HP Inc. says that sustainable impact was a key differentiator for more than $700 million in new business last year. The company’s newly published 2017 Sustainable Impact Report shows a 38% year-over-year increase in sales bids with sustainability requirements.

“In 2017, customers with sustainable purchasing criteria — including criteria related to eco-labels — represented a total of approximately $15.8 billion of existing and potential business revenue,” the report says.

Innovation is imperative for meeting the needs of our changing world.

We know we must create far more value than the resources we use or the future is not sustainable. And as the purchasing power of the world grows, we can add tremendous value by enabling sustainable consumer choices.

While this innovation imperative is critically important, innovation is hard. True innovation changes behaviors and occurs at the confluence of an unmet need, a creative mindset, and the right resources which together can solve the problem.

In September 2017, Sappi North America received an award from the governor’s offi ce under the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) in recognition of its investment and innovative technologies at the Cloquet Mill.

The company was recognized for its contributions to the economic vitality of local communities, and its commitment to keeping Minnesota a world-leading center of business investment and innovation.

There is no doubt that businesses are key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Since 2013, representatives from countries, businesses and NGOs have gathered once a year in New York to for the high-level political forum on sustainable development (HLPF). We collected some key takeaways from the forum about how the private sector is helping advance the achievement of the SDGs.