What would the world look like if we didn't have courageous entrepreneurs, risk-takers, visionaries, believers and success-seekers? Most companies wouldn't be here. Development would have been slow, life expectancy still low, etc. Not so with entrepreneurs, who identify an unsolved problem, or an unmet need or want, which they then proceed to satisfy. In the process, they transform the existing status quo into a future opportunity and turn ideas into a commercial reality.

Hardly surprising, thus, that in a world with more and more environmental problems, ecopreneurship is gaining ground. Environmental problems they seek to solve, with the potential to be a major force in the overall transition to a more sustainable business  paradigm. Or so argues Michael Schaper, Adjunct Professor at Western Australia's Curtin University's Business School, in the second edition of his book called Making Ecopreneurs (Gower Publishing, 342 pages).

For Schaper it is evident that "In a market-based economy, entrepreneurs play a critical role in the eventual adoption of green business practices by the wider business community, because of the leading role which they provide to other firms. In many market-based economies, entrepreneurs are often lauded as exemplars and heroes: their success helps give guidance and motivation to other practising and aspiring businesspeople. By demonstrating the economic benefits which come from being greener, ecopreneurs act as a ‘pull’ factor that entices other firms to proactively go green, as opposed to the ‘push’ factors of government regulation, risk minimization factors and stakeholder or lobby group pressure."

The first edition of 'Making Ecopreneurs: Developing Sustainable Entrepreneurship' looked at the emergence of 'ecopreneurs'  - environmental entrepreneurs gaining competitive advantage for their firms through understanding and utilising green issues. These green entrepreneurs have led the way in enabling market forces to generate economic growth whilst protecting the environment and encouraging sustainability.

This new edition continues the examination of what distinguishes these green entrepreneurs from others. It draws on a diverse range of case studies embracing examples of both successful and unsuccessful ecopreneurial ventures on at least four continents. Contributions have been updated and a number of entirely new chapters describe sustainable business projects in places ranging from the USA, India, Western Europe, UK, Australia, central America and New Zealand.

Making Ecopreneurs, second edition, charts recent developments and remains highly relevant to researchers in the fields of sustainable business development and entrepreneurship, to policymakers within governments and NGOs, and to those running businesses.

'...Must reading for researchers, educators, students, policy makers, and practitioners.  Global in scope, it has the ability to speak directly to you about the world of sustainability, entrepreneurship, and business across timeless text and compelling cases.  Professor Schaper has assembled an outstanding array of chapter authors writing on topics that are both timely and informative.  Whether you read it cover to cover or jump around from chapter to chapter, my bet is you will want to read more.' -

Charles H. Matthews, PhD, Distinguished Teaching Professor, University of Cincinnati, Past President, International Council for Small Business (ICSB).businesses.

Find out more about the book Making Ecopreneurs by Michael Schaper and Gower's Corporate Social Responsibility Series.

By Florian

Journalist and Blogger on sustainability, CSR and climate change

Picture credit: Book cover, Gower Publishing