Walking the Talk: The Business Case for Sustainable Development / Edition 1

by Charles O. Holliday Jr., Stephan Schmidheiny, Philip Watts

Overview

Stephan Schmidheiny, author of the hugely influential Changing Course, has joined with fellow prime movers in the World Business Council for Sustainable Development-Chad Holliday of DuPont and Philip Watts of Royal Dutch/Shell-to spell out the business case for addressing sustainable development as a key business strategy.
The authors insist that a global partnership-between governments, business and civil society-is essential, if accelerating moves towards globalization are to maximize opportunities for all, especially the world's poor. They argue that far more eco-efficient and socially equitable modes of development must be pursued in order to allow poorer nations to raise their standards of living.
To achieve these aims, the book explains that markets must be mobilized in favor of sustainability, leveraging the power of innovation and global markets for the benefits of everyone. Business cannot succeed in failing societies.
Whether small, medium or large, all businesses must innovate and change to meet the social and environmental challenges of the coming years. Walking the Talk provides proven strategies for doing just that, and real-world examples of business leaders who are becoming a leading force for change-improving both their own bottom lines and quality of life for future generations around the world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781576752340
Publisher:	Berrett-Koehler Publishers
Publication date:	08/16/2002
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	6.44(w) x 9.50(h) x 0.66(d)

About the Author

Charles O. Holliday, Jr. is Chairman and CEO of DuPont. Holliday is an industrial engineer by training who, in his 30-year DuPont career, has touched virtually every aspect of the business - from fibers and chemicals to agricultural products and biotechnology. Holliday is a former chairman of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.
Stephan Schmidheiny is Chairman of Anova Holding AG. A Swiss industrialist, Schmidheiny founded the Business Council for Sustainable Development after he was named Principal Advisor for Business and Industry to the secretary general of the 1992 'Earth Summit' in Rio. He was the principal author of Changing Course and is now the honorary chairman of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.
Philip Watts is Chairman of the Committee of Managing Directors of The Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies and Chairman of the Shell Transport and Trading Company. He joined Shell in 1969 and has worked in Indonesia, the UK, Norway, and the Netherlands. Watts is the current chairman of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and of the UK chapter of the International Chamber of Commerce.

Table of Contents

Foreword Björn Stigson, president,
World Business Council for Sustainable Development

Part 1 THE FOUNDATION
The business case for sustainable development
CASE STUDIES
1 Norsk Hydro: a business case for sustainable development
2 S C Johnson: sustainable communities
3 Shell: community development in Nigeria
4 Mead Westvaco: its Brazilian subsidiary Rig esa
5 Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes

Part 2 THE TEN BUILDING BLOCKS
1. The market
2. The right framework
3. Eco-efficiency
4. Corporate social responsibility
5. Learning to change
6. From dialogue to partnerships
7. Informing and providing consumer choice
8. Innovation
9. Reflecting the worth of the Earth
10. Making markets work for all

References
WBCSD publications
Abbreviations
Index

Editorial Reviews

Swiss industrialist Stephan Schmidheiny, Charles O. Holliday (Chairman and CEO, DuPont) and Philip Watts (Chairman, Royal Dutch/Shell) argue that sustainable development is good for business. Drawing upon 67 business case studies from around the world, the authors present evidence that good corporate social and environmental performance benefits the bottom line as well as the planet. They also contend that globalization of the marketplace is the best path towards sustainable human progress. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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