Sustainability is an Economic Imperative: The 2012 CK Prahalad Award Winners (Video)

See how the 2012 winners of CK Prahalad award are weaving sustainability into their business models and flourishing in the process. Companies like Unilever and Sustainable Apparel Coalition are leading the way and showing that the business case for sustainability is undeniable. As explained in this video sustainability is an imperative for all companies. The questions that must be asked is how can you have a business model that continues to take away from future generations? Any company that does not pay attention to its environmental interface is doing so at its own peril. The companies in this video prove that commitments to sustainability initiatives pay off while the failure to engage sustainability poses a very serious risk.

The 8 C's of Sustainability Branding by Marc Stoiber

In 2010, Marc Stoiber, creative director, writer, innovator and green brand specialist wrote a piece called the 5C’s of Sustainability Branding. In 2012 he has added some new C's. Here is his original 5C’s, followed by his new C's for 2012.

The 5C’s of Sustainability

1. Consumer-Facing - Not sure what to do first? Look at what the consumer is looking at. There are plenty of ways to improve corporate sustainability, but consumer-facing changes will have the most immediate impact on your brand’s public perception. Think of Method’s Omop, with its compostable / recyclable bamboo and paper packaging – it stands out like a beacon at shelf, where consumers can really notice the difference.

Sustainability Offers a Competitive Advantage & Better ROI

According to the 2012 Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) report, sustainability makes companies more competitive and offers investors better returns. This is driving an increasing number of publicly traded companies to embrace sustainability as part of their long-term strategy to combat climate change. The CDP gathers information for investors about the environmental policies of large companies and the environmental risks they face. The CDP has created an index to recognize the world's best companies called the Carbon Performance Leadership Index (CPLI). The companies that make it onto these lists tend to generate superior returns for investors.

"Our focus is less on payback periods and more on targeting environmental investments to be 'value positive," Deirdre Mahlan, Diageo's CFO, said. "It is insufficient, and even irresponsible, to consider only short term payback when making investment decisions."

Top Climate Innovators

GE, Alcoa, Johnson Controls, Ford, Intel and Hess are leaders in the innovation of clean-tech solutions and products, mitigation of climate change-related risks and management of carbon emissions, according to a rating by risk analysis company Maplecroft.