CBIA Sustainability Conference Panelists Offer Solutions and Hope

by Heather Burns

If yesterday's 4th Annual CBIA Sustainability Conference was any indication of whether Connecticut is embracing sustainable business practices - the answer is an unequivocal yes.

Executives from IBM Corporation, AT&T, and Microsoft sat on the first panel moderated by Michael Ellis of GreenOrder. Panelists reviewed emerging technologies and new products and services recently launched to help their clients save money, conserve natural resources, mitigate risk and aid in a global transition to more sustainable business practices.

When asked the question, "In identifying opportunities for new business development around sustainability, what are some of the key indicators you look when deciding to pursue a particular new product or service?" the panelists identified several:

First, they look for opportunities to take an internal initiative and turn it into a new product or service - that is, if we spend resources internally to make improvements, how can we create ROI by offering something new to our clients? Second, is there economies of scale? Can we deliver what we accomplish in a pilot to our suppliers, our customers and even our vendors? Third, do we have an existing market to tap into or better yet, can we identify an opportunity to create a whole new one?

It was interesting to learn that AT&T looks toward its suppliers to make changes, and like Wal-Mart, helps them with implementation. In fact, Wal-Mart created Supplier Energy Efficiency Project (SEEP) - and spun a whole new business out of a successful internal energy efficiency program - which may be an indicator as to why sustainability is being touted as the master of new business innovation. 

All panelists stressed the importance of engaging in a dialog with employees, customers, vendors, and stakeholders. Only after learning what stakeholders identified as valuable, were they able to compare that information with existing or impending regulations that may eventually require their clients and suppliers to measure, monitor and report.

So if three of the country's corporate giants are unearthing new business opportunities from a world transitioning away from business as usual, to one that utilizes integrative economic design, then what are the rest of us waiting for?

Click here to download the brand, spanking new, 2010 CBIA Sustainability Survey.

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[PavelAmerica]

Great article.
Waiting to be educated and see if it works for the Big Boys or when gov kicks the rest of us... in the corner. But on the serious note become an activist in the local community, school, work, and yes your home.