Today’s post is from Tim Albinson, CEO of Aravo and blogmaster of 2Sustain.

Still wondering if sustainability can translate into savings for your company?

If so, then you need to spend a few minutes with “Designed to Matter”, the Procter & Gamble Company’s 2009 Sustainability Overview.

Sustainability is at the core of P&G’s business model, and the report is chock-full of examples of how the company is benefiting from its commitment to social and environmental initiatives. Consider this: since 2002, P&G has reduced (per unit of production) water consumption by 52%, energy usage by 48%, CO2 emissions by 52%, and waste disposal by 53%.

The company is looking specifically at its supply chain, too, and has decided to transition from multi-modal to “intermodal” transportation — a strategy that focuses on boats and trains, rather than trucks and planes. In North America, P&G’s use of intermodal transport has increased 30%, saving 11 million liters of diesel fuel and reducing overall miles by 12% since F07-08 — all while delivering the same volume of product.

I could go on, but I think you get the idea. P&G uses sustainability to reduce the environmental footprint of its products and operations, to make a meaningful difference in the lives of its employees, customers, and external partners — and to build long-term capabilities, improve its operations, and create significant savings.

Of course, a quick search will uncover leaders in every sector that are also reporting savings from their sustainability efforts Walmart, Coca-Cola, Ascent Healthcare Solutions, Marriott, Timberland, just to name a few. In fact, a new report from Siemens and McGraw-Hill Construction shows that, even during the worst recession in 60 years, corporations across the U.S. continued to accelerate sustainability efforts and increase efficiencies as part of their overall business plans.

Research like this confirms what I have been seeing for quite some time now: leaders of the world’s largest and most influential organizations are firmly committed to sustainability as a strategic imperative. Why? Because these leaders understand that sustainability is consistent with their profit missions.

As David Bent says, when it comes to sustainability, “the more you look, the more you find”. Social and environmental initiatives offer tremendous opportunities for business benefits. Start looking, and you’ll find — just as P&G and others have — that sustainability can easily translate into innovation, competitive advantage, efficiencies and savings.

Thanks, Tim.

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