Sustainability & Resource Productivity

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

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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How to make Green Growth the new normal

May 2013—This article is based on a speech given by Jeremy Oppenheim at the 2012 Global Green Growth Forum in Copenhagen.

• Download the article (PDF–433 KB)

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

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.

• Read more on the McKinsey on Society Web site

The business of sustainability: Putting it into practice

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

• Download the report (PDF–258 KB)

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

The next environmental issue for business: McKinsey Global Survey results

August 2010—As with climate change a few years ago, executives are now beginning to recognize the importance of biodiversity for their future strategies. Many are also discovering business opportunities, not just threats.more

Pricing the planet

June 2010—Understanding a company’s full exposure to energy and environmental risks will in many cases be a—if not the—decisive factor determining its long-term viability.more

How companies manage sustainability: McKinsey Global Survey results

March 2010—Most companies are not actively managing sustainability, even though executives think it’s important to a variety of corporate activities. Those that do are reaping benefits for themselves and for society.more

Building a sustainable Ford Motor Company: An interview with Bill Ford

January 2010—The carmaker’s executive chairman talks about its prospects, technological change in the industry, and manufacturing in America.more

The future of capitalism: Building a sustainable energy future

December 2009—In a collaboration between Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and McKinsey, a panel of experts and CEOs from leading energy companies debate the critical scientific, resource, and policy issues challenging energy sustainability today.more

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McKinsey conversations with global leaders: Paul Polman of Unilever

October 2009—Unilever’s chief executive reflects on lessons learned at three major consumer goods companies, including how to manage people in a global context, the obligations corporations have to society, and why you should never waste a good crisis.more

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