Grassroots Ecopreneurs: Change Agents for a Sustainable Society

Abstract

Business entrepreneurs contribute to socio-economic development and change through their commercial enterprises. Enterprising individuals? Who have sought to change society or address social issues through an organized initiative have often been referred to as social entrepreneurs (Swamy, 1990). The past decade has witnessed the emergence of a new breed of eco-conscious change agents who may be called ecological entrepreneurs (ecopreneurs for short). Individuals or institutions that attempt to popularize eco-friendly ideas and innovations either through the market or non-market routes may be referred to as ecopreneurs. The lessons learnt from their experiences could prove invaluable to policy makers and the society at large, since there is little doubt that the transition to sustainable development will need ecopreneurship on a grand scale.