ABSTRACT
One key factor determining the long-term success of business is how well it recognizes significant sustainability challenges, and identifies changes in the business environment and adapts to them. Some changes are so dramatic that everybody notices them (such as scarcity of certain precious metals); others are subtle but can threaten industry if ignored for too long (such as climate change or population growth). It has been estimated that US$2 trillion of economic output could be put at risk if businesses do not respond to ‘peak metal’, putting pressure on profits and risking the operations of those businesses that do not adapt (World Economic Forum 2012).
