As emerging markets increasingly account for significant portions of global purchasing power, all businesses that aim to be successful globally will be faced with the decision of how to engage the swell of newly consuming masses. These markets present unique “contextual gaps” – political, social, and environmental – and in order for companies sustain their presence in these new market segments they will need to adjust product suites and marketing and distribution strategies, and re-evaluate their role in ensuring growth in the developing world.
To this end, multinationals are increasingly developing strategies that integrate core business objectives with ways to sustain, invest in, and nurture the very markets they look to for their own growth. Unlike pure philanthropy or charity‐driven Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), sustainable and inclusive business harnesses the power of the private sector to address gaps and inefficiencies as a natural extension of core business – creating stronger communities and future customers in the process.
We define sustainable and inclusive business activities as: commercially viable and scalable activities that further a company’s competitiveness and overall strategic objectives while:
- Benefiting low-income or other traditionally disadvantaged communities by including them in the company’s value chain as customers and/or as suppliers, partners, or employees
- Developing approaches that sustain natural resource supplies and the environment
- Helping fill institutional/contextual gaps in support of the first two items
November 2016 “Unconference” : Where Everyone is a Speaker
November 16, 2016
Boston, MA
The innovative “unconference” continued the tradition of the Inclusion, Inc. Forum, The Inclusive City, and Extreme Inclusion through a collaborative, proactive environment where participants could roll up their sleeves and turn ideas into action. This year’s forums also coincided with the launch of IBGC’s latest research report, offering fresh thinking on how businesses can play a leadership role in realizing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
New Research: Based on in‐depth discussions and research involving more than 20 global companies spanning a broad range of industries, The Inclusive Innovators: 10 Questions | 20 Business Leaders | 17 Sustainable Development Goals applies the strategies, lessons, and insights from these companies to identify ways in which businesses can leverage the SDGs to join sustainable business with sustainable development.
The Inclusive Innovators
The Inclusive Innovators
November 2016
Download our First Two Reports:
Inclusion, Inc.
September 2015
Growth for Good or Good for Growth:
How Sustainable and Inclusive Activities are Changing Business and Why Companies Aren’t Changing Enough
Read the Report Online
Download the PDF
Researched/written alongside our partners, the Citi Foundation & the Monitor Institute