Shopping habits are changing and it is mainly the new generations who are driving this transformation. According to Comscore’s “Digital Landscape in a World of Data Driven and Sustainable Decisions” study, 70% of millennials they would spend more on products and services that support a cause they care about.
Many companies are aware of this interest from new consumers and are implementing campaigns to support a cause. However, young people support companies that show a genuine concern to solve some social or environmental problem and not just those that “get on the bandwagon”.
Solve a problem in your environment
It is then the ideal time to generate ventures with a cause. We are referring to companies whose essence is to contribute to a specific community, to solve some problem in its environment, to respond to a specific need. Very important to take into account is that this support is not temporary, but part of the day to day.
There are multiple social and environmental deficiencies. Fortunately, many entrepreneurs are adopting this new business model whose objective is to generate profits and positively impact the environment in which they operate.
Startups with a cause to keep an eye on
So that you can be inspired, we present some examples of ventures with a cause that seek to create a better future.
dreams with cause
Safe sleep is a priority for early childhood specialists, which is why several recommendations have been issued in recent years to prevent “crib death.” Some are sleeping on your back, not using pillows, or avoiding blankets to tuck babies in.
To keep babies safe but warm, especially in cold climates, the use of products such as sleeping bags has been encouraged. Although there are many marketers, Sueños con causa allocates a percentage of all sales to make more bags that can be donated to vulnerable communities.
Oaxacanite Chocolate
In 2015, Germán Santillán started his chocolate company. Unlike many others that sell similar products, this one seeks to preserve indigenous knowledge and has a sustainable business model. To do this, they generate jobs for traditional cooks, artisans and cocoa farmers in a Mixtec community.
But Oaxacanita Chocolate not only contributes to employment and economic development, they also created an educational program with which they seek to train the new generations.
ecofilter
The problem of drinking water and the lack faced by thousands of communities prompted the emergence of this product that is a purifier, dispenser and filter, and is made from natural products.
Ecofiltro is an enterprise with a cause that aims to contribute to universal and equitable access to water. It is for this reason that, as part of their constant work, they donate product to the communities that need it most in the places where they operate.
cuttiecup
Since its inception, this company seeks to positively impact the environment by reducing the ecological footprint left by menstruation due to the use of feminine pads, tampons, and more. Instead, they offer a more “ecofriendly” option such as the menstrual cup.
And although it is a reality that there are more and more suppliers of this product, Cuttiecup differs from them because each purchase contributes to more women having the opportunity to experience a more comfortable and sustainable menstrual cycle. It does so through donations and by giving workshops on the use of the glass, sexuality, gender violence and more.
It is no longer enough to implement a campaign during some time of the year to support a cause, now consumers are demanding a real commitment as this becomes an impulse not only to buy but also to be loyal to a brand. If you are going to start a business, consider these new social demands and be part of the change through an enterprise with a cause.
Daniela Ramos Communicologist and mom. With 10 years of experience, I have been able to tell stories related to business, personal finance, work culture, entrepreneurship and technology.