Video - The B Team Declaration

The B Team Declaration from The B Team on Vimeo.

The B Team is a not-for-profit initiative that has been formed by a group of global business leaders to create a future where the purpose of business is to be a driving force for social, environmental and economic benefit.

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Video - The B Team Story

The B Team Story from The B Team on Vimeo.

The B Team's mission is to deliver a 'Plan B' that puts people and planet alongside profit.

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Video - The Plan B Kick-Off Live Event

The B Team, a global non-profit founded by Sir Richard Branson and Jochen Zeitz, revealed its starting line-up of business leaders 13th June 2013. They will work together to deliver a new way of doing business that prioritises people and planet alongside profit -- a "Plan B" for businesses the world over.

Small Businesses Need to Embrace Sustainability Too

It is often assumed that sustainability is only for big corporations, however, smaller companies also need to be looking at ways of going green. Big corporations are adopting sustainability in unprecedented numbers, and CFOs are increasingly seeing the benefits. While sustainability is an increasingly necessary component of business success, it is a double edged sword that implies both opportunities and threats. These potential threats make some small business owners reluctant, however, the reality of the emerging marketplace demands a long term sustainability strategy. Costs are the primary obstacle impeding the widespread adoption of sustainability by small businesses, but in most cases the savings far outweigh any capital outlay. Whether large or small, almost all businesses can benefit from adopting a long term sustainability strategy.

The Business Community is Moving Forward with Sustainability

The business community is moving forward with sustainability despite the weak economy. According to the findings of the fourth annual “BSR/GlobeScan State of Sustainable Business Poll 2012,”the global business community has made progress on 14 key sustainability challenges over the past 20 years. For the second year in a row, 62 percent of respondents identified the integration of sustainability into core business operations as the most important leadership challenge for business today.

The poll surveyed more than 500 business leaders from BSR’s global network of nearly 300 member companies. The survey asked executives to evaluate the past and likely future progress on 14 key sustainability challenges.

CFOs are Embracing Sustainability and Seeing Benefits

CFOs are embracing sustainability and getting results from doing so. As reported by Greenbiz, a global survey from Deloitte demonstrates that a growing number of chief financial officers (CFOs) are driving sustainability strategies. The survey, conducted by Verdantix, indicates that CFOs are realizing the key role sustainability plays in financial and business success.

Drawn from the responses of 250 CFOs in 14 countries including the United States, Brazil and South Africa, Deloitte found that two-thirds of CFOs are involved in their company’s sustainability strategies. More than half of those surveyed say their involvement has grown in the past year.

Carrotmob's Partnership with Unilever

Carrotmob is a social venture organization that harnesses the influence of consumers on sustainable consumption. Carrotmob organizes crowdsourced “buycotts,” in which consumers use their purchasing power to push businesses to be more sustainable. Now Carrotmob is joining forces with Unilever, one of the world’s largest consumer packaged goods companies.

Brent Schulkin, the founder of Carrotmob staged his first campaign in 2008, with a small liquor store in San Francisco that installed energy-efficient lighting. Most recently Carrotmob worked with Thanksgiving to develop a campaign to help finance wind powered transportation of coffee.

Incentivizing Consumer Engagement in Cause Campaigns (Webinar)

In today's economy, convincing people to part with an extra dollar or two on behalf of a worthy cause isn't as simple as it used to be. With budgets tightening and a renewed focus on value, many consumers want to know "what's in it for me?" before doling out their money or time. Join MSLGROUP's Anne Erhard as she discloses the keys to crafting successful cause marketing campaigns in this hour-long session focused on incentivizing consumer engagement.

The webinar will take place on October 24, 2012 from 1:30pm to 2:30pm ET.  The cost is $99 or FREE to Members. For more information or to register click here.

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The Low Carbon Business Opportunity

According to The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), a total of 48 percent of companies polled believe that climate change yielded opportunities for new products and service. However, only 21 percent had set aside a dedicated budget for low-carbon research and development.

IBM, the services provider, is one organization that is driving new revenues through offering solutions in this field. It received 86 points, and a "B" grade, for its own eco-friendly efforts.