Creating a Sustainable Future: Approaches Companies Can Take to Organize and Measure Their Green Investments

Summary: Remember that song from Sesame Street, “It's Not Easy Being Green”? Well, it's true. Because green investments can be made across several core business dimensions — a company's products and services, workforce and workplace and supply chain — it can be difficult to get a handle on what is often a confusing mix of projects, goals, values and promises. That's why it's vital for companies to implement an approach based on benchmarks that can help them organize and prioritize their green projects and then measure whether they're paying off as intended. Going green isn't just a public relations exercise or a wish list; it's a business, and it should be treated as one. Highlights: -What are companies doing overall to reduce their carbon footprint? -How can you gauge how you're doing compared to other companies' or other industries' sustainability initiatives? -As new generations of technological devices come on line consumers discard their older devices, and that can represent a threat to the environment. What recycling programs have companies put in place, and how successful have they been to date? -In what ways can sustainable initiatives combat environmental issues while also contributing to economic growth, accelerated technology development, business innovation — and not least, the bottom line? Guests: David Lewis, head of Environmental Affairs at Nokia Siemens Networks Chris Park, principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP