Green Business

A global recession has dampened consumption and business investments, green or otherwise. Yet economic stimulus programs have focused on green economic development based on alternative energy technologies and the infrastructure to support transmission of distributed sources of power, as well as low-tech innovations such as building weatherization. Proponents of green technology believe that public stimulus dollars and private investment have potential to create large numbers of green-collar jobs as well as to increase the overall efficiency of the economy. Action at the national level is mirrored at state and local levels, as governments revise building codes, leading the construction industry to source greener building materials. Large retailers, from Ikea to the supermarket chain Tesco, are eliminating unnecessary packaging and providing product information designed to encourage sustainable purchasing. And the concepts of green business are being applied in sectors beyond manufacturing and retail, including agriculture, where growth continues apace in demand for organic products and food sources from growers who are paid a fair wage and use sustainable farming techniques. Businesses increasingly recognize their capacity to help solve global environmental and social challenges, and the most innovate understand the business case for addressing such issues as climate change, water scarcity, pollution, poverty, hunger, and inequality. Via 150 signed entries, Green Business: An A-to-Z Guide provides an overview of key principles, approaches, strategies, and tools businesses have used to reduce environmental impacts and contribute to sustainability. Entries reflect the expertise of scholars and practitioners from varied fields and provide references to other entries as well as citations for further reading.