Corporations are under increasing pressure from customers, investors, employees, legislators, banks, and insurance companies to embrace social and environmental responsibility. But Wall Street demands quarterly results, a stringent return on investment, and a short payback period. Up until now, there's been very little evidence expressed in business language showing the benefits of the "triple bottom line" relevant to the short and long-term priorities of senior executives. Written in the pragmatic language of business, "The Sustainability Advantage" shows that the business benefits of sustainable development strategies are quantifiable and real.
This practical guide, written by a business professional for business professionals, convincingly argues that executives do not have to be transformed into tree-hugging environmental activists to reap the benefits of sustainability. They can remain just what their shareholders expect them to be — hard-nosed executives who evaluate proposals on their bottom-line merits. Saving the world and making a profit is not an either/or proposition; it is a both/and proposition. Good environmental and social programs make good business sense.
The seven sustainability benefits presented in "The Sustainability Advantage" are easy to grasp, yet powerful enough to lead to significant business opportunities:
- Easier hiring of top talent
- Higher retention of top talent
- Increased employee productivity
- Reduced manufacturing expenses
- Reduced expenses at commercial sites
- Increased revenues and market share
- Reduced risk, easier financing
For a typical large enterprise, sustainability strategies can conservatively yield a 38 percent increase in profit over five years, fully costed. Executives will especially appreciate a customizable set of spreadsheets into which they can insert their own data to see for themselves whether the case for sustainable initiatives will be as profitable for their company, or better.
