Social business environment in Lithuania

In Lithuania social businesses are confused with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs, eg: social enterprises and non-governmental organizations. In fact, social business is neither one of these types of activity.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Continuous or short-term business organizations which give a part of their business profits to projects which seek to challenge social and environmental problems.

Examples

– RIMI Lithuania (Employ people with disabilities)
– Thermo Fisher (Mobile biotechnology class which travels to Lithuanian schools)
– Pakmarkas (Constantly invests in technology to reduce the level of CO2 emissions caused through the manufacturing process).

Non-governmental organizations

These organizations, which serve the public interest, are in most cases maintained by sponsors or state grants.

Examples

– Lithuanian Caritas
However, the organization has an establishment- Caritas works, which can be seen as a social business: The organization makes and sells candels and the proceeds goes towards funding their projects.

Social enterprise

Companies that employ socially vulnerable groups and conform to the legal definition of social enterprise as set out by the Ministry of Social Enterprise. The main goal of these companies is profit, not social impact.

Examples

– This status have UAB “Neįgaliųjų įmonė” and “Mokymų Spektras” herbal manufacturers.
– UAB Acorus Calamus, a company that produces a wide range of electronic goods produced by blind people.