This part of the site presents strategies that businesses can adopt, and specific tools that they can use, to turn the principles of sustainable development into a competitive advantage.

It has been divided into four categories:

1. Guiding principles: broad-brush strategies and approaches;

2. Business tools: measures for making products and services, and the processes that deliver them, more sustainable.

3. Systems and standards: management systems designed to promote sustainable business, and certification schemes against which they can be benchmarked;

4. 'Business Strategies for Sustainable Development': a report written by IISD in conjunction with Deloitte & Touche and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

Many of the options outlined here are overlapping and mutually reinforcing. For instance the CERES principles have much in common with the ICC Business Charter, while environmentally-conscious manufacturing encompasses several other key disciplines such as eco-efficiency, pollution prevention and waste minimization. For this reason, a company may choose to adopt several ideas that are best suited for its needs.

Use the menu on the left to find out more.