Business Sustainability: A Trick or a Treat for Executives?

Blog by Julie Urlaub, Founder and Managing Partner at Taiga Company
Oct 19, 2011 8:48 AM ET

Taiga Company blog by Julie Urlaub, Founder and Managing Partner at Taiga Compa…

The past year has seen a significant shift in eco awareness and the debate on climate change.  In the world of business and finance, climate change has developed from a sidebar topic to a mainstream conversation.  Accompanying climate change discussions are questions as to how to increase eco awareness in business and simultaneously see results in the bottom line.    For many executives considering sustainable business strategies, there is a little bit of a Halloween mindset!  The trick is the perceived outlay of resources needed to pursue sustainability programs and the treats are the benefits derived from sustainable implementation.  But the question remains, "How do you get executive management to pass on the tricks and go for the treats?”  The answer: tie sustainability metrics to the bottom line.    As an example, the post, Using Sustainability Metrics to Drive Business Performance, Innovation and Stakeholder Satisfaction, addresses key metrics used to tie sustainable business strategies to bottom line performance.  Additionally, within our sustainability consulting, it is not uncommon to interface with business leaders who are unaware of the potential cost and business risk they may be incurring though misunderstanding or inactivity related to business sustainability.   The post, Suppliers in the Hot Seat: Are you One of Them? addresses the extended responsibilities of water, carbon, environment management in business operations. Click here to continue reading Business Sustainability: A Trick or Treat for Executives.   

Home to one third of the earth's trees, the Taiga is the largest land-based biosphere and encircles the globe. Its immense oxygen production literally changes the atmosphere and refreshes the planet. It is this continuous renewal that has shaped Taiga Company's vision to drive similar change in the business world. Taiga Company seeks to be the "oxygen for your business".