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Paradise Found is a Hawaii-based apparel company that produces locally made Aloha shirts, blending cultural heritage with modern retail through both wholesale and direct-to-consumer channels. The business is exploring more sustainable fabrics, recycling materials, and eco-friendly operations to reduce its environmental impact. These efforts support UN Sustainable Development Goals such as Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure(SDG 9), and Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12) by promoting more sustainable fashion practices.
GoodLeap is a platform focused on making sustainable home upgrades more accessible, including solar energy systems, HVAC, and other energy-efficient improvements. By building financing directly into the home improvement process, it removes one of the biggest barriers that usually stops people from choosing these options. As a result, more homeowners are able to move forward with clean energy upgrades, helping support broader goals like affordable clean energy and climate action.
Sodexo enhances the campus dining experience by integrating data-driven technologies, including AI-powered analytics, to create measurable operational solution…Sodexo enhances the campus dining experience by integrating data-driven technologies, including AI-powered analytics, to create measurable operational solutions that reduce food waste. This approach directly supports SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production and SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being.
VusionGroup is transforming the way physical retail stores operate through a suite of IoT technologies, including electronic shelf labels, real-time inventory tracking, and AI-powered analytics, that make stores smarter, more efficient, and more sustainable. By enabling retailers to monitor inventory in real time, reduce emergency logistics, fight food waste through timely promotions, and use existing stores as e-commerce fulfillment centers, VusionGroup helps its partners significantly reduce their carbon footprint and operational waste. These innovations directly advance SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by embedding sustainability into the everyday operations of retail at a global scale.
Our Inquiry Analysis covered how The Maybourne Hotel in Beverly Hills is eliminating single use plastics, which is in line with SDG #12: Responsible Consumption and Production. They have shifted this from being a side mission into a core operation of the hotel. They implemented a hotel-wide movement of eliminating single-use plastics by replacing them all with glass alternatives; this was considered more of a luxury experience for guests by using nicer glass bottles throughout the hotel.
Green Steel Environmental is a wastewater treatment technology company that has developed Green Steel PSR, an upcycled treatment media made from steel-manufacturing residuals. Upcycling means taking a waste material and transforming it into a higher-value product with a new environmental benefit. In this case, the product helps wastewater plants remove phosphorus and sulfur more safely and cost-effectively, reducing reliance on hazardous conventional chemicals while protecting water quality and supporting more efficient renewable natural gas operations. The innovation directly advances SDG 6, SDG 12, and SDG 13.
The company’s primary focus is coastal restoration, a critical issue in Louisiana due to ongoing land loss and environmental challenges. One of PPLLC’s most significant projects was the restoration of Queen Bess Island, located off the coast of Grand Isle, Louisiana. This island, once reduced to approximately five acres due to erosion and environmental damage, serves as one of the largest nesting grounds for Louisiana’s state bird, the brown pelican. The Queen Bess Island restoration project directly aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land, which emphasizes protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems while halting biodiversity loss. The initiative aimed to rebuild the island’s habitat to support the brown pelican population and other coastal bird species.
Foret Group’s innovation is rooted in its values of family, faith, and community care. These principles guide their approach to construction and landscaping projects. Their work supports the development of sustainable cities and communities by creating lasting, environmentally friendly spaces and strengthening local connections. By focusing on sustainable landscaping and restoring natural environments, the company helps improve the quality of life and community resilience.
Bajaj Capital is a financial services and investment advisory company based out of New Delhi, India. The company was established in 1964, and since has grown its brand around one core belief, to serve everyone. Their customer demographic spans from the common man to ultra-high-net-worth individuals, a range which is rarely seen in the financial services industry. Bajaj Capital's innovations include introducing company-backed fixed deposits and being the first mutual fund distributor in India. They have also maintained a strong commitment to financial education. Allowing the organisation to play a meaningful role in shaping how India invests. The model of the company directly advances SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 8 (Good Jobs and Economic Growth).
