Driving Eco-efficiency.

Eco-efficiency can help create competitive advantage, sustainable earnings and superior shareholder value by enhancing at least five value drivers.

* Cost containment and liability reduction. 3M has saved over $750 million through pollution prevention and waste reduction efforts. Dow, Procter & Gamble and Baxter International are three other high-profile examples. Almost by definition, the most eco-efficient companies are also the least exposed to legal and financial liabilities.

* Sales and market share growth. DuPont, Monsanto, Interface and others produce top-line revenue growth with new products and services predicated on environmental out-performance.

* Franchise and brand value. Major corporations remain dependent on their "social license to do business," a license that can be revoked summarily over perceived environmental transgressions. The Brent Spar North Sea oil platform incident, for example, cost Royal Dutch/Shell fully 30 percent of its market share in Germany within one month.

* Stakeholder satisfaction. Key stakeholders can all be positively influenced by a green track record. Senior executives at companies as diverse as Intel, Georgia Pacific and...