, reused or composted.