Future Now
The IFTF Blog
Map of Future Forces Affecting Sustainability
Twenty years ago, terms such as "sustainability," "environmentalism,"
and "health" were virtually unknown in business strategy circles.
Today, all of these concepts have evolved broader and more complex
definitions and they have moved from the margins to the center of
business activity.
The IFTF-GEMI Map of Future Forces Affecting Sustainability provides
foresight for surveying the complex business sustainability landscape
from 2007 - 2017, with a focus on environmental health and safety
strategies. The map was prepared for the Global Environmental
Management Initiative (GEMI) by IFTF.
The map is designed as a sense-making and provocation tool, to help
shape business strategies in a more sustainability-driven climate. It weaves together trends from across IFTF's core research programs, combining insights into new technologies, from sensor networks to alternative energies; social practices, from commons-based management to personal carbon footprints; business strategies, from cap-n-trade frameworks to sustainability scorecards, and many other innovations.
Making sense of "sustainability", as various stakeholders define it,
and incorporating it as a source of long-term business value is a
critical challenge for the next generation of business. Business
leaders must navigate this complex territory, knowing that some
cutting-edge environmental measures might be seen as greenwashing in
five years or that the sustainability imperative might redefine the
notion of successful business. This tool will support those interested
in creating business value through sustainabity innovations.
The IFTF-GEMI map was a deeply collaborative project within IFTF, with contributions from Bob Johansen, Kathi Vian, Matt Chwierut, Alex Pang, Andrea Saveri, and Jamais Cascio.