""What Mr. Laszlo calls 'Planetary Ethics' or the integration of economic, environmental, social and high ethical objectives into long-term business strategy, is the new price of entry for corporate survival. Those who 'get' this and do it best will enjoy increasing shareholder value. I believe this book carries a critical message for today's corporate executives."" -DEBORAH D. ANDERSON, PH.D., FORMER VICE PRESIDENT, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY WORLDWIDE, THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY
Corporate governance and sustainability are moving from important peripheral problems to core business concerns, as winning companies discover stakeholders as new sources of value. Yet there are many obstacles to bringing these issues into the mainstream of business. Concepts like sustainable development can be confusing for operating managers, and even those who support the underlying issues find it difficult to frame them in ways that are useful for making business decisions. As a manager you have a responsibility to deliver financial returns to your shareholders: how can you balance this obligation with your responsibilities to society and the environment?
The Sustainable Company articulates an innovative approach to meeting this challenge in a language familiar to business. The key is to create value for investors as well as society and the environment in an integrated bottom line. The Sustainable Company provides detailed case studies of leading companies illustrating this new paradigm in practice. The ""how-to"" section with a tool-kit for managers elevates The Sustainable Company above other recent eco-friendly business books by providing the Eight Disciplines necessary to create value for shareholders and stakeholders. Its engaging, straightforward text tells the reader how to compete and thrive in an increasingly complex world. The Sustainable Company is the solutions manual for the 21st century manager.
Foreword Preface Acknowledgments
PART I. The Leap to Sustainable Value Introduction Chapter 1. Toward an Integrated Bottom Line Chapter 2. The New Ethics in Business Chapter 3. What Gets Measured Gets Managed Chapter 4. Shareholder Value and Corporate Responsibility Chapter 5. The Stakeholder Mind-set and Culture
PART II. Companies Creating Sustainable Value Chapter 6. Patagonia, Inc. Chapter 7. The Atlantic Richfield Corporation (arco) Chapter 8. The Co-operative Bank Chapter 9. Bulmers Limited
PART III. The Value Creation Tool Kit Chapter 10. Introduction to the Tool Kit Chapter 11. The Eight Disciplines Chapter 12. Putting It All Together Chapter 13. Surveys of Multinational Companies
Postscript: Leadership Skills and the Sustainable Firm
Appendix Notes Further Reading Index
"What Mr. Laszlo calls 'Planetary Ethics' or the integration of economic, environmental, social and high ethical objectives into long-term business strategy, is the new price of entry for corporate survival. Those who 'get' this and do it best will enjoy increasing shareholder value. I believe this book carries a critical message for today's corporate executives."
