The Business and Sustainability Group (BSG) works to shift the dominant economic paradigm from one focused on short-term rewards for a limited group of stakeholders to one focused on the long-term well being of the global living system. BSG focuses on educating the business community about how incorporating sustainability principles into strategic decisions can catalyze innovation, new market opportunities, and tangible bottom-line success.

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Our mission is to establish business sustainability as the Engine of Innovation that drives economic revitalization and ongoing prosperity in Silicon Valley and beyond.

Since 2001, BSG has focused on bringing the best of sustainable management practices to the business and academic community by offering world-class speakers and inspirational programs, including conferences, a breakfast speaker series, sustainability tours, workshops, and in-depth conversations. We also offer on-site presentations that provide the business case for creating an integrated bottom line (economic, social, and environmental) management philosophy, which has been demonstrated to yield a unique competitive advantage in today’s increasingly competitive and complex business world.

 

BSG sponsors a variety of programs for Bay Area businesses.

Sustainability Breakfast Series — This series highlights sustainable business thought-leaders and practitioners and provides a forum for discussion on the most innovative and inspiring ideas and best practices. Past speakers have included: Paul Ray (Cultural Creatives), William McDonough (MBDC), L. Hunter Lovins (Natural Capitalism), Karl-Henrik Robert (The Natural Step), John Pepper (Procter & Gamble), George Zimmer (Men’s Wearhouse), Janine Benyus (Biomimicry), Jeffrey Hollender (Seventh Generation), Michael Braungart (EPEA), and Dominique Conseil (Aveda).
Click here to see our past events.

Speaker Engagements & Workshops — From time to time BSG sponsors an expanded event for one of our speakers. This includes a series of workshops and lectures with local business people and academicians over a two or three day period.

Sustainable Enterprise Seminars — BSG offers two one-day seminars for business people seeking to make their companies' practices more environmentally and socially sustainable. The first seminar provides an overview of different sustainability principles and enables participants to work on simulated case examples. The second seminar, designed for teams of people from a company, provides a framework for implementation and allows attendees to create a Triple Bottom Line blueprint for their organizations.

Lunch Presentations & Discussions — BSG sponsors a FREE, onsite lunchtime employee presentation and discussion that covers sustainability topics germane to business and customized to each company’s needs. For more information, click here.

In-Depth Conversations — Monthly evening meetings provide a forum in which to dialogue on sustainability topics at a deeper level. Following a brief speaker presentation, participants are challenged to create innovative solutions in small groups.

Sustainability Tour — Over a two-day period, BSG sponsors visits to several Silicon Valley organizations that are building sustainability into their business strategies and practices. Participants witness transferable, proven examples of sustainability in products and services, business processes, workspaces, organizational practices, and culture. Attendees learn first hand from company representatives about the challenges and successes of these initiatives.

Partner Publication Program — Sustainability and Visionary Leadership — BSG is cooperating with the World Business Academy to provide discounted, online access to timely articles published by the Academy. These articles offer perspectives on the changes shaping our collective world, highlight people on the leading edge of that change, and present information on how you can play a role in redefining the way business is done. For more information, click here.