Institute For The Future

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 businesses shape their 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.