Academy Sports + Outdoors has taken steps toward sustainability by focusing on circular logistics and more responsible production practices. The company uses recycled materials in its private-label products and has improved its waste management practices, aligning with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. These efforts help reduce waste while encouraging more environmentally friendly practices in the retail industry.
TPP Construction has introduced innovative building practices focused on sustainability and efficiency, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These practices include using eco-friendly materials and improving construction efficiency to reduce waste. This innovation supports goals such as sustainable cities and responsible consumption.
Waymo is focused on developing fully autonomous vehicles that use artificial intelligence, advanced sensors, and real-time mapping data to operate without a human driver. Their main business solution is a self-driving ride-hailing service, where users can request a driverless car through an app and be transported safely to their destination. The goal is to create a system that is not only more convenient, but also significantly safer and more efficient than traditional human-driven transportation. Since human error is responsible for the vast majority of car accidents, removing that factor has the potential to greatly reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities on the road. In addition to safety, Waymo’s technology helps improve how cities function by optimizing driving patterns, reducing traffic congestion, and supporting the transition toward electric vehicles, which can lower overall emissions. This directly connects to several UN Sustainable Development Goals. It supports SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by advancing cutting-edge transportation technology and modernizing infrastructure. It also aligns with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by making urban transportation safer, more accessible, and more efficient for a growing population. Additionally, it contributes to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) by aiming to reduce traffic-related injuries and deaths. Overall, Waymo’s innovation is not just about convenience, but about reshaping transportation in a way that prioritizes safety, sustainability, and long-term urban improvement.
Dufrene Building Materials has developed a regional distribution and job site delivery system that allows contractors to receive building materials directly at their construction sites across the Gulf South Region. Dufrene Building Materials delivers materials directly to customers, helping save time, reduce delays, and keep projects moving at all times. This innovation directly supports UN Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, by having access to the materials needed to build safe and resilient housing throughout the Louisiana and Gulf South Region. Dufrene Building Materials helps rebuild communities after hurricane season devastates the infrastructure across the region.
Help Us Green is a social enterprise that transforms discarded temple flowers into eco-friendly products such as incense sticks through a circular economy model. The innovation addresses both environmental pollution from floral waste and social inequality by creating dignified employment for women from underserved communities. The model directly supports UN Sustainable Development Goals including Responsible Consumption and Production and Decent Work and Economic Growth.
Soil degradation, water scarcity, and food insecurity constitute a global problem. Around 40% of the Earth’s surface is degraded, and 12 million hectares of productive land are lost every year due to increasing desertification and drought, according to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD, 2022). This coexists with freshwater scarcity: according to UN-Water (2023), more than 2 billion people live in countries experiencing high water stress, and by 2040 global demand is expected to exceed available supply by 40%. Agriculture, which accounts for 70% of global water consumption, is one of the main pressure factors.
Another factor aggravates the problem. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2022) warns that global warming intensifies droughts, heat waves, and irregular rainfall, especially in tropical and semi-arid regions. Without adaptation in productive systems, agricultural yields in vulnerable areas could decline between 25% and 70% by the end of the century.
The consequences are already evident. In 2023, between 713 and 715 million people worldwide suffered from hunger, while 2.8 billion people lacked access to a healthy diet. Water stress and soil degradation are structural factors threatening agricultural productivity in the coming decades (FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP & WHO, 2024).
This problem is also visible in La Guajira, Colombia. According to IDEAM (2023), La Guajira is the country’s driest region, with very low rainfall and high temperatures, leading to severe freshwater scarcity and major challenges for agricultural production. Chronic malnutrition among children under five exceeds the national average (INS, 2022), and Wayuu communities are among the most affected by the lack of access to water and food. More than 59% of rural households experience food insecurity (ACAPS, 2023).
In La Guajira, innovation is being used to address these challenges through initiatives such as Air Batalla S.A.S. This microenterprise contributes to solving water scarcity, desertification, and food insecurity through seawater greenhouses that create a cooler microclimate for crops while reducing freshwater demand.
