SEWF (Social Enterprise World Forum) and Social Traders expand market access for social enterprises globally

Social Traders provides Australia’s only social enterprise certification

Social enterprises are an innovative type of business that exist to create a fairer and more equitable world. Purpose is at the heart of why a social enterprise operates, but it can be difficult to quantify or explain, particularly given the variety of different legal structures.

The Social Traders certification framework is world-leading in its depth and adaptability.

Certification exists to ensure everyone has the confidence to buy from a social enterprise creating genuine social or environmental impact through trade. Social Traders provide the only social enterprise certification in Australia, based on a robust framework which is world-leading in its depth and adaptability. Our certification process is inclusive and supportive and is constantly evolving to cater for a diverse range of impact models.

To date, we have certified more than 450 social enterprises across the country and continue to unlock opportunities for Australian business to build a stronger and more inclusive economy. For all of us.

Why certification is essential: mitigating against social washing.

Today, social washing is becoming an increasing concern and is important to address in elevating and promoting the social enterprise sector in Australia.

Social Traders creates connections between social enterprises and business and government members, to drive positive social outcomes for our communities.

Our certification framework ensures social credentials accurately reflect genuine activity. We work with social enterprises to articulate their social impact model, and the activities and costs associated with it. This allows us to spotlight social enterprise and ensures everyone can have trust in the impact being promised.

Where goods or services are purchased through a certified social enterprise, you can be confident your dollar is creating genuine social outcomes and opportunities for our marginalised communities.

The world is catching up to social enterprise – SEWF Verification launched globally.

Business for good is catching on. As we accelerate towards a new global impact economy, it’s no wonder social enterprise leaders and practitioners from around the globe are joining the charge.

This year, the Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) created a global verification process for social enterprises in consultation with partners around the world. The service aims to support the growth of the global social enterprise ecosytem and expand market access for all social enterprises globally. It recognises existing regional and national social enterprise verification systems, builds on existing knowledge and expertise, and provides social enterprise verification in places where such options do not exist.

Social Traders certified social enterprises now have access to SEWF global verification.

The Social Traders team have been working closely with SEWF on the development of their new verification. In the Australian market, verification is only available to social enterprises that are certified by Social Traders. We have negotiated on behalf of Australian social enterprises that verification will be free for all social enterprises certified by Social Traders. This is a new exciting benefit of getting certified – access to SEWF Verification and recognition as a social enterprise to a global audience.

Get recognised as a genuine social enterprise in Australia through Social Traders certification.

Social Traders continue to provide the only independent certification for social enterprises in Australia.

In Australia, there are three criteria that define a social enterprise:

1. Have a defined primary social, cultural or environmental purpose consistent with a public or community benefit, and
2. Derive a substantial portion of their income from trade, and
3. Invest efforts and resources into their purpose such that public/community benefit outweighs private benefit.

We believe that buying from social enterprises represents one of the greatest untapped opportunities for generating positive, sustainable social impact in Australia.

Businesses and governments have an opportunity to be part of the solution to social inequality, by buying from certified social enterprises committed to achieving real outcomes for our communities.