Profile: John Elkington
Recognised as the “global dean” of corporate social responsibility, he told the Minerals Council of Australia Sustainable Development conference in Adelaide this week to look beyond reporting and sustainability rankings. Don’t predict the future, but create it. He also introduced the “Phoenix Economy” pioneers.
The world’s `dean of corporate responsibility’, John Elkington delivered a keynote address at this year’s Minerals Council of Australia Sustainable Development conference in Adelaide (26-30 October).

Elkington has been at the forefront of the sustainable development movement for 30 years and is founder of consulting firm SustainAbility, a leading global adviser on corporate social responsibility and sustainability issues.

He originated the term `triple bottom line’, which measures corporate success against financial, environmental and social values.

The title of his address was “Unearthing the Future: Mining & Minerals in the Phoenix Economy”.

Here’s a few key points he mad:

‘The future of the mining industry is inseparable from the global pursuit of sustainable development.’

‘Materials stewardship is fundamental to sustainable development …’

Sustainable development:

Mining and minerals have come a long way—but journey just begun.

Social license to operate best achieved by integrated performance through supply chain— pushing upstream

Look beyond reporting and sustainability rankings—don’t predict the future, create it.

There is a large divide between the urgency of, and companies’ effectiveness in, addressing challenges.

High Urgency / High Effectiveness:
Climate change and corporate accountability emerge as sustainability strategy imperatives, given the high urgency, and perceived high effectiveness of companies to address them.
Companies will be expected to establish strong commitments on both accounts as a baseline for sustainability leadership.
From the ashes of the downturn, a new Phoenix Economy is self-assembling—focused on providing social and environmental solutions, where markets and governments have failed.
If the pioneers of the Phoenix Economy are to succeed, they will still need substantial assistance from governments, foundations, investors and businesses, and we identify urgent opportunities for facilitation, collaboration and support.
We also celebrate a roll call of ‘The Phoenix 50’ pioneers in the business of social innovation, nominated by entrepreneurs and other stakeholders.
Phoenix 50:
Aflatoun, AMEE, American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), Apopo, Aravind Eye Care System, Arup, Ashoka, Barack Obama Administration, Better Place, Business and Human Rights Resource Centre, BYD, C40, CellBazaar, CERES, Cleantech Group, Climate Change Capital, E + Co, Econcern, Generation Investment Management, GE’s Ecomagination, Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN), Global Footprint Network, Good Energy, Google, Grameen Group, Green for All – Van Jones, GSK, Health Care Without Harm, Himanshu Parikh Consulting Engineers, Innocentive, Institute for One World Health, Interpeace, J. Craig Venter Institute, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Marine Stewardship Council, MaRS, Mothers2Mothers, Movimento Nacional dos Catadores, de Materiais Reciclaveis, MyC4, NovoNordisk and Oxford Health Alliance, Participant Media, Population and Community Development Association (PDA), Solarcentury, State of California ,Sustainable Asset Management (SAM), TNT, Virgance, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBSCD), World Resources Institute, World Toilet Organization
Elkington also told delegates about the Green Jobs in the US, based on ClanEdge Inc 2009 survey. The top US sectors for green jobs are:
1. Solar; 2. Biofuels & biomaterials; 3. Conservation & Efficiency; 4. Smart Grid; 5. Wind Power

The MCA’s Sustainable Development conference is recognised as the leading minerals industry forum for communicating new developments and leading practice in corporate social responsibility.

The conference was officially opened by the Hon Mike Rann MP, Premier of South Australia.

Conference topics include
• Energy & Climate Change;
• Regional & Community Development;
• Water Resource Stewardship;
• Protecting & Enhancing Social Licence;
• Sustainable Indigenous Communities;
• Land Use and Management; and
• Innovation & Emerging Technology.
More information from www.sd09.com.au

John Elkington

Founding Partner & Director, Volans (2008 to date)
Founder & Non-Executive Director, SustainAbility (1987–2008)
Personal website: www.johnelkington.com

Co-founder of SustainAbility in 1987 (Chair from 1995 -2005), and Founding Partner & Director of Volans, John Elkington is a world authority on corporate responsibility and sustainable development.

In 2004, BusinessWeek described him as “a dean of the corporate responsibility movement for three decades.” In 2008, The Evening Standard named John among the ’1000 Most Influential People’ in London, describing him as “a true green business guru,” and as “an evangelist for corporate social and environmental responsibility long before it was fashionable.”

