As the business sector comes to grips with the fact that it needs to shift away from business-as-usual and contribute to a more sustainable and equitable world, impact-driven social enterprises serve as a source of inspiration for how to achieve that.
Take Tribal Textiles, for example. The Zambian social enterprise is located on the edge of the country’s lush South Luangwa National Park and, on top of creating eco-friendly and ethically crafted textiles, the company also focuses on giving back to the local community.
Now in its 30th year, the company is one of the biggest employers in the remote area. In addition to providing sustainable local employment, it also reinvests a percentage of its profits back into the local community and conservation initiatives.
Five percent of every Tribal Textiles purchase is reinvested into the local community as well as in conservation initiatives that are helping reduce the rates of poaching and deforestation in the wildlife-rich region.
Tribal Textiles crafts its home decor textile pieces at its workshop in Zambia and then ships them to customers and distributors, with a portion of the shipping costs dedicated to supporting the children at a local orphanage.
From pillowcases and tablecloths to face masks and aprons, the company produces a variety of handmade home decor items and accessories out of locally- and sustainably-sourced materials. During the pandemic, the company also helped keep its community safe by supplying 35,000 hand-sewn masks to local residents.
