Synergies and Best Practices of Corporate Partnerships for Sustainability

Sustainability requires that problems be solved in a whole systems context. Corporations are increasingly finding that local/regional/state level partnerships provide whole systems solutions and unexpected benefits. Partnerships generally support four sustainability strategies: (1) Environmental Restoration of natural capital; (2) Community Development of human and social capital; (3) Regulatory/Standards Development; and (4) Learning Communities. Partnerships tend to become forms of learning communities if the efforts move beyond the corporate environmental staff. The partnerships consistently lead to unexpected benefits, whether it be international sales leads from a totally locally-focused network, innovative practices such as home ownership support programs, or analysis tools leading to cooperative solutions for contentious issues. Corporations are consistently pleased with results of partnerships. Best practices include utilization of self-organizing whole systems approaches, transparency, and business-sector leadership. Specific partnership stories of Steelcase Inc., Wacker Siltronic, Stonyfield Farm, Starbucks, BC Hydro and Suncor are described.