Join the Manifesto
THE MEDITERRANEAN MANIFESTO
FOR SUSTAINABLE AND CIRCULAR
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
The urgency
Time is running out to prevent irreversible damage from the triple planetary crisis: climate change, environmental pollution, and biodiversity loss. Social inequalities are widening, and we are far from achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The well-being of current and future generations and nature’s biodiversity are at stake. We urgently need a radical transformation of our economic systems and consumption and production patterns towards sustainable, circular, inclusive, and participatory socio-economic models.
The reality
Despite these dramatic challenges, no encouraging transformation is happening at the macro level: countries are failing to make adequate progress towards environmentally and socially sustainable economic systems. Yet at meso and micro levels, we can drive the transition towards sustainable and equitable business models. These are companies that understand that no enterprise exists in isolation — every economic activity forms part of a broader social reality, and both are embedded within the natural ecosystems that sustain us all. Such emerging businesses acknowledge their interdependence and embed environmental and social objectives into their business strategies.
Our commitment
As organisations supporting business creation and development, we are committed to promoting the transition towards justice-oriented circular economy models: businesses which create ecological value and safeguard the environment by addressing environmental challenges and reducing environmental impacts, while also being equitable and socially empowering. No company should be allowed to externalise its environmental and social costs. The transition from linear to circular economy is not optional — sustainable businesses must become the new normal. Business Support Organisations (BSOs) should also enhance their collaboration and networking to increase the coherence, effectiveness, and efficiency of service provision for sustainable entrepreneurs and companies.
OUR CALL TO ACTION
With this vision, we, Mediterranean BSOs, call on all Public, Private, and Non-Profit BSOs to work towards embracing the following decalogue of principles and actions:
01
Apply innovative approaches, methodologies, and tools to foster environmental and social value creation while minimising negative impacts of business models. This includes, among others, applying circular economy strategies, eco-innovation, eco-design, and promoting fair labour relations, participative governance, gender equity, and global environmental justice.
02
Advocate collaboratively for supportive policies and regulatory frameworks that enable sustainable business development and create a level playing field where sustainable businesses can thrive and unsustainable practices face appropriate consequences.
03
Ensure that the transition to sustainable business models is inclusive and equitable, providing targeted support to underrepresented entrepreneurs, including women, youth, and marginalised communities, so that no one is left behind in the circular economy transition.
04
Regularly measure and transparently report on the environmental and social impacts of business support initiatives through robust MEAL (monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning) systems.
05
Share and exchange knowledge, resources, and experiences on sustainable business development with like-minded organisations and make learning publicly accessible to accelerate collective progress.
06
Coordinate activities, launch joint initiatives, and promote networks at national and regional level with organisations that share these values to amplify our collective impact.
07
Collaboratively boost access to market and increase demand for sustainable products and services while challenging unsustainable consumption practices.
08
Engage financial actors and channel financial resources (grants, loans, equity) towards sustainable and circular businesses.
09
Raise awareness and knowledge widely concerning sustainable and circular business models.
10
Continuously build internal capacities and expertise to support sustainable and circular business development.
Pathfinder
Find your path to sustainable business.
About
TheSwitchers.org belongs to The Switchers Support Programme, an initiative which contributes to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its SDGs by creating and enhancing sustainable businesses.
In order to create an enabling ecosystem for sustainable enterprises, through The Switchers Support Programme we work closely with green and circular entrepreneurs and companies, business support organizations, trainers and mentors, financial institutions, policy-makers and other relevant stakeholders.
In Mediterranean countries, we set up National Partnerships gathered under a common community of practices Business Support Organizations which targets sustainable entrepreneurs and companies.
Our main targets are The Switchers, businesses implementing innovative ecological and social solutions that contribute to a switch to sustainable and fair consumption and production models. They are active in a variety of fields, including organic food, renewable energy, waste management, sustainable tourism, organic textile, sustainable building, organic cosmetics, and sustainable mobility, among others.
We support Switchers at every stage of development:
We provide The Switchers with a comprehensive set of services to design, develop and accelerate their green and circular businesses:
The Switchers Support Programme is an initiative from the UN Environment MAP Regional Activity Centre for Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP/RAC). It is supported by several organizations, namely the European Union through the SwitchMed programme and ENI CBC Med; the Government of Catalonia- Waste Agency of Catalonia; the UN Environment MAP; the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe; and the Union for the Mediterranean.
Our Achievements
3747
Entrepreneurs
Persons supported to develop their Sustainable Businesses.
632
Trainers
Experts trained in Sustainable Business Model Development.
125
BSO
Business Support Organizations members of the Switchers Support Programme.
400
Members
Eco-innovators of The Switchers community.
43 %
are women
% of supported entrepreneurs that are women
85 %
are satisfied
% of entrepreneurs that are satisfied with the supporting services and tools
162
Sources
sources of financing available in our database
3.9
Milion
milion € raised by The Switchers
Contact us
MedWaves, the UNEP/MAP Regional Activity Centre for SCP
(former SCP/RAC)
Address:
Passeig de la Zona Franca, 107 (Torre Ponent)
08038 Barcelona, Spain
Email:
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