Business

Andy Savitz at Greenbiz.com writes this week on six ways companies can advance government policy in favor of sustainability:

Regulating government, by applying pressure to to do the right thing. An example: The demise of apartheid in South Africa when businesses threatened to leave the country over the issue.

Leading government, by helping to frame the debate and be willing to participate in voluntary mechanisms for addressing the crisis.

Partnering with government (and with NGOs), as in the recent example when Wal-Mart met with a number of US mayors recently, including NYC's Mayor Bloomberg and Boston's Mayor Menno to reach an agreement to track the sale of firearms more closely. As Savitz puts it, "Governments now need the active participation and, in many cases, the leadership of private companies to provide even basic goods and services like public safety. Our public agencies are increasingly dwarfed in stature and effectiveness by the world's largest companies."

Forming your own government, through the use of meaningful industry trade organizations that provide regulation and guidance, such as the Sustainable Forestry Initiative by the American Forestry and Paper Association.

Regulate as if you are government: Savitz again points to Wal-Mart: "The behemoth has such enormous purchasing power that almost anything it says has the force and effect of law with its 60,000 suppliers." But companies of any size can work with their supply chain on sustainability issues, creating codes of conduct as part of standard contracts.

Influence the real government, through traditional lobbying, like the US Climate Action Partnership, including members like DuPont and GE, pushing for climate change legislation which will be good for both the planet and business.

Read Andy Savitz's full post here