Corporate sustainability strategy climate change Australia

The Sustainable Industries Project comprised two parts:

• Part I was sponsored by South Australia's Department of Trade and Economic Development. It evaluated the potential costs and benefits for businesses of incorporating sustainability principles into business operations.
• Part II was sponsored by the South Australia's Department for Environment and Heritage. It reviewed the role of government in facilitating improved environmental performance of business whilst minimising extraneous costs and enhancing business opportunities associated with sustainable outcomes.

In exploring the emerging and existing environmental and social drivers impacting upon South Australian business, the Project centred around interviews with business and industry associations from South Australia's most valuable export industries, namely, automotive, food and wine, resources, and electrical/electronics. These four industry sectors contribute more than $4 billion (excluding electrical and electronics industry) towards the South Australian economy, with major markets including Japan, China, Hong Kong and the USA, and employing over 100,000 South Australians.

Many of the South Australian companies interviewed as part of the Project were found to be reaping the financial benefits of incorporating sustainability considerations into their business practices. As a result, the South Australian Government used this information to publish a report, entitled ‘Good Business', demonstrating the tangible commercial benefits of adopting innovative approaches to sustainable development.

The interviews also highlighted that many businesses in South Australia were looking to government to provide a coordinated approach to business and sustainability. The South Australian Government have embraced many of the recommendations provided including showing leadership on climate change.

16 page, A4 colour PDF booklet, 513KB

Download good_business.pdf