Our History
The world faces three critical challenges: the climate emergency, nature loss and mounting inequality.
WBCSD was established in 1995, as a platform for business to respond to sustainability challenges that were just beginning to break the surface of collective business consciousness.
Almost three decades later, as we reflect on our heritage and achievements, the urgency is clearer than ever. We know that we need to ramp up our efforts to achieve our vision of a world where more than 9 billion people live well, within planetary boundaries, by 2050.
The need for the sustainable transformation of the systems that govern our world is well recognized but also more urgent than ever before.
Guided by our mission to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world and to help make more sustainable businesses more successful, WBCSD and our members have been instrumental in this shift.
The birth of WBCSD
of WBCSD
WBCSD was forged in the fire of leadership and collaboration, two values that continue to define the organization today.
In 1990, Maurice Strong, the Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Environment and Development, appointed Swiss businessman Stephan Schmidheiny to promote sustainable development among global business leaders in preparation for the 1992 Rio Earth Summit.
Schmidheiny enlisted 48 CEOs to form the “Business Council for Sustainable Development” in 1991, providing a confidential forum for open dialogue. Their first major contribution was “Changing Course,” a comprehensive guide on business adaptation for sustainability, published at the Rio Earth Summit.
Following the summit’s success, the members advocated for the continuation of their work, leading to the merger of the BCSD with the World Industry Council for the Environment in 1995, forming the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) based in Geneva.
Shaping and influencing
Influencing
Founded on the principles of leadership and collaboration, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) emerged from visionary beginnings.
In 1990, UNCED Secretary-General Maurice Strong tasked Swiss businessman Stephan Schmidheiny with integrating a business perspective into global sustainability dialogues.
Schmidheiny successfully mobilized 48 CEOs worldwide to advocate for sustainable development, leading to the formation of the “Business Council for Sustainable Development” in 1991. Their landmark publication, “Changing Course,” debuted at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, offering a detailed blueprint for business adaptation to sustainable practices.
Building on the summit’s success, the group, recognizing the ongoing need for a unified business voice in sustainability, merged with the World Industry Council for the Environment in 1995, creating the WBCSD with a Geneva-based secretariat and a commitment to global sustainability leadership.
Our timeline
Eco-efficiency
The term Eco-efficiency was coined after a search to find a phrase that captured the notion of doing more with less while being environmentally sound. It became the term that was used in Changing Course and is still used in the world today.
Changing Course
A 350-page in-depth analysis of how the business community can adapt and contribute to sustainable development. Explore more
Creation of WBCSD
Out of a merge between BCSD and the World Industry Council for the Environment (WICE) on 1 January 1995, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) was formed and it opened its secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland, with 120 members committed to its mission.
Global Scenarios 2000-2050
A range of potential What-if? moments for businesses in a sustainable context. This project crystallized the cross-sectoral approach that is needed to solve sustainability challenges, the approach that characterizes the work of WBCSD today.
Greenhouse Gas Protocol
The first entrée into the area of standardization and accountability, co-developed with the World Resources Institute (WRI) – to help develop internationally accepted standards that help companies conduct their GHG accounting and reporting. Read More
Walking The Talk: The business case for sustainable development
A book co-authored by DuPont CEO Chad Holliday, Stephan Schmidheiny and Philip Watts, Chairman of Royal Dutch Shell Group of Companies. 67 case studies illustrate how WBCSD members wrestled with sustainability challenges in their businesses, as well as showing how some of the commitments made in Changing Course became reality. Explore more
WBCSD Young Managers Team
A program established to inculcate tomorrow’s high-potential senior executives with the principles of sustainability before they reach positions of power. This was the starting block for WBCSD’s acclaimed Future Leaders program, formalized in 2004. Now known as the WBCSD Leadership Program, this executive education program operates in tandem with WBCSD knowledge partners Lancaster University (UK) and Yale University (USA).
Inclusive Business
A term coined by WBCSD to describe expanding access to goods, services and jobs for people at the base of the economic pyramid. This term is now used around the world by leading multinational companies as well as international development organizations and at the G20 political level.
Vision 2050
The cornerstone business plan for a sustainable world. Vision 2050 was compiled by 29 global companies from 14 industries, after 18 months of dialogue with more than 200 companies and external stakeholders across 20 countries.
Business Action for Sustainable Development
A coalition of business groups built ahead of the Rio+20 Conference. It who provided a platform for exchanging policy recommendations, business solutions and partnerships to help advance sustainable development.
Low Carbon Technology Partnerships Initiative (LCTPi)
A unique, action-oriented program that was presented at COP21 in Paris and recognized as the voice of business at that event. LCTPi brings together over 170 companies and 70 partners, to accelerate the development of low-carbon technology solutions.
Natural Capital Protocol
A global framework helping business make better decisions by understanding their impacts and dependencies on natural capital. WBCSD was a key partner in the Natural Capital Coalition, the unique global multi-stakeholder collaboration that developed the Protocol.
The Reporting Exchange
The first comprehensive global resource for sustainability reporting, developed by a core team including WBCSD, the Climate Disclosure Standards Board and EcoDesk, with the support of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.
Factor10
30 leading companies with a combined revenue of USD $1.3 trillion join forces to implement the circular economy.
25th Anniversary - Vision2050 Refresh
Outlines nine transformation pathways for businesses to take in order to address the climate emergency, nature loss, and inequality. Business leaders must adopt a new mindset and collaborate with other stakeholders to achieve the shared vision of a world in which more than 9 billion people are able to live well within planetary boundaries by 2050. Read more