Volans, launched in April 2008 aims to find, explore, advise on and build innovative scalable solutions to the great global divides that overshadow the future. Volans’ first report, The Phoenix Economy: 50 Pioneers in the Business of Social Innovation, explores a new economic order rising from the ashes with a new generation of innovators, entrepreneurs and investors accelerating the changes essential for delivering scaleable sustainable solutions to the world.

The study reveals how these groups are thinking as they develop and scale market solutions to a broad array of economic, social, environmental and governance challenges. The report launched in March 2009 at the Skoll World Forum with backing from the Skoll Foundation, SustainAbility, Singapore’s Economic Development Board, Net Impact and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Over time, John has authored or co-authored 17 books. His most recent explores the work of leading social and environmental entrepreneurs. Co-authored with Pamela Hartigan, Director of the The Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, The Power of Unreasonable People: How Social Entrepreneurs Create Markets That Change the World, was published by Harvard Business School Press on 5 February 2008.

John’s previous books include 1988’s million-selling Green Consumer Guide and Cannibals with Forks: The Triple Bottom Line of 21st Century Business (1997). He has also written hundreds of articles for newspapers, magazines and journal and has written or co-written some 40 published reports.

In terms of other hats, John is a Visiting Professor at the Doughty Centre for Corporate Responsibility at the Cranfield School of Management. He chairs The Environment Foundation and the Aflatoun Impact and Policy Analysis Steering Group and is an Honorary Fellow of The Hub and also the Institute of Green Professionals.
John is also a member of strategic advisory boards for, among others: 2degrees Venture Partners; the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes; EcoVadis; Gaia Energy; the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Greenopolis.com; Instituto Ethos; Physic Ventures; Polecat UK and a Cleantech Fund developed by Zouk Ventures.
John is also a Senior Advisor to the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, a member of the WWF Council of Ambassadors, a member of the Evian Group Brain Trust and Council of Global Thought Leaders, the Global Leaders Academy; the Sea Change Advisory Board. John has recently joined the newly formed Cleantech Group LLC’s Cleantech Innovation Council. John was a Faculty member of the World Economic Forum from 2002-2008.
Source: www.volans.com, www.sustainabilty.com and www.johnelkington.com
as the “global dean” of corporate social responsibility, he told the Minerals Council of Australia Sustainable Development conference in Adelaide this week to look beyond reporting and sustainability rankings. Don’t predict the future, but create it. He also introduced the “Phoenix Economy” pioneers.
The world’s `dean of corporate responsibility’, John Elkington delivered a keynote address at this year’s Minerals Council of Australia Sustainable Development conference in Adelaide (26-30 October).

Elkington has been at the forefront of the sustainable development movement for 30 years and is founder of consulting firm SustainAbility, a leading global adviser on corporate social responsibility and sustainability issues.

He originated the term `triple bottom line’, which measures corporate success against financial, environmental and social values.

The title of his address was “Unearthing the Future: Mining & Minerals in the Phoenix Economy”.

Here’s a few key points he mad:

‘The future of the mining industry is inseparable from the global pursuit of sustainable development.’

‘Materials stewardship is fundamental to sustainable development …’

Sustainable development:

Mining and minerals have come a long way—but journey just begun.

Social license to operate best achieved by integrated performance through supply chain— pushing upstream

Look beyond reporting and sustainability rankings—don’t predict the future, create it.

There is a large divide between the urgency of, and companies’ effectiveness in, addressing challenges.

