Silaiwali and NetZero Pallets Named WTO’s Small Business Champions 2025 for Leading Circular Economy Innovation
Geneva, June , 2025 — In a significant boost for sustainable entrepreneurship, the World Trade Organization (WTO) has honored two outstanding small businesses—Silaiwali from India and NetZero Pallets from Vietnam—as the Small Business Champions 2025. This annual recognition celebrates enterprises making major strides in sustainability, circular economy practices, and inclusive development.
The announcement was jointly made by the WTO’s Informal Working Group on Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs), in partnership with the International Trade Centre (ITC), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The initiative recognizes MSMEs that contribute innovative, sustainable solutions to today’s environmental and economic challenges.
Silaiwali, an enterprise rooted in India’s creative sector, stood out for its eco-conscious business model, believed to focus on reusing textile waste, empowering local women artisans, and promoting ethical production methods. Their efforts not only align with the values of sustainability but also help create dignified livelihoods for marginalized communities, making a meaningful social and environmental impact.
NetZero Pallets, based in Vietnam, earned recognition for its commitment to reducing the carbon footprint in logistics. While the finer details of its model remain under wraps, the company’s name suggests it manufactures pallets using recyclable or carbon-neutral materials, presenting a viable alternative to traditional, resource-heavy shipping platforms. Given how essential pallets are to the flow of global goods, such innovation holds transformative potential for supply chains worldwide.
The Small Business Champions initiative serves as a platform to showcase how MSMEs—despite limited scale—can deliver significant progress on climate and sustainability goals. This year’s winners represent a new wave of entrepreneurs who prioritize planet-friendly solutions without compromising on business performance.
With this recognition, Silaiwali and NetZero Pallets now stand as global examples of how small businesses can lead in advancing responsible trade, innovation, and environmental stewardship.
