There is no precedent to rely on in the world of sustainability. The key to success is not in relying on the past, but in anticipating and responding to future trends. I’ve been fortunate to have the opportunity to collaborate with smart, tireless people who shared a similar hunch and the same passion for motivating change. Following are our combined predictions for 2010:



The Trickle-Down Effect



Sustainability shows no signs of decelerating this year. Instead, green business practices will infiltrate an even broader segment of the market. Big companies (and not just Walmart) wield a big stick and are starting to pull their suppliers, vendors and partners along. No longer just a hot-button issue for the Fortune 500, sustainability will trickle down to smaller businesses, particularly mid-sized companies.



Those companies are at somewhat of a disadvantage, because the world of sustainability is much more dense and sprawling than when the early corporate adopters first blazed the trail.  That complexity can be paralyzing, so progress may be slow. Small to mid-sized companies will need help wading through the clutter to identify programs that make sense for their business and culture.



Sustainability Also Expands in Concentric Circles



In addition to reaching more businesses, a broader employee base at larger companies will start to see evidence of sustainable policies and practices in their daily work life.  Until now, responsibility for environmental stewardship has typically been limited to an executive team or an employee green team. Very few companies have actual departments devoted to sustainability. 



In fact, sustainability has often been the responsibility of one individual, the sustainability director. That person is usually overwhelmed with a global sphere of responsibility and no budget, team, or clear role within the company. He or she is often pulled from another section of the company and may even have to keep their "day job," which results in a lot of late nights and early mornings. Fortunately, companies are starting to figure this out (and I get fewer e-mails from sustainability directors at 4 a.m.!)



Sustainability is an issue that touches every division of a company.



In order to make real progress, environmental goals will need to be included in the personal objectives of employees beyond the sustainability director or green team.



 Fortunately, environmental stewardship can be a powerful recruiting and retention tool, not just a cost – a factor that will grow in importance as the economy improves.



Green Marketing Continues to Evolve Toward the Mainstream



Businesses will also be more likely to engage customers and external stakeholders in sustainability – in both the B2B and B2C realms. Rather than viewing sustainability as simply a compliance or risk management issue, many companies are seeking to integrate sustainability into their product development and marketing efforts. 



Environmental marketing has become increasingly prevalent and that trend will continue to grow this year. A recent Environmental Leader study found that 80 percent of media buyers expect to increase their green marketing spend in 2010.  As one 2010 example, Pepsi opted to forego its annual Super Bowl advertising buy to pursue an online cause marketing campaign.



The Drive for Transparency Results in Increased Corporate Investment



A perfect storm of market forces combined in 2009 to invigorate a renewed focus on corporate transparency. With the Walmart Sustainability survey, mandatory greenhouse gas emissions reporting, and the expansion of both the Global Reporting Initiative and Carbon Disclosure Project, many clients realized that performance could be measured in more ways than just a P & L statement.



Now that more executives get it, we can expect to see a little less talk and a lot more action. Environmentally sophisticated companies are taking a more comprehensive and thorough approach to reporting. That focus will force businesses to invest in the tools and people to aggregate, verify and communicate the data.



Metrics, Metrics, Metrics



Speaking of data-tracking progress is not always easy. Many of our clients resist the rigorous process of identifying key performance indicators or establishing a benchmark, and simply want to move forward with implementing programs. In 2010, more automated tools and internal audit processes will emerge to make data aggregation more seamless, efficient and tolerable.



Information is power. The more companies truly understand their environmental footprint, the more progress we will make as a global community.



Considering the economy, 2009 was a pretty good year for sustainability. But I have a hunch we can do better.



Eliza Clark is a principal at Paydirt, LLC, a sustainability consultancy advising organizations on ways to align environmental and corporate stewardship with key business objectives

By Eliza Clark