High Urgency / High Effectiveness:
Climate change and corporate accountability emerge as sustainability strategy imperatives, given the high urgency, and perceived high effectiveness of companies to address them.
Companies will be expected to establish strong commitments on both accounts as a baseline for sustainability leadership.
From the ashes of the downturn, a new Phoenix Economy is self-assembling—focused on providing social and environmental solutions, where markets and governments have failed.
If the pioneers of the Phoenix Economy are to succeed, they will still need substantial assistance from governments, foundations, investors and businesses, and we identify urgent opportunities for facilitation, collaboration and support.
We also celebrate a roll call of ‘The Phoenix 50’ pioneers in the business of social innovation, nominated by entrepreneurs and other stakeholders.
Phoenix 50:
Aflatoun, AMEE, American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), Apopo, Aravind Eye Care System, Arup, Ashoka, Barack Obama Administration, Better Place, Business and Human Rights Resource Centre, BYD, C40, CellBazaar, CERES, Cleantech Group, Climate Change Capital, E + Co, Econcern, Generation Investment Management, GE’s Ecomagination, Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN), Global Footprint Network, Good Energy, Google, Grameen Group, Green for All – Van Jones, GSK, Health Care Without Harm, Himanshu Parikh Consulting Engineers, Innocentive, Institute for One World Health, Interpeace, J. Craig Venter Institute, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Marine Stewardship Council, MaRS, Mothers2Mothers, Movimento Nacional dos Catadores, de Materiais Reciclaveis, MyC4, NovoNordisk and Oxford Health Alliance, Participant Media, Population and Community Development Association (PDA), Solarcentury, State of California ,Sustainable Asset Management (SAM), TNT, Virgance, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBSCD), World Resources Institute, World Toilet Organization
Elkington also told delegates about the Green Jobs in the US, based on ClanEdge Inc 2009 survey. The top US sectors for green jobs are:
1. Solar; 2. Biofuels & biomaterials; 3. Conservation & Efficiency; 4. Smart Grid; 5. Wind Power

The MCA’s Sustainable Development conference is recognised as the leading minerals industry forum for communicating new developments and leading practice in corporate social responsibility.

The conference was officially opened by the Hon Mike Rann MP, Premier of South Australia.

Conference topics include
• Energy & Climate Change;
• Regional & Community Development;
• Water Resource Stewardship;
• Protecting & Enhancing Social Licence;
• Sustainable Indigenous Communities;
• Land Use and Management; and
• Innovation & Emerging Technology.
More information from www.sd09.com.au

John Elkington

Founding Partner & Director, Volans (2008 to date)
Founder & Non-Executive Director, SustainAbility (1987–2008)
Personal website: www.johnelkington.com

Co-founder of SustainAbility in 1987 (Chair from 1995 -2005), and Founding Partner & Director of Volans, John Elkington is a world authority on corporate responsibility and sustainable development.

In 2004, BusinessWeek described him as “a dean of the corporate responsibility movement for three decades.” In 2008, The Evening Standard named John among the ’1000 Most Influential People’ in London, describing him as “a true green business guru,” and as “an evangelist for corporate social and environmental responsibility long before it was fashionable.”

Volans, launched in April 2008 aims to find, explore, advise on and build innovative scalable solutions to the great global divides that overshadow the future. Volans’ first report, The Phoenix Economy: 50 Pioneers in the Business of Social Innovation, explores a new economic order rising from the ashes with a new generation of innovators, entrepreneurs and investors accelerating the changes essential for delivering scaleable sustainable solutions to the world.

The study reveals how these groups are thinking as they develop and scale market solutions to a broad array of economic, social, environmental and governance challenges. The report launched in March 2009 at the Skoll World Forum with backing from the Skoll Foundation, SustainAbility, Singapore’s Economic Development Board, Net Impact and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Over time, John has authored or co-authored 17 books. His most recent explores the work of leading social and environmental entrepreneurs. Co-authored with Pamela Hartigan, Director of the The Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, The Power of Unreasonable People: How Social Entrepreneurs Create Markets That Change the World, was published by Harvard Business School Press on 5 February 2008.

John’s previous books include 1988’s million-selling Green Consumer Guide and Cannibals with Forks: The Triple Bottom Line of 21st Century Business (1997). He has also written hundreds of articles for newspapers, magazines and journal and has written or co-written some 40 published reports.

In terms of other hats, John is a Visiting Professor at the Doughty Centre for Corporate Responsibility at the Cranfield School of Management. He chairs The Environment Foundation and the Aflatoun Impact and Policy Analysis Steering Group and is an Honorary Fellow of The Hub and also the Institute of Green Professionals.
John is also a member of strategic advisory boards for, among others: 2degrees Venture Partners; the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes; EcoVadis; Gaia Energy; the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Greenopolis.com; Instituto Ethos; Physic Ventures; Polecat UK and a Cleantech Fund developed by Zouk Ventures.
John is also a Senior Advisor to the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, a member of the WWF Council of Ambassadors, a member of the Evian Group Brain Trust and Council of Global Thought Leaders, the Global Leaders Academy; the Sea Change Advisory Board. John has recently joined the newly formed Cleantech Group LLC’s Cleantech Innovation Council. John was a Faculty member of the World Economic Forum from 2002-2008.
Source: www.volans.com, www.sustainabilty.com and www.johnelkington.com