“The real secret of innovation is optimizing your technology, making it adaptable, affordable, and truly understandable,” says Klever Mejía, Innovation Manager of the company.
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La degradación del suelo, la escasez del agua, y la inseguridad alimentaria configuran un problema global. Alrededor del 40% de la superficie terrestre está degradada, y 12 millones de hectáreas de tierra productiva se pierden cada año por el aumento en la desertificación y la sequía, según la Convención de las Naciones Unidas de Lucha contra la Desertificación (UNCCD, 2022). Esto convive con la escasez de agua dulce, y es que, según la UN-Water (2023), más de 2.000 millones de personas habitan países con alto estrés hídrico, y para 2040 la demanda mundial superará la oferta disponible en un 40%, donde un factor de presión significativo es la agricultura, que abarca el 70% del consumo mundial de este recurso.
Otro factor contribuye al problema: el Grupo Intergubernamental de Expertos sobre el Cambio Climático (IPCC, 2022) advierte que el calentamiento global intensifica sequías, olas de calor, y lluvias irregulares ensañadas en las regiones tropicales y semiáridas; y que, si no hay adaptación en los sistemas productivos, los rendimientos agrícolas en áreas vulnerables podrían caer entre 25% y 70% para finales del siglo. Las consecuencias ya se perciben y aportan al panorama actual: en 2023, entre 713 y 715 millones de personas en el mundo padecieron hambre, y 2.800 millones dejaron de acceder a una dieta saludable, con el estrés hídrico y la degradación del suelo como factores estructurales que amenazan la capacidad productiva agrícola en las próximas décadas (FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFT & WHO, 2024).
Este problema también se percibe en el departamento costero de La Guajira, en Colombia. El Instituto de Hidrología, Meteorología y Estudios Ambientales, reporta que La Guajira es la región más árida del país, con un bajísimo nivel de pluviosidad y altas temperaturas, lo que supone escasez de agua dulce, y eleva retos a la producción agrícola (IDEAM, 2023). La población guajira destaca sobre el promedio nacional de desnutrición crónica en menores de 5 años (INS, 2022), y las comunidades de la etnia wayuu, que habitan el territorio, son las más afectadas por la falta de acceso al agua y la comida, lo que contribuye a que más del 59% de los hogares rurales perciban inseguridad alimentaria según el Programa Mundial de Alimentos (ACAPS, 2023).
En La Guajira, este problema es enfrentado desde la innovación, por casos que generan impacto positivo, social y ambiental, como el de Air Batalla S.A.S. Esta microempresa afincada en Riohacha aporta a la solución del problema de la escasez hídrica, la desertificación, y la inseguridad alimentaria con una idea: invernaderos que funcionen con agua de mar para generar un microclima donde los cultivos prosperen a la vez que reducen su demanda de agua dulce. Esta solución facilita la adopción de un sistema productivo adaptado a las condiciones agrestes, y con ello, contribuye a la producción de alimentos para la población mientras reduce la dependencia a un recurso escaso como el agua dulce.
“El secreto realmente de la innovación es el tema de la optimización de tu tecnología, serla adaptable, económica y que sea realmente entendida”, dice Klever Mejía, Gerente de Innovación de la empresa.
In Colombia, small-scale mining represents a key source of livelihood for thousands of families, particularly in regions such as northeastern Antioquia. However, a significant portion of this activity is carried out under informal conditions, where highly polluting practices, such as the use of mercury for gold extraction, still persist despite the restrictions established by Law 1658 of 2013 and Law 1892 of 2018.
This phenomenon represents a critical issue that goes beyond environmental impacts, directly affecting human health, water quality, and the sustainability of local territories. In this regard, the use of mercury in gold mining becomes a major obstacle to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to Good Health and Well-Being (SDG 3), Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), and Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12).
One of the most widespread practices in this context is ore amalgamation, in which mercury is added during the crushing, grinding, and washing stages to facilitate gold recovery. However, this technique is extremely inefficient. According to Quiñónez & Cortés (2016), in manual processes only 10% of the mercury used successfully bonds with gold, while the remaining 90% is released into the environment. In many cases, this excess mercury is neither recovered nor properly treated, ultimately contaminating water sources, soils, and ecosystems, while also exposing workers and nearby communities to serious health risks.
