We measured our success not just by how much money we made, but by how much we contributed to the community. It was a two-part bottom line.

Business can be a source of progressive change.

It's pretty rare to have CEOs or high level executives at big companies who are social activists. They tend not to be drawn to those areas of life.

If you support the community, they will support you.

Startups are often very undercapitalised, but I found that to be very beneficial because it forces you not to throw money at problems. Instead, you learn all the nuts and bolts of what you're doing and become an expert.

Businesses typically look at issues like price, quality, time of delivery. They don't often think about social and environmental impact because they're focused on their financial bottom line.

Recycling, packaging, businesses are changing all of those things because that's what consumers want.