Ten Predictions For Sustainable Business In 2011

Published: 06 December 2010

4 pages

Executive Summary

Verdantix assessed competitive dynamics, innovations, corporate strategies and the regulatory environment to better understand key sustainable business trends over the next 12 months. In 2011 China’s competitive advantage in cleantech will gain prominence and bridging technologies will dominate sustainable business investment. Innovations in climate change reverse engineering will secure R&D funding. Previously silent sustainability giants will give up on ‘green muting’, while green rankings will lose influence over perceptions of sustainability. Investment in capacity for REDD verification will accelerate private sector forestry offset credits. CFOs will be pulled into decision making on sustainability and cleantech issues, and carbon intensity reduction targets will conceal absolute increases. Broader marketing of climate bonds will increase financing options available for low carbon infrastructure. Scope 3 emissions initiatives guided by the Product Accounting and Reporting Standard and the Corporate Value Chain Accounting and Reporting Standard will focus on Chinese manufacturing.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GLOBAL INNOVATION WILL DRIVE SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS IN 2011

COMPANIES MENTIONED

Apple, China Electricity Council, Cisco, EnerNOC, GE, Siemens, IHS Global Insight, Honeywell, HP, IBM, IKEA, J.P. Morgan, John Lewis Partnership, Marks & Spencer, Morgan Stanley, Network For Sustainable Financial Markets, Newsweek, Nikko Asset Management, Orange, PepsiCo, powerPerfector, SEB, Starbucks, Suntech, The Gold Standard Foundation, Timberland, Triodos, UK Department for Work and Pensions, Unilever, University of Bristol, World Bank, World Business Council for Sustainable Development, World Resources Institute