This issue is further aggravated by the open-air burning of the amalgam, a common practice that significantly increases health hazards. According to Quiñónez & Cortés (2016), when this process is carried out without the use of retorts, mercury vapors are released into the atmosphere and subsequently inhaled, causing harmful effects on miners, their families, and surrounding populations.
In this context, the continued use of mercury in mining not only highlights gaps in the implementation of public policies but also underscores the urgent need to transition toward cleaner, safer, and more responsible production models.
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En Colombia, la minería de pequeña escala constituye una fuente clave de sustento para miles de familias, particularmente en regiones como el nordeste antioqueño. Sin embargo, una parte significativa de esta actividad se desarrolla en condiciones de informalidad, donde persisten prácticas altamente contaminantes como el uso de Mercurio para la extracción de oro, a pesar de las restricciones establecidas en la Ley 1658 de 2013 y la Ley 1892 de 2018.
Este fenómeno representa una problemática crítica que trasciende lo ambiental, impactando directamente la salud humana, la calidad de los recursos hídricos y la sostenibilidad de los territorios. En este sentido, el uso de mercurio en la minería aurífera se convierte en un obstáculo para el cumplimiento de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible, particularmente aquellos relacionados con la salud y el bienestar (ODS 3), el acceso a agua limpia (ODS 6) y la promoción de modelos de producción responsables (ODS 12).
Una de las prácticas más extendidas en este contexto es la amalgamación del mineral, en el cual se adiciona mercurio durante las etapas de trituración, molienda y lavado para facilitar la recuperación del oro. No obstante, esta técnica presenta una eficiencia extremadamente baja; según (Quiñónez & Cortés, 2016), en procesos manuales apenas el 10% del mercurio utilizado logra combinarse con oro, mientras que el 90% restante es liberado al ambiente. Este excedente, que en muchos casos no es recuperado ni tratado adecuadamente, termina contaminando fuentes hídricas, suelos y ecosistemas, además de generar exposición directa en los trabajadores y comunidades cercanas.
A esta problemática se suma la quema de la amalgama a cielo abierto, una práctica común que intensifica los riesgos para la salud. Según (Quiñónez & Cortés, 2016), cuando este proceso se realiza sin el uso de retortas, los vapores de mercurio son liberados a la atmósfera y posteriormente inhalados, generando efectos nocivos para los mineros, sus familias y la población circundante.
En este contexto, la persistencia del uso de mercurio en la minería no solo evidencia brechas en la implementación de políticas públicas, sino también en la necesidad urgente de migrar hacia modelos de producción más limpios, seguros y responsables.
Amazonía Emprende emerged in response to a clear crisis affecting SDG 15 (Life on Land), linked to the rapid loss of forests and biodiversity. According to the FAO, the world loses approximately 10 million hectares of forest every year. UN data indicate that agricultural expansion — including extensive livestock farming, monocultures, and the expansion of the agricultural frontier — is the leading driver of global deforestation.
According to Colombia’s Ministry of Environment, the Amazon region accounts for 65%–68% of the country’s total deforestation. Julio Andrés explains that, before consolidating the project, the team identified dynamics that not only coexisted but actively reinforced one another. In Caquetá, the deforestation frontier is advancing toward strategic areas such as Chiribiquete National Park, and in the Florencia area alone, it is estimated that more than 5 million hectares have been transformed over the past 80 years — creating a critical scenario for conservation. Compounding this is a profound disconnect between Colombia’s interior and the Amazon, despite the fact that this region represents 42% of the national territory and plays a fundamental role in the country’s water balance through processes such as the “flying rivers.”
This situation was further aggravated by the absence of business models capable of making restoration economically viable and engaging the private sector as part of the solution. As Julio Andrés notes, “in 2018, ecosystem restoration was not yet a material issue for companies or regulations — it has only recently begun to become one.” This reflects how the protection of terrestrial ecosystems is no longer solely an environmental concern, but an economic, social, and human imperative.
