Sustainability Growth today relates to the business’ ability to
successfully meet customer needs while reducing the overall impact on the
environment. The business concept of sustainability is evolving from one of
reducing waste and emissions from a company's own operation to one of
delivering solutions that help reduce the impacts throughout the life cycle
of a product. Increasingly stakeholders like investors, regulators, local
communities, and employees are looking to business as the sector that can
deliver the solutions needed by society to deal with major societal issues
like global climate change, and water quality and availability. While
business can not do it alone, innovation from the business community is a
critical element of making sustainability a reality. This address will
explore the trend of Sustainability moving from just a "do less bad" model
to one of "helping do more good".
DAWN RITTENHOUSE
Dawn is Director, Sustainable Development for the DuPont Company.
Dawn joined DuPont in 1980 and has held positions in Technical Service,
Sales, Marketing, and Product Management within the Packaging and
Industrial Polymers business and Crop Protection businesses. In late
1997, she began working in the corporate organization to assist DuPont
businesses in integrating sustainability strategies into their strategy
and business management processes. She leads DuPont’s efforts at the
World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the
United Nations Global Compact. She also manages the corporate
recognition program for Sustainable Growth Excellence. In 2007 she also
picked up responsibility for DuPont’s efforts on climate change.
In 2001 and 2002 Dawn served a co-chair of the Global Environmental
Management Initiative (GEMI) working group that developed the SD
Planner. She has also co-chaired the WBCSD working groups on Innovation
and Technology and Sustainability through the Market.
Dawn has a double major in Chemistry and Economics from Duke University.
Dawn and her two children live in Wilmington, Delaware. When she is not
being a taxi service to school, the stables and soccer activities, she
loves to run.
