Strong competitive pressure and a dynamic market mean multinational companies in China must innovate with extraordinary pace. Environmental sustainability is a key driver for the best companies. This book shows how major household names have transformed their practices, and the impact this is having on business in China and beyond.

Introduction: The context of doing business in China

1 Responsible Tourism: Fairmont Hotels

2 Learning to Be Sustainable: Hewlett-Packard

3 Sourcing Strategy in China: Nestlé

4 Sustainable Practice in China: SKF

5 On the ‘Road to Zero’: Son

y6 One Step Ahead: Tetra Pak

7 Sustainable Supply Chain Strategy: Vanke8 Towards Sustainable Mobility: Volvo

9 Sustainable Value Chain Strategy: YingliConclusion: Key lessons for business and for sustainability champions

'...practical and compelling ... The book’s blend of practical storytelling and evidence-based analysis should inspire and provide a rich source of lessons for students, managers and policy-makers seeking to enhance the role of business in society, in China and internationally.' Dr Simon Zadek, Distinguished Fellow, Academy of Business in Society, Visiting Scholar, Tsinghua School of Economics and Management, Non-resident Senior Fellow, Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China, and Co-Director, UNEP Inquiry into the Design of a Sustainable Financial System 'This book and its cases provide good examples of the argument for the importance of networks and business leadership as key ingredients in the pathway to sustainable enterprise.' Steve Waddell, Principal, NetworkingAction 'This important book shows that some important shifts are happening … leading companies are becoming rapidly aware of this. This book shows some great examples and case studies … is China showing us the way forward?' Jan van Betten, Founder of Nudge.nl and former CEO Reed Elsevier, Germany 'Illuminates the twin topics of sustainable leadership and leadership of sustainability with up-to-the-moment examples.' Max Landsberg, Senior Partner, Korn Ferry In the face of strong competitive pressure and a dynamic market, multinational companies in China are forced to innovate with extraordinary pace and inventiveness. Environmental sustainability is a vital benchmark, and is a key driver for the best companies in each sector – many of them allied with the WWF Climate Savers programme. Sustainable Champions shows how nine leading multinational companies - including Nestlé, HP, TetraPak and Sony - are dealing with environmental, supply chain and ethical challenges in China. The book illuminates some of their transformative practices, and the impact this is having on business in China and beyond. The concluding cross-case analysis of supply chain and environmental challenges faced by leading international firms presents key lessons for business and for sustainability champions. Sustainable Champions: How International Companies are Changing the Face of Business in China is essential reading for researchers and course leaders seeking on-the-ground examples of local environmental challenges, and any company doing business in one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. With a Foreword by Simon Zadek, Distinguished Fellow, Academy of Business in Society, Visiting Scholar, Tsinghua School of Economics and Management.

[Provides] a rich and fresh testimonial from a diverse group of multinational companies; each of them operating in different sectors, embedded in different corporate cultures, facing different challenges, but all joined by the quest for sustainability in one of the most dynamic, vibrant and unique markets: China.

[Provides] a rich and fresh testimonial from a diverse group of multinational companies; each of them operating in different sectors, embedded in different corporate cultures, facing different challenges, but all joined by the quest for sustainability in one of the most dynamic, vibrant and unique markets: China. -- Alberto Carrillo Pineda, Head of Climate Business Engagement, WWF International 'This book and its cases provide good examples of the argument for the importance of networks and business leadership as key ingredients in the pathway to sustainable enterprise.' -- Steve Waddell, Principal, NetworkingAction 'It is timely that the role of multinationals in this context is explored and better understood. The leadership experiences set out in such practical and compelling fashion in this book illuminate this role, highlighting how practice has been shaped by a combination of international and domestic drivers, together with personal leadership and determined managerial actions. The book's blend of practical storytelling and evidence-based analysis should inspire and provide a rich source of lessons for students and managers and also policy-makers seeking to enhance the role of business in society, in China and internationally.' -- Dr Simon Zadek, Distinguished Fellow, Academy of Business in Society, Visiting Scholar, Tsinghua School of Economics and Management 'This important book shows that some important shifts are happening: consumers, civilians and bottom up movements will define the future of brands. The days of marketeers or PR people are gone. As a company you have to do earn your license to operate by behaving truly responsibly. And in order to get there, new leadership is needed. The good news is that leading companies are becoming rapidly aware of this. This book shows some great examples and case studies in a land that is nowhere near the country is was twenty years ago. Is China showing us the way forward?' -- Jan van Betten, Founder of Nudge.nl, a platform for bottom-up change, and former CEO Reed Elsevier, Germany 'Illuminates the twin topics of sustainable leadership and leadership of sustainability with up-to-the-moment examples.' -- Max Landsberg, Senior Partner, Korn Ferry