The Dutch Sustainable Growth Coalition (DSGC) has published a new report about sustainable innovation. The first copy, filled with a myriad of practical examples, was presented to Queen Máxima this afternoon. ‘Sustainable Innovation – Game-changing solutions to the world’s grand challenges’ is the third publication released by this Dutch coalition of sustainable companies since its formation early in 2012. 

UN Climate Change Conference in Paris
The presentation of the new DSGC report preceded the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, in December of 2015, by one year. All eyes around the world are on this summit, as the conference is expected to result in the adoption of new sustainable development goals.

‘Their efforts in the field of sustainable innovation offer companies a unique opportunity and responsibility to take action,’ according to the DSGC. These sustainable multinationals share sixteen case studies in this new publication that demonstrate the effects of sustainable innovation in practice. It is their hope that these examples will inspire other businesses around the globe.

Sustainable valley
In the company of over 150 decision-makers from various lines of industry, Her Majesty Queen Máxima officially received the DSGC publication. Speakers at the event, which was hosted by EY in Amsterdam, included Hans de Boer (President of the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers, VNO-NCW), Ton Büchner (CEO of AkzoNobel), and Feike Sijbesma (CEO of DSM). In his speech, Hans de Boer stated that the Netherlands deserves to be known internationally as a ‘sustainable valley’. In his view, the ideas and the spirit of the DSGC will be strongly emphasized in trade missions next year. On the one hand, elegantly innovative products and solutions may bring prosperity to emerging economies, while on the other hand, such a development would promote the Dutch pioneering role in sustainability as well as prosperity in our own country,’ according to De Boer. ‘After all, sustainability depends on business, and business depends on sustainability. To sum it up: the two are inextricably linked,’ as the President of VNO-NCW stated.