The conference explored how companies can inspire themselves by and through nature, by developing and implementing 'natural business strategies' into their business models. This helps businesses become both sustainable and successful in an increasingly challenging and uncertain global climate. Keynote addresses and contributions from: L. Hunter Lovins - founder and president of Natural CapitalismDianne Dillon-Ridgley - director of InterfaceMichael Bremans - chairman of Ecover InternationalAndy Wood - CEO of AdnamsJane Davidson - director of InspireGiles Hutchins - global director of sustainability of AtosDiane Gilpin - director of B9 ShippingJo Fox - director of 'bigger picture' BSkyBMelissa Sterry - futurologist and Earth 2.0Denise DeLuca - founder of BCIAndy Middleton - founder of TYFNigel Stansfield - senior and vice president of product and innovation at InferfaceFLORAnthony Hilton - financial editor of the London Evening Standard You can download the slide deck from the day...

This Briefing Document, by Tomorrow’s Company, summarises microfinance and its increasing importance. It also briefly describes the most controversial issues surrounding different facets of microfinance. 

 This Briefing Document, by Tomorrow's Company, summarises the steps taken by Interface, a global carpet manufacturing company, to eliminate its environmental impact on the planet by the year 2020. This project, ‘Mission Zero’ is amongst the most ambitious of its kind. Ray Anderson, chairman of Interface and ex-Chief Executive, set Interface on this path to becoming fully sustainable and since his ‘epiphany’ in 1994, Interface have led the way in sustainable business, achieving superb environmental results as a consequence. The Tomorrow's Company Briefing Documents are intended to provide the reader with a comprehensive introduction to a particular topic. You can find the full list of Briefing Documents on forceforgood.com here.

The Global Leaders of Tomorrow project is part an ongoing programme of research led by Ashridge Business School as part of the European Academy of Business in Society (EABIS) Corporate Knowledge and Learning Programme and has received financial support from the EABIS Founding Corporate Partners IBM, Johnson and Johnson, Microsoft, Shell and Unilever. The research is based on a global survey of CEOs and senior executives at companies participating in the UN Global Compact conducted in September and October 2008, at the height of the 2008 global financial crisis. This is complemented by in-depth interviews with 33 individuals, including HR and sustainability executives and other thought leaders.

Business leader Ray Anderson asks: when you meet your Maker, what will you talk about?Will you proudly discuss your rate of return? Or how you enhanced shareholder value?What will your legacy be?The way most companies do business, most communities operate, and most of us live will leave a legacy of an environmentally and financially impoverished planet. We can, we must do better. This paper will describe how climate protection is good for business.  The market can solve the climate crisis not at a cost but as an investment in a far better future for all of the world’s people.  It will describe how this future is already emerging remarkably rapidly despite restrictions at every turn.