An Australian company has broken new ground with a revolutionary technique which turns waste tyres into a potential goldmine.

For its supporters, microfinance is the magic bullet helping alleviate poverty while generating profits at the same time. But a series of high-profile mishaps around the globe, the industry's reputation is on the line.

First some bad news: it's getting harder and harder for the world to get the stuff it needs. Food, water and natural resources will all be harder to access over the next few decades and, what's worse, almost everyone will be affected somewhere down the line. The answer? Sustainability.

Last year the eyes of the world turned to Hong Kong as the Occupy Central movement set up camp in the city's financial district. However, elsewhere a much quieter revolution is taking place in the form of social entrepreneurism.