Growing Sustainably in Emerging Markets

Managing growth in a sustainable way is critical for 21st century business leaders. A new report, scheduled for release on 15 September 2011, reveals that companies from emerging markets get excellent grades for their environmental and social initiatives.

The report, entitled Redefining the Future of Growth: The New Sustainability Champions, highlights fast-growth companies from emerging markets such as China, Costa Rica, Egypt, India, Kenya and the Philippines. These businesses are actively tackling pressing sustainability challenges in their regions while growing quickly – and profitably.

Collectively and individually, companies such as Equity Bank, a Kenyan financial services provider, and Manila Water, a utility company in the Philippines, are becoming inspirational models not just for their emerging-market peers, but also for businesses worldwide.

The report is published by the World Economic Forum in collaboration with The Boston Consulting Group. It provides a welcome counterpoint to the regular reports that describe mankind’s continuing pressure on the earth’s natural resources – from fresh water and fossil fuels to fish stocks and arable land. It demonstrates that sustainability is being nourished by innovation of all kinds in emerging markets – the very regions where the pressures of resource depletion will be felt most keenly.