The Next Sustainability Wave

This book assesses why companies have resisted sustainability strategies and focuses on two emerging drivers that promise to spur corporate commitment to sustainability strategies: a compelling business case, and a 'perfect storm' of threatening market forces on the horizon range from climate change to the rising demands of stakeholders. An effective carrot-and-stick duo, these two drivers are both triggering the need for change and providing a vision of business success if the transition to sustainable operations, products and services is smartly managed. Emphasising the importance of how sustainability is presented to corporate leaders -- using the right language, and avoiding threats to the status quo that provoke habitual corporate defence mechanisms -- the book applies effective selling techniques to reposition sustainability strategies as a means to achieving existing corporate ends, rather than as a separate priority to worry about. It sells sustainability as a solution, a business strategy and a catalyst for business transformation. An appendix gives a version of the sustainability business case for small-to-medium-level Enterprises.

Bob Willard is a leading expert on the business value of corporate sustainability strategies who regularly gives keynote presentations to corporations, consultants, academics, and non-governmental organizations