Released by UNEP in partnership with SustainAbility and GlobeScan, the report provides examples from across sectors confirming that sustainability is compatible with economic growth, as it reduces risk, generates cost savings and creates opportunities for growth.
16 June 2012: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP), in partnership with SustainAbility and GlobeScan, has released a report titled “The Business Case for the Green Economy: Sustainable Return on Investment,” which provides economic, scientific and case study evidence of the advantages of the green economy.
The report complements and builds on UNEP’s 2011 report Towards a Green Economy, which proposes a development pathway for policy makers to transition to a green economy that is low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive. It documents financial savings and returns on investment to businesses that have made transitions towards green economy, along with benefits to consumers, communities and the environment from their actions. Written for a corporate audience, it includes numerous examples and empirical data to demonstrate how business strategies that reflect the attributes of a resource efficient and green economy can positively impact the financial metrics of companies of all sizes. These examples from both developed and developing countries, demonstrate how integrating sustainability into core business activities can generate a positive return on investment, including going beyond the financial component and contributing to the socioeconomic and environmental framework conditions necessary for business to grow and operate successfully. The report includes sections on the green economy and business, leveraging benefits and challenges, and also provides an action plan for business to help drive the transition.
UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner underscored that many businesses are “already seizing the opportunities represented by a transition to an inclusive green economy where resource efficiency and a low carbon pathway are the norm not the exception.” He added that these “pioneering companies” are already benefiting from “positioning themselves for sustained success that benefits their customers and communities.”
SustainAbility is a think tank and strategy consultancy, headquartered in London, UK, that aims to advance sustainability by inspiring transformative business leadership. GlobeScan’s mission is to unite business and society in envisioning and delivering a sustainable and equitable future for all, and provides evidence-led counsel to organizations on strategies for stakeholder interaction, brand, reputation and sustainability. [UNEP Press Release] [Publication: The Business Case for the Green Economy: Sustainable Return on Investment]