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Return on Sustainability: How Business Can Increase Profitability and Address Climate Change in an Uncertain Economy

Return on Sustainability: How Business Can Increase Profitability and Address Climate Change in an Uncertain Economy

by Bob Willard, Kevin Wilhelm
Publisher: PH Professional Business
Release Date: April 2013
ISBN: 9780133442526
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Book Description

This book highlights the risk of inaction for businesses when it comes to climate change, but also contains best practices to allow them to capitalize on the numerous business opportunities that climate change presents, including increased profitability, enhanced brand value, and improved shareholder relations.  The first section contains practical actions and real-world case studies of companies, such as Yakima, Sun Microsystems, and Lockheed Martin, that have successfully improved their climate performances, enhanced brand value, and increased profitability at the same time.  The second and third sections of this book focus on the various risks that companies face from potential carbon regulation and the market factors forcing businesses to take action, whether they want to or not. 

This book provides the steps and strategies necessary to take leadership actions to help business "future-proof" society.

Table of Contents

  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Page
  3. Table of Contents
  4. Acknowledgments
  5. Foreword
  6. Introduction
  7. Section 1: Addressing Climate Change: The Business Benefit
    1. Chapter 1. The Climate Imperative
      1. Climate Change is Happening
      2. Climate Change Impacts on Weather, Water, and Disease
      3. Increase in Natural Disasters
      4. Water Scarcity
      5. Other Impacts
      6. Conclusion
    2. Chapter 2. Carbon Footprinting
      1. The Carbon Footprint
      2. The Carbon Footprint Process
      3. Conclusion
    3. Chapter 3. Business Benefit
      1. Transportation
      2. Energy
      3. Materials
      4. Waste
      5. Integration into Existing Company Practices
      6. Conclusion
    4. Chapter 4. Return on Sustainability (ROS)
      1. Language and Buy-in
      2. How the ROS Process Works
      3. ROS Process
      4. Conclusion
  8. Section 2: Policy, Regulation, & Carbon
    1. Chapter 5. Public Policy
      1. Why Businesses Should Pay Attention to Climate Policy
      2. Conclusion
    2. Chapter 6. Carbon Taxes & Cap and Trade
      1. Why a Carbon Tax?
      2. Cap and Trade
      3. The Carbon Market Opportunity
      4. Other Market Mechanisms
      5. Conclusion
  9. Section 3: The Market: Demanding Action
    1. Chapter 7. Energy
      1. The New Energy Reality
      2. What this Means for Business
      3. Conclusion
    2. Chapter 8. Finance
      1. Debt Markets
      2. What Major US Financial Institutions Are Doing
      3. Equity Markets
      4. Conclusion
    3. Chapter 9. Insurance
      1. Industry Overview
      2. Conclusion
    4. Chapter 10. Supply Chain Management
      1. What Is a Sustainable Supply Chain?
      2. The Changing Relationships between Businesses and their Supply Chains
      3. Upstream Supply Chain Climate Solutions
      4. Conclusion
    5. Chapter 11. Marketing to Green Consumers
      1. The Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS) Market
      2. “Sustainable” or “Conscious” Consumers?
      3. Opportunities
      4. Reduced Exposure to NGO Attacks
      5. Conclusion
    6. Chapter 12. Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting
      1. Trends
      2. Standardization
      3. Conclusion
  10. Final Thoughts
  11. About My Firm: Sustainable Business Consulting
    1. Our Guiding Principles
    2. Our Business Values
    3. Life-Work Balance
    4. SBC Client Services
  12. Glossary
  13. Appendix A. Equator Principles Financial Institutions
  14. Appendix B. United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment
  15. Appendix C. Comparison of Businesses Across Various Sustainability Rankings 2007
  16. Appendix D. CSR Standards & Certifications
  17. Appendix E. Interview and Text Box References
    1. Interview References
    2. Text Box References
  18. Endnotes
    1. Foreword and Introduction
    2. Chapter 1: The Climate Imperative
    3. Chapter 2: Carbon Footprinting
    4. Chapter 3: Business Benefit
    5. Chapter 4: Return on Sustainability (ROS)
    6. Chapter 5: Public Policy
    7. Chapter 6: Carbon Taxes & Cap and Trade
    8. Chapter 7: Energy
    9. Chapter 8: Finance
    10. Chapter 9: Insurance
    11. Chapter 10: Supply Chain Management
    12. Chapter 11: Marketing to Green Consumers
    13. Chapter 12: Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting
    14. Conclusion
    15. Glossary
  19. Financial Times Press