Center for Social Innovation (CSI): Change lives. Change organizations. Change the world.

Future of Green

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and Stanford’s Graduate School of Business Center for Social Innovation are working to define the next generation of sustainable business. By taking the perspective of multiple stakeholders in this 8-part series of expert interviews and open dialogues they hope to spark discussion and innovation in the dynamic field of business and environmental collaboration.

The series is hosted by EDF's Jerry Michalski.

Shared Value- Future of Green

[photo - Mark Kramer]

This audio interview from the Environmental Defense Fund's Future of Green Calls covers complex interactions of the philanthropy sector, socially conscientious nonprofit organizations, and for-profit businesses with FSG Co-Founder Mark Kramer. Kramer outlines how corporate social responsibility (CSR) acts as a lever to minimize environmental harms done by daily business activities. Also covered are how natural resources are consumed by industries and a discussion about sustainability practices.

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EDF Future of Green Calls

[photo - Daniel Kreeger]

Could it be that Defense takes the lead on climate change initiatives? An important DoD report cited climate change as a top national security concern. On this Future of Green Call, Daniel Kreeger explains how Defense is planning ways to avoid conflict over essential supplies such as clean water, resource consumption and keeping bases safe from predicted coastal flooding. Discussion also includes lessons learned from climate catastrophes and how to respond more quickly and efficiently to crisis.

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Sustainable Excellence: The Future of Business in a Fast-Changing World

[photo - Aron Cramer]

Businesses are in the business of business. But they are beginning to be in the business of doing social good as well. As companies shift to incorporate environmental, social, and welfare-based themes into business plans and products, Aron Cramer points out a trend of decreasing poverty and improving the environment as corporations look to increase both profit and human development.

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Sustainability Opportunities in Global Supply Chains

When a company like Wal-Mart decides to work with suppliers to reduce their emissions, a positive ripple is created throughout the global economy. However, is there room for smaller innovators when it comes to greening the supply chain? In this audio interview, part of the Future of Green series from Stanford's Center for Social Innovation, Professor Gary Gereffi and EDF's Andrew Hutson talk about opportunities for sustainable supply chains in the age of globalization.

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New Sustainable Business Models

Bringing along the consumer, Method and Zipcar have provided greener alternatives to our everyday lifestyles. By creating this catalyst for change, they moved their products and services ahead of industry leaders and scaled this impact with market success. In this Future of Green open call series from Stanford's Center for Social Innovation, founders Robin Chase of Zipcar and Adam Lowry of Method speak on building a company around a radical and sustainable business model.

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Can Corporations Really Change?

Market practices are changing. With a focus on sustainability, corporations are moving toward operations that reduce the environmental impact of their products and services and offer an integrated bottom line. In this audio interview, part of The Future of Green series, host Neal Gorenflo speaks with Maurice Bechard of Diversey and Michael Kobori of Levi Strauss & Co. about the motivations for change and how to approach this shift.

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Environmental Sustainability for Small Businesses

When does a house painter learn about low VOC paint? Are high-efficiency lightbulbs always better? How can you reduce package waste and still meet client expectations? How can a small business owner keep up with sustainability issues? Now Intuit and eBay have sites where small businesses share their green knowledge. Amy Skoczlas Cole, who runs eBayGreenTeam, and Rupesh Shah of IntuitGreen talk about small business and green.

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20 Years of Business Partnership at EDF

What happens when the nation's largest fast-food chain and a leading environmental advocacy group partner to reduce food packaging waste? Sharing the lessons learned from the groundbreaking success story of an NGO-business model that began 20 years ago and led way for other cross-sector partnerships in sustainability, Environmental Defense Fund's Gwen Ruta and McDonald's Bob Langert, with host Jerry Michalski, kick off The Future of Green open call series.

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about this podcast

Presented to you by Kriss Deiglmeier and Eric Nee, Social Innovation Conversations shares the voices of the people at the forefront of creating social and environmental change in the world. This podcast is the labor of love of a dedicated team of talented volunteers.

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