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Sustainability & Resource Productivity

Resource Revolution
A complete rethink of resource management will be needed to keep pace with soaring demand as up to three billion new consumers join the world's middle classes over the next 20 years.
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report | McKinsey Global Institute

Resource revolution: Tracking global commodity markets

September 2013—Commodity prices, though off recent peaks, still reflect emerging-market demand, a challenging geology, innovative technology, and improved resource productivity.more

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QA with Martin Stuchtey
article

Questions and answers on the circular economy

October 2013—The next frontier in sustainability is to re-use products to extract their value before disposing of them. How can this be done?

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interview

The US growth opportunity in shale oil and gas

August 2013—McKinsey partner Scott Nyquist discusses the role of shale oil and gas in boosting US oil production and examines the environmental concerns that must be addressed.more

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article | McKinsey Quarterly

Seizing China’s energy-efficiency opportunity: A case study

June 2013—Improving energy efficiency in industrial environments starts with changing minds—not machinery. The progress made by one of China’s largest state-owned enterprises holds lessons for industrial players of all stripes.more

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interview

China’s next chapter: The infrastructure and environmental challenge

June 2013—McKinsey’s Jonathan Woetzel explores China’s huge infrastructure program and the country’s plans to build sustainable urban clusters for hundreds of millions of its people.more

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McKinsey on Sustainability
compendium

McKinsey on Sustainability & Resource Productivity

Our goal is to present insights and approaches that organizations can use to transform how they manage resources and drive sustainable growth.more

Sustainable fisheries
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A sustainable fish story

March 2013–Seafood is an important part of a healthy diet and fishing-related industries provide employment for 180 million people. Is there a way to reverse, or at least slow down, the stresses that are threatening fish stocks? This McKinsey article suggests how.more

Andrea B Thomas
interview

The greening of Walmart

March 2013—Walmart’s senior VP for sustainability, Andrea B. Thomas discusses the challenges of building a greener supply chain and explains why Walmart won’t be marketing sustainability to customers anytime soon.

Voices on Society Volume 4
compendium

Voices on Society, Vol. 4: The Socially Conscious Consumer

Many consumers around the world say they will pay a premium for sustainable products and prefer to deal with companies whose values they share and trust. What impact are these socially conscious consumers having on environmental and economic sustainability?

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Manufacturing resource productivity

June 2012—Manufacturers can generate new value, minimize costs, and increase operational stability by focusing on four broad areas: production, product design, value recovery, and supply-circle management.more

From supply chains to supply circles
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From supply chains to supply circles

June 2012—Manufacturers can create value, cut costs, and reduce exposure to volatile commodity prices by improving their resource productivity–using fewer resources for each unit of output.

Solar power's next shining
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Solar power's next shining

April 2012–After a boom seemed headed for a bust, stable and expansive growth is on the horizon.more

The business of sustainability: Putting it into practice
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The business of sustainability: Putting it into practice

Companies should integrate environmental, social, and governance issues into their business model—and act on them.

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Winning the battle for the home of the future

October 2011—European utilities may soon have to earn a growing share of their profits by helping households save energy rather than consume it.more

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The business of sustainability: McKinsey Global Survey results

October 2011—More companies are managing sustainability to improve processes, pursue growth, and add value to their companies rather than focusing on reputation alone.more

Design for sustainable fisheries
report

Design for sustainable fisheries—Modeling fishery economics

September 2011–Returning fish stocks to sustainable levels involves difficult trade-offs. This report outlines a methodology to think through the options for fisheries.more

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article | McKinsey Quarterly

Another oil shock?

November 2011—It’s possible, though far from certain, that oil prices will spike in the years ahead. Here’s why—and how you can prepare. more

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Four lessons for transforming African agriculture

April 2011—To succeed, African countries must narrow their focus and target high-impact projects.more

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How green are China’s cities?

January 2011—A new index shows mixed results in the country’s push for sustainable urban development.more

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article | McKinsey Global InstituteUrban world

Urban world: Mapping the economic power of cities

600 cities are projected to generate more than 60 percent of global growth to 2025.more