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The International Institute for Sustainable Development IISDnet (http://iisd1.iisd.ca/)

Business and Sustainable Development (http://iisd1.iisd.ca/business/)

" The Business and Sustainable Development site is intended to encourage business people to develop a vision of a sustainable company, translate the vision into a management action plan and turn sustainability into a competitive advantage."

Companies that produce or provide environmentally friendlier goods and services will be able to build a competitive advantage and thus increase market share and shareholder value.
          The Guide Tour link is a good starting point for an introduction on Sustainable Development. The layout this page may not be ideal for all because it is frame based and takes up width space. You can reduce the left-hand frame by dragging the frame border or if all of this is too tedious; follow the link below to start the journey.
 

Introduction - The Sustainable Development Journey (http://iisd1.iisd.ca/business/journey.htm)

This page may take a while to load (because of the RealPlayer consol and graphics) but the wait is well worth it. The information on the page is brilliantly laid out. It starts with the mention of the business journey as one from environmental compliance, through environmental risk management, to long term sustainable development strategies (Business & Sustainable Development).
 

Regulatory Compliance
The first step of the journey and includes the following topics: Key Drivers - environmental laws, regulatory forces, penalties etc.
Implementation - compliance with legislation to avoid penalties etc.
Result - compliance is often seen as a burden or cost. An example to overcome this perceived problem is given in 3M's Cleaner Production approach (Pollution prevention at source). A video clip is presented with a simplified flow chart.

Environmental Risk Management
The second phase of the journey.

Key Drivers - liabilities from potential environment mishaps.
Implementation - environmental management systems (EMS) and EHS etc.
Results - implementation of environmental plan lead to potential cost savings direct and indirect. A flow diagram shows the relationship and action of an environmental management system.

Business and Sustainable Development
The final phase of the journey.

Key Drivers - sustainable development with associated opportunities.
Implementation - sustainable development incorporated into business strategies and environmental policies.
Results - previously viewed costs becomes opportunities. A flow diagram shows the relationship and action of the integration of Sustainable Development. The following topics explain the tools or means to achieve and build a competitive advantage through sustainable development.
Build Competive Advantage
Increase Market Share
Increase Shareholder Value
 


[Build Competive Advantage]    [Increase Market Share]     [Increase Shareholder Value]

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