A business model for sustainability

The author asserts that corporate responsibility cannot be outsourced and that businesses must lead the transition to a sustainable future. Using Unilever as a case study, the text demonstrates that a development-focused agenda—aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—can deliver strong financial returns for shareholders while addressing global challenges. The document highlights the growth of ESG assets and green bonds as evidence of a shift in global finance, and calls for increased cooperation between the private sector, governments, and civil society through partnerships like the Food and Land Use Coalition.

• The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted by 193 countries in September 2015, provide a framework for a sustainable future that could potentially add $12 trillion and 380 million jobs to the global economy by 2030.
• There is increasing integration of sustainability in the private sector and global finance, with 69% of surveyed business executives integrating SDGs into their strategies and ESG assets under management estimated at $22 trillion.
• Unilever's implementation of the Sustainable Living Plan since 2009 shows that a business can address challenges such as climate change, deforestation, and human rights while achieving a nearly 300% return over ten years and a 19% return on equity.
• Effective resolution of global social and environmental challenges requires market power and coalitions, such as the Food and Land Use Coalition, which brings together executives, scientists, policymakers, investors, and farmers to transform food systems.

APA

Polman, P. (2019). A business model for sustainability. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/sustainable-development/a-business-model-for-sustainability/

Chicago

Polman, Paul. A business model for sustainability. World Economic Forum, 2019. https://www.weforum.org/stories/sustainable-development/a-business-model-for-sustainability/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Polman |first1=Paul |title=A business model for sustainability |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=2 January 2019 |url=https://www.weforum.org/stories/sustainable-development/a-business-model-for-sustainability/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{polman2019business, author = {Polman, Paul}, title = {{A business model for sustainability}}, publisher = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2019}, month = jan, url = {https://www.weforum.org/stories/sustainable-development/a-business-model-for-sustainability/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }