2022 is a banner year for the social enterprise community as we take our turn playing host to the Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF), bringing together diverse voices and presenting a global perspective of social entrepreneurship. The National Social Enterprise Strategy is also well underway, and a federal election is on the horizon (with the economy being a key talking point). It’s a big year for social enterprise.

To kick things off, Re(Purpose), which took place on 16 March, was all about getting people psyched for SEWF and showcasing all the happenings throughout 2022 in every state and territory!

Presented by Westpac Foundation, Torrens University, White Box Enterprises, SEWF and Digital Storytellers, (Re)Purpose was a fantastic opportunity to hear from and get inspired by the following businesses for good who are creating real impact within communities.

Who Gives A Crap

Who Gives A Crap is a profit-for-purpose privately-held toilet paper company that employs about 100 staff globally and has warehouses in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, and ships to 36 countries including Canada and across Europe. 

The Who Gives A Crap story began when the three founders – Simon Griffiths, Danny Alexander and Jehan Ratnatunga – realised that 2.5 billion people didn’t have access to a toilet. That’s roughly 40% of the global population and means that around 289,000 children under five die every year from diarrhoeal diseases caused by poor water and sanitation. “Globally, unclean water is the second largest killer of kids under five. We never wanted to be toilet paper moguls when we were kids. It was the sanitation problem that brought us to this,” says Griffiths. 

In July 2012, Simon, Jehan and Danny launched Who Gives A Crap with a crowdfunding campaign on IndieGoGo. Simon sat on a toilet in our draughty warehouse and refused to move until they had raised enough pre-orders to start production – check out the video. 50 hours and one cold bottom later, the boys had raised over $50,000. They delivered their first product in March 2013 and have been thrilled to keep growing ever since. Not just because their toilet paper is gracing bathrooms across the country but especially because the social enterprise donates 50% of profits to help build toilets and improve sanitation in the developing world. Still growing today, they now make more than just toilet paper, and always want to stay true to their roots: toilet humor and making the world a better place.

The APY Art Centre Collective

The APY Art Centre Collective is a group of 10 Indigenous owned and governed enterprises. Located on the APY Lands, the Collective work with a united vision and voice on strategic business initiatives and collaborative artistic projects. By creating and exploring new markets, increasing art centre income and supporting innovative, collaborative regional artistic projects, they are working towards a vision to increase capacity for APY art centres and support their important work in APY communities, 

Art centres are powerful places and vital to the community. They are professional art-making studios where culture is celebrated, maintained, and carefully instructed to younger generations by Aboriginal elders. These art centres are home to some of the best-known and most collectable Indigenous artists in the country and a host of young and emerging artists. In APY communities, Art centres are the only source of non-government income and the only real jobs for Anangu. 

Joined by Maruku Arts from Uluru, Tjanpi Desert Weavers based in Alice Springs, and Ara Iritja Aboriginal Corporation, the APY Art Centre Collective is a formidable group of the most celebrated and ambitious Indigenous art studios in Australia – all exploring a diverse range of mediums, to express and share their Tjukurpa (Dreaming Stories), which has been passed down from their ancestors. The art centres of the APY Lands are unique by way of their prestigious position within the Indigenous art industry and their commitment to collaborate across the region on large-scale artistic projects and events. 

TABOO

In early 2016, high school besties Isobel Marshall and Eloise Hall attended an inspiring leadership conference where they were first introduced to the social enterprise business model. As young people with a burning passion for social justice and equal rights, they were exhilarated to learn about this socially-oriented business model. Enthused by the inspiration they’d just absorbed, the design of what would soon become “TABOO” began during the summer holidays before commencing their final year of high school.

With significant support from experienced mentors and advisors, Izzy and Wheezie moved on to win two catalytic competitions; a local council “Fish Tank” competition and Start up Adelaide’s incubator competition. After another year of hard work, with company registration underway and a stable manufacturing relationship solidified, TABOO successfully raised $56,000 at the start of 2018 to purchase the first order of certified organic cotton pads and tampons.

Isobel and Eloise then travelled to Kenya and India, exploring what menstrual health care looked like in these socially and culturally diverse parts of the world. Inspired and encouraged by the organisations eradicating period poverty, the team came home feeling ready to launch TABOO with all of it’s might. TABOO now sells a high-quality organic cotton range of period products with all company profits dedicated to eradicating period poverty.

Since the arrival and celebration of TABOO products being launched in August 2019, the team has grown in numbers, confidence and passion – they currently have 11 dedicated young people on the team! You can now find TABOO pads and tampons in OTR stores (SA), National Pharmacies stores (SA), and soon to be more! The online sales platform has been tremendously popular, with customers benefiting from TABOO’s subscription model. TABOO addresses period poverty in Australia through the “pad it forward” program. Through this program, people (commonly non-menstruators) can purchase TABOO products on behalf of someone at risk of period poverty. TABOO then distributes that product to partner organisations that provide period products to those who need it. The company is loud and proud about periods, advocating for improved provision of menstrual health care and education in Australia and worldwide. Not only that, TABOO is a strong advocate for the social enterprise model and hopes to improve government support of this potentially world-changing business model. 

Re(Purpose) created a space where powerful stories like these were embedded in every aspect of the event. Whether you’re a newbie, novice or veteran of social enterprise, this event was the perfect opportunity to understand the power of the sector firsthand. If you missed this epic, unique and immersive gathering, rewatch the recording here.