Our ‘hives’ give you access to farm-fresh products for less

When Guilhem, a healthy food promoter, met Marc David, an advocate for new technologies, the happy result was La ruche qui dit oui! (The Hive that says, ‘Yes!’), a new, high-tech distribution network for local farm products that’s causing plenty of buzz.

I keep women off the streets by training them to be mechanics

Sandra wants to put an end to the false promise of work in Europe that lures many Nigerian women into the hell of prostitution. Her tactic? She’s created a series of car repair shops in Nigeria run by women where women can train to become “Lady Mechanics”. The program proves in a striking way that the country holds the keys to its own economic prosperity. 

I fill up my tank with what you throw away

As surprising as it sounds, gasoline can be made from almost any of the garbage that ends up in landfills. Esteban is the first in the world to tap into this resource on a large-scale, and he has struck gold.

I use plants to clean toxic soil

Who would have thought that plants could cleanse up to 99% of toxic content from the soil AND remain healthy? After 10 years of research, Thierry found an economically and ecologically sound way to decontaminate toxic soil using specially selected plants. China and Brazil are already making use of this breakthrough technology–who will be next?

I created the first green energy network

Can green energy be produced and distributed on a grand scale to meet the energy needs of an entire population? This stay-at-home mother proved it can and looks ready to conquer the world. Contagious.

I transform milk bottles into designer lighting

Heath never dreamed that one day his idea for recycling waste plastics, in this case the used milk bottles that are polluting South Africa, would become a source of inspiration for some of the hottest lighting designers in northern Europe.

I cross oceans in a boat made of jute

In 2008, Corentin de Chatelperron, still a student, was researching the natural fibre jute in Bangladesh. A few months later, he set off on the first boat in the world to be made form this material. Discover his incredible journey. 

I’ve helped a million Filipinos out of extreme poverty

Tony likes to define himself as a radical optimist. When we learned that his efforts had already helped one million Filipinos out of abject poverty and that he planned to help another 5 million by 2024, without so much as a penny in his pocket, we were ready to follow in his footsteps and make his philosophy our own.

I teach people to read with dominos

Javier is a magician. His quick and easy literacy method has already enabled a million people to learn to read and write within 6 months. With other methods taking a year on average to achieve the same results, it may be just a matter of time before his method is used for teaching all the world’s languages.

I wash cars without water

When this young executive decided to start a business washing cars without water, no one could believe it. But at a moment of great concern over social and environmental questions, the public has shown their support in droves. Brilliant.