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Amazonía Emprende surge como respuesta a una crisis evidente del ODS 15 (Vida de ecosistemas terrestres), asociada a la pérdida acelerada de bosques y biodiversidad. De acuerdo con la FAO, el mundo pierde cerca de 10 millones de hectáreas de bosque cada año. Según datos de la ONU, la expansión agrícola es el principal motor de la pérdida de bosques en el mundo. Esto incluye ganadería extensiva, monocultivos y expansión de la frontera agrícola.
Según el Ministerio de Ambiente, en Colombia, la Amazonía concentra el 65%–68% de la deforestación del país. Julio Andrés explica que, antes de consolidar el proyecto, identificaron dinámicas que no solo coexistían, sino que se reforzaban entre sí. En el Caquetá, la frontera de deforestación avanza hacia zonas estratégicas como el Parque Chiribiquete, y solo en el área de Florencia se estima que más de 5 millones de hectáreas han sido transformadas en los últimos 80 años, configurando un escenario crítico para la conservación. A esto se suma una profunda desconexión entre el interior del país y la Amazonía, pese a que esta región representa el 42% del territorio nacional y cumple un papel fundamental en el equilibrio hídrico del país mediante procesos como los “ríos voladores”.
Este panorama se veía agravado por la ausencia de modelos de negocio que hicieran viable la restauración y vincularan al sector privado en la solución del problema. Como señala Julio Andrés, “en el año 2018 el tema de restauración de ecosistemas no era un tema material para las empresas ni para la normatividad, y solo recientemente ha empezado a serlo.” Esto evidencia que la protección de los ecosistemas terrestres ya no es únicamente un tema ambiental, sino una necesidad social, económica y humana.
Transport generates between 65% and 90% of urban emissions in Latin America, according to C40 Cities,[1] and just 3% of vehicles, buses and trucks, produce 90% of the carbon monoxide and 92% of the particulate matter we breathe in cities.[2] The World Health Organization links that pollution to 12 out of every 100 hospital deaths in cities with heavy traffic.[3]
The solution exists: electric vehicles. But in Latin America, prices make them out of reach for most operators. The most affordable electric car available in Colombia starts at USD 19,061.80 (JMEV 3 model),[4] and new electric buses and trucks can cost double or triple their diesel equivalent. With 338 million vehicles already on the road [5], replacing an entire fleet with new EVs is financially and logistically unviable within any near-term climate horizon.
Energía Vectorial solves this in a straightforward way: it does not ask operators to buy a new vehicle. It electrifies the one they already have. This approach unlocks the transition for the segment most responsible for urban pollution - commercial and public fleets- at a fraction of the replacement cost.
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El transporte genera entre el 65% y el 90% de las emisiones urbanas en América Latina, según C40 Cities,[1]y sólo el 3% de los vehículos -buses y camiones- producen el 90% del monóxido de carbono y el 92% del material particulado que respiramos en las ciudades.[2] La Organización Mundial de la Salud vincula esa contaminación a 12 de cada 100 muertes hospitalarias en ciudades con alto tráfico.[3]
La solución existe: los vehículos eléctricos. Pero en América Latina el precio los hace inalcanzables para la mayoría. El auto eléctrico más económico disponible en Colombia parte de USD 19.061,80 (Modelo JMEV 3),[4] y los buses y camiones eléctricos nuevos pueden costar el doble o el triple que su equivalente diésel. Con 338 millones de vehículos ya circulando,[5] reemplazar toda una flota con VE nuevos es financiera y logísticamente inviable en cualquier horizonte climático de corto plazo.
Energía Vectorial resuelve eso de manera simple: no pide que compren uno nuevo. Electrifica el que ya tienen. Este enfoque desbloquea la transición para el segmento más responsable de la contaminación urbana -flotas comerciales y públicas- a una fracción del costo de reemplazo.