"Sustainability" may have just been another business buzzword in the past, but these days it is front and center in companies’ business plans. As the effects of climate change become more threatening, the mainstreaming of sustainability is a trend that continues to accelerate, with multiple stakeholders – customers, employees, and investors alike – demanding that companies make decisions that account for environmental impact. Add in the new targets being set by governments, and the policies that follow, and the need to "grow green" has clearly never been higher.

You may be facing pressure to "grow green" – but what does that mean? For some companies, growing green means incorporating sustainable practices as they expand their markets, whether by using components that minimize environmental effects or changing their production or supply chain practices to reduce emissions. For others, it means creating products and services that support sustainable practices, whether it’s something as big as an electric vehicle or as small as a bamboo toothbrush.

The session explores how a business can grow following a green approach that addresses business and social needs, so that leaders can identify green growth opportunities among their products and processes. The key is to see what possibilities exist (or will exist) to grow in a way that does not further damage the environment. Our panelists will explore such topics as smart buildings that reduce environmental costs, urban planning that lowers the dependence on fossil fuels, and environmentally-friendly alternatives to existing products, such as renewable energy. Our objective is to help members from all industries identify achievable sustainability goals and plan for how to meet them.