For Profit and for Good: Changing the Business Game and Changing the World

I’m in love with my hand wash. Not just because it smells great, but because it literally saves lives. I stumbled across the ‘Thankyou’ line of products a while back. I keep buying them because while I do really love their products, it’s more their business model that has me hooked. Many businesses are founded on a dream of making and sharing beautiful, sustainable products. Thankyou has taken this idea and turned it on its head by building a business with the purpose of changing the world for the better. This inspiring Australian venture started out just a few years ago with the humble vision to solve the third world water crisis through a booming local bottled water market. Now, my delicious hand wash is part of a larger Thankyou body care line which complements the original Thankyou bottled water and the new Thankyou food range. Their business philosophy is about empowering Australians to make big changes to the world through simple daily purchase decisions. Sounds great in theory, but does this community benefit approach to business actually work? Over the last financial year, Thankyou experienced major business growth resulting in new staff, new products and new projects (not to mention a bagful of business awards). Sales of over 428,000 litres of body wash products directly enabled the funding of hygiene and sanitation programs that reached over 143,000 people in need. And that’s just the impact of body wash sales. Thankyou delivered some big benefits in the areas of clean water and food programs too. Thankyou is not the only company merging business and doing good. There is a growing movement of socially-aware entrepreneurs and companies we can – and should – learn from. Toms Shoes has long been paving the way for social enterprises with their ‘One for One’ approach to everything they sell. Check out the great work Patagonia is doing for the environment, and what Jamie Oliver is doing for children’s healthy eating around the world. These social enterprises are changing the game. Businesses like the Thankyou Group are teaching us a new model of great business that also delivers great social outcomes. If this stuff inspires you as much as it does me, look at ways your business can also be a social enterprise. What problems can you solve in your community through your venture? How can you support those in need of a helping hand, or how can you be part of the change we all want to see in the world? It’s not just money, it’s also action that makes a difference. At the very least, take a look at what you have in the trolley next shopping trip and consider some life-changing hand wash.