27 May 2010 | Fay Davis
Strategy for Sustainability - A Business Manifesto
By Adam Werbach,
Harvard Business School Press, £18.99
3 out of 5
Werbach had me hooked from the opening chapter, in which he describes a “personal failure”. In 1997 the environmentalist met the mayor of New Orleans to warn him that removing half the city’s wetlands could reduce the area’s natural capacity to cope with extra water if a major storm were to hit. He failed to convince him.
When Hurricane Katrina devastated the city in 2005, he saw the effect of his ignored advice. He also noticed Wal-Mart was able to get aid to people quicker than the government and was inspired to write this book to help organisations respond quickly to emergencies, but also to minimise their impact on the natural environment.
The book aims to educate the reader in developing a company strategy that takes into account all aspects of sustainability. As well as discussing social, economic and environmental elements the author adds a fourth: cultural. Werbach describes this as “protecting and valuing cultural diversity”. He says these four elements will have a positive impact on your organisation’s bottom line.
The book meets its goal and Werbach’s theories are supported by real events and case studies. But I would like to see more about how to “change hearts and minds” of the people setting organisations’ strategy.
Although educational and interesting, it lacks translation into day-to-day application for buyers. But if you are involved with sustainability in your organisation, in procurement or not, you will find it interesting and thought-provoking. It’s an easy read and it may be beneficial to directors of private firms who can really make a difference.
* By Fay Davis, Sustainable procurement manager
