Sainsburys and Royal Mail will reflect on the full range of clean technologies they have installed, are installing and plan to install in the short, medium and long term. From refrigeration to wind turbines. Rob Wylie will give a wider perspective and reflect on the emerging technologies, the growing maturity of more established technologies, the areas of serious uncertainty (not backing the betamax technologies), what corporations are using, the business cases for installing/deploying these technologies and how they might work better with the technology companies. There are some significant strategic decisions here. And this session will be a perfect warm up for our September session on feed-in tariffs.

This event will ask the critical question of whether our companies and economies can continue to grow without ultimately increasing ecological impacts. It will explore the relationship between our economy's cultural structure and the aims of the sustainability agenda. And explore the limits therein.

A number of businesses have recently announced ambitious plans to cut emissions, but they fall in to two distinct camps. One group are talking about absolute cuts and the others are talking about relative cuts - i.e. the second group are not pledging to cut their emissions at all, they are only agreeing to drive down the intensity at which those emissions are produced.

The question we need to be asking for our Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions is can they be properly de-coupled from growth (the rate at which the services and products sold increases). There are other questions here around the incremental degrees of contentment that further growth brings and questions around the current model that values shareholder value over all else. But the main theme for tonight is: can businesses and economies continue to grow without a rise (and sufficient decrease) in ecological impacts.

Tim, who wrote the fascinating “Prosperity without Growth” and sits on the SDC, will be giving a snapshot of his thoughts on the topic and a feel for the alternative propositions. Santiago, VP, Brand Development at Unilever, will be explaining their view of the consumer business model going forward.

Green Innovation & Disruption: Devising and introducing new sustainable models within established businesses

All commentators agree that the green agenda brings with it a great deal of disruption. And for any well established large corporate it always goes against the grain to change a formula that works. This poses a quandary for all incumbents, who know that their modus operandi will one day be successfully challenged. Do you rip up the rule book, wait and follow or resist.

In this session we are delighted to be hearing from Ian Cheshire (CEO of Kingfisher, who own B&Q and others) on the opportunity he sees for his business and how it will be grasped.

The end game attached to Google's recent forays in to the energy marketplace are not totally clear, but it is clear this is an area that's in for a lot of upheaval. Benjamin Kott will reflect on this work and offer his thoughts on how Google's cultural mindset helps them grasp the new.

Hugo Spowers, an entrepreneur with a big vision around our future personal mobility, will be talking about what is involved in challenging the status quo with all stakeholders.

And Ramon Arratia from Interface will be offering some reflections from their pioneering journey. They are the original corporate re-invention story around the green agenda.

This may seem too big picture, but understanding the way in which you unlock innovative streaks in your business is vital to it surviving and thriving in the face of the sustainability agenda.

Sustainable Supply Chains: Why and how do you improve the sustainability of your supply chain

The green supply chain movement won't stop - April 12th talks

Wal Mart's ambitious announcements earlier this month show the growing trend towards greening the supply chain. Many companies have stressed that they want to see their whole industry drive down emissions (and related environmental impacts), they have acknowledged that they want to "outgreen" the competition. Lee Scott (CEO, Wal Mart) is very clear that he sees this as a key differentiator for his company. And for their suppliers that is already a reality. 

Our panel will explain what is going on: the business case, the complexity of the challenge and how it is set to develop. Paul Kelly will explain Asda's plan to introduce Wal Mart's "Sustainability Index" in the UK. Fiona Page and Paula Widdowson will explain the "supplier" journeys that they have undertaken at Pepsi and Northern Foods respectively. And Paul Dickinson will give his insights on the back of their project to get the suppliers to the world's bigger businesses to measure and disclose their climate impact information.

Pre-Election Special: What role does each party see business playing?

Marketing & Sustainability: A key collaborative relationship in creating long-term and successful sustainable products and services

Marketing + Sustainability = Innovation?
The FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) community have long been the most sophisticated readers of consumer demand. And, as with most consumer aspirations, there is often a disconnect between their stated sustainability intentions and their purchasing habits. However, armed with the correct knowledge, marketing can absorb sustainability principles in their product development cycles – and create sustainable options that perform well at affordable prices. And which people buy in big numbers.

The recent case studies from P&G (e.g. Coldwater) and a number of others show us that when sustainability and marketing functions understand each other they can really innovate – and that there are significant market gains up for grabs. This is a chance for both B2B and B2C to understand the importance of this relationship and innovation. P&G, Mars and Reckitt Benckiser will offer their FMCG experiences, drawing on recent work and Virgin will offer a slightly different perspective. And we will be asking the audience what lessons B2B businesses have to learn here. 

Business Beyond Copenhagen: What Copenhagen means for your business

SMART grids UK: A new world of partnerships and opportunities, and how to make them real

There is a big opportunity with SMART grid plans to make a telling contribution to the climate change agenda through infrastructure optimisation, getting renewables online, and better end-user energy management. However it requires the subtle melding of many different parties who have not historically collaborated and with varying agendas. This event will look at the priorities for business and how those aims might be positively applied to climate targets. It will also consider the range of collaboration that is needed and the range of opportunities that are out there for different organisations.

Copenhagen and your Business