BSR Report Reveals Business Opportunities in Tackling Sustainable Consumption

SAN FRANCISCO, July 28, 2010 - BSR's latest report examines the newest frontier of sustainability,
outlining the opportunities for companies to deliver value to customers,
society, and the planet by promoting sustainable consumption-an economic and
social system that allows all individuals to meet their basic needs without
disrupting the planet's healthy ecosystems.

"For years, sustainable consumption has been framed as a limitation on
business," said BSR President and CEO Aron Cramer, who recently led a
workshop on the subject in New York with BSR member companies from the
agriculture, apparel, food, retail, personal care, and beauty sectors. "But
in a world where our consumption patterns outpace the planet's ability to
regenerate resources by 30 percent, businesses that figure out how to deliver
enhanced value by radically reducing material inputs and engaging consumers
on product use will be well-positioned for success."

BSR's report, "The New Frontier in Sustainability: The Business
Opportunity in Tackling Sustainable Consumption," moves beyond "first
generation" sustainability efforts focused on sourcing of materials,
processing and assembly, and distribution, and identifies opportunities for
companies to tackle sustainable consumption through three key parts of the
business value cycle:

    - Product design: Design choices about things like material
      weight and packaging have direct impacts on transportation costs and
      fuel use, while choices about energy efficiency directly impact energy
      consumption in a product's use phase. In some cases, a focus on
      sustainable consumption may result in the radical redesign of familiar
      products, and in other cases, there may be an opportunity to deliver
      the same value through services (such as car-sharing) rather than
      products (such as car sales).
    - Consumer engagement and use: Consumers may be in the driver's
      seat when it comes to choices about products and use, but companies can
      give consumers the keys to more sustainable behavior by embedding
      sustainable options into products and giving consumers simple,
      accessible information about how to use their products in a more
      sustainable manner.
    - End-of-use: Companies are setting targets to eliminate all waste
      from products' end-of-life. This focus allows business to incorporate
      waste prevention into the design phase of products. Some companies are
      drawing inspiration from nature by implementing "closed-loop systems"
      that mirror the natural life cycles of living plant cells.

Highlighting leaders in sustainable consumption such as Best Buy, which
is investing in ways to help consumers manage their home energy and water
use; GoodGuide, which provides consumers with information on the health,
environmental, and social impacts of everyday products; and the Danish city
Kalundborg, which has created an "industrial ecosystem" in which a dozen
industries cooperate in reusing "waste" from neighboring facilities, BSR's
report emphasizes the many opportunities for companies to innovate in the
name of sustainability.

"Sustainability can and should be thought of as a way to create
opportunities and become a substantial source of competitive advantage, not
solely as a way to mitigate risk," said Cramer. "When it comes to sustainable
consumption, the transformation imperative is clear: If more businesses adopt
the principles of sustainable consumption, we have the potential to increase
global prosperity while avoiding the depletion of our natural resources and
still preserving the ecosystems that underpin our lives."

BSR will be discussing this topic at several workshops for members, with
the next event taking place in London in September. To read BSR Research &
Innovation Manager Linda Hwang's article on sustainable consumption, visit
www.bsr.org/membership/members-only/insight-articles/20100713_bsr_insight_53744.pdf.
Access the full report at
www.bsr.org/reports/BSR_New_Frontier_Sustainability.pdf.

Business people interested in learning more about BSR's work on
sustainable consumption should contact Virginia Terry at vterry@bsr.org.

About BSR

A leader in corporate responsibility since 1992, BSR works with its
global network of more than 250 member companies to develop sustainable
business strategies and solutions through consulting, research, and
cross-sector collaboration. With offices in Asia, Europe, and North America,
BSR uses its expertise in the environment, human rights, economic
development, and governance and accountability to guide global companies
toward creating a just and sustainable world. Visit www.bsr.org for
more information.

CONTACT: Eva Dienel, Communications Manager, BSR, +1-415-984-3233,
edienel@bsr.org

Eva Dienel, Communications Manager, BSR, +1-415-984-3233, edienel at bsr.org