ABSTRACT

This illuminating new book presents a series of in-depth case studies from around the world based on numerous personal interviews with organizational leaders and focusing on their journey towards sustainability. The aim is to provide visions of a more sustainable future, and shed light on the path, milestones and solutions – in particular the management processes these organizations employed – to provide a reliable compass that others can follow. 

Although each organization must take steps to fit its particular circumstance, business conditions and culture, Mapping the Journey proves that valuable lessons can be learned by setting aside critique as to where these organizations may yet make progress and instead focusing on the guidelines, targets, measures of success, tools and techniques and valuable wisdom about how pioneer organisations are travelling toward a prosperous, sustainable future. Each organization included has crafted its own unique strategic responses to an identified need for increased sustainability. While none can be said to have reached the end-point of a sustainable development strategy, all have found that, by addressing the challenge of sustainable industrial practices, they have found innovative solutions, new opportunities for revenue generation, better relationships with customers, new business and product opportunities and a boost to morale from the executive ranks to front-line employees. 

Mapping the Journey examines both public and private organizations worldwide: SJ Rail of Sweden; Sony Corporation; SC Johnson; TransAlta Corporation; Patagonia; Henkel; Volvo; ASG; Interface Flooring Systems; Suncor; DaimlerChrysler; AssiDoman; Germany's Centre for Technology Assessment and the Dutch National Environmental Policy Plan.  These case studies provide an inspiring framework of effective processes for defining a sustainable development strategy and transforming it successfully into actions and results.

part |236 pages

The Case Studies

chapter 1|26 pages

Volvo

Strategic action toward sustainable mobility for society

chapter 2|20 pages

Suncor

Taking stakeholder relations to a new level

chapter 3|7 pages

AssiDomän

Foresters integrating dual goals of economy and environment

chapter 4|28 pages

Patagonia

First ascents: finding the way toward quality of life and work

chapter 5|6 pages

Interface Flooring Systems

Driving industrial standards higher

chapter 6|22 pages

Sony

Operationalising the slogan 'Entertaining the world: caring for the environment' *

chapter 8|14 pages

SC Johnson

Eco-efficiency and beyond

chapter 9|5 pages

DaimlerChrysler

Redefining cost

chapter 10|16 pages

Center For Technology Assessment (CTA)

Pursuing regional approaches to qualitative growth and sustain ability

chapter 11|17 pages

Henkel

Traditional values and ecological leadership

chapter 12|18 pages

SJ Rail

Turnaround to sustainable transport for the 21st century

chapter 13|22 pages

TransAlta

New terrain: reducing greenhouse gas emissions

chapter 14|16 pages

The Netherlands National Environmental Policy Plan

Developing sustainable industrial strategy