Every year, the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting brings together global leaders from government, business, and civil society to address pressing challenges and shape the future of our planet. This year, under the theme “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age,” the Annual Meeting 2025 will take place in Davos, Switzerland, from January 20 to January 24, 2025.
At Yunus Environment Hub, we are excited to be part of this pivotal event, engaging in dialogues that focus on building a world of three zeros: zero net carbon emissions, zero wealth concentration, and zero unemployment. With global priorities such as rebuilding trust, reimagining growth, safeguarding the planet, and investing in people, the conversations at Davos resonate deeply with our mission of advancing social businesses to solve the world’s most urgent problems.
Our Role at WEF25
Yunus Environment Hub will play an active role in shaping discussions on topics such as circular economy, climate action, sustainable procurement and just transition. Our team will participate in high-level panel discussions and strategic collaborations to spotlight the transformative power of social businesses in addressing environmental and social challenges.
Session 1: It’s Time: A Circular Society
- Date: 23rd January
- Time: 16:00 – 18:00 CET
- Location: Climate Hub Davos, Promenade 58C
- Organizers: Yunus Environment Hub and GreenUp
Session overview:
From local innovators to global uptakers, how can we work together to really transform society for keeping our valuable resources in a loop?We are honored to be joined by our co-founder, H. E. Professor Muhammad Yunus, Honorable Chief Adviser of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh who will share his visions on circular social business.
The keynote will be followed by an interactive panel including:
Panelist
- Christina Jäger, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Yunus Environment Hub
- Dinie van den Heuvel, Founder Infantium Victoria
- Harald Friedl, Founder Green Leadership, Ex-CEO Circle Economy
- Christian Häuselmann, Founder SHIFT Switzerland, Linkedin Top Voice
- Roman Wyss, Founder URBNC3
- Madhvi Dalal, Founder and CEO PadMad (YEH CirculaRise Kenya Alumni)
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ch/e/its-time-a-circular-society-tickets-1131214285379?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
Link to live stream: https://www.wedonthavetime.org/events/davos2025
Session 2: Harnessing Social Procurement for Sustainable Impact
- Date: 23 January 2025
- Time: 7:30 am CET
- Location: Social Innovation House, Promenade , 57, Davos Platz
- Organizers: Catalyst Now
Session Overview
Discover how strategic social procurement is creating pathways for sustainable development and community empowerment. Learn from experts how leveraging purchasing power drives positive social impact, builds inclusive supply chains, and fosters long-term social value.
Panelist:
- Christina Jäger, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Yunus Environment Hub
- Laura Herman, Partner, Dalberg
- Shiv Kumar, Founding Director, Catalyst Group
- Alexandra van der Ploeg, Global Head of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), SAP
Moderator:
Stephanie Mehta, Chief Executive Officer & Chief Content Officer, Mansueto Ventures
Link to register: https://qrco.de/SIH-SAP
Link to the live stream: https://www.youtube.com/@CatalystNowOfficial
Stay tuned for more details on our sessions and contributions as we amplify the voices of social entrepreneurs and advocate for innovative solutions to global challenges.
Spotlight on Innovation: PadMad
Meet PadMad, a Kenya-based social business and Alumni of our CirculaRise Accelerator!
PadMad is revolutionizing menstrual hygiene through circular solutions by creating biodegradable, reusable pads made from textile offcuts. This sustainable innovation not only addresses period poverty but also contributes to the circular economy by repurposing waste materials and preventing them from ending up in landfills. Through its impactful work, PadMad is fostering a brighter, more sustainable future for women and girls in marginalized communities.
Impact Highlights:
- 77 million single-use pads diverted from landfills
- 1,170 tons of carbon emissions avoided
- 67,200 women and girls equipped with reusable menstrual pad kits
PadMad exemplifies the power of social business in delivering scalable, inclusive solutions to some of the world’s most pressing issues.
Join the Conversation
At the World Economic Forum, we aim to elevate these impactful stories, highlight the transformative potential of social business, and collaborate with leaders across sectors to drive meaningful change.
Follow Yunus Environment Hub as we bring you updates, insights, and stories live from Davos.