Arial
Times New RomanL.
Hunter Lovins,
Esq.Times New Roman, is
known worldwide as the co-founder of the Rocky Mountain Institute
(RMI) and co-creator of the concept of Natural Capitalism. In 1982 she
created RMI with Amory Lovins and proceeded to lead that organization
as its CEO for Strategy for 20 years. Under her leadership, RMI grew
intoan internationally recognized research center, widely celebrated
for its innovative thinking in energy and resource issues. Arial
Times New Roman
Times New RomanUpon her departure from RMI
in June of 2002, Hunter joined with partners to found the Natural
Capitalism Group (NCG: www.natcapgroup.org), a non-profit
organizationdedicated to disseminating the principles of Natural
Capitalism around the world. First outlined in the book
Natural Capitalism (by Hunter Lovins, Amory Lovins,
and Paul Hawken), these principles demonstrate how it is possible for
businesses to increase profitability and competitive advantage by
behaving responsibly towards both nature and people.
Times New RomanDescription
of Keynote Address, Friday evening, May 23.
Times New RomanNatural Capitalism:
Protecting the Environment at a Profit
Times New Roman
Times New RomanNatural Capitalism is a
whole-systems approach to doing business that enables companies to
increase profitability and competitive advantage by behaving
responsibly towards both nature and people. The approach consists of
four primary principles:
Times New Roman
1. Times New RomanRadically
increase resource
efficiencyTimes New Roman. Through
fundamental changes in production design and technology, it is
possible to make natural resources stretch 5 to 10 times further than
before, and even more.
2. Times New RomanShift to
biologically inspired production
modelsTimes New Roman. The
benign productive processes of living things can guide industrial
innovation and teach us how to close production loops, thus
eliminating waste and toxics.
3. Times New RomanInvest
in restorative
practicesTimes New Roman. Any
good capitalist reinvests in productive capital. Businesses are
finding an exciting range of new cost-effective ways to restore and
expand the natural capital directly required for operations and
indirectly required to sustain the supply system and customer base.
4. Times New RomanNo net
loss of natural or social
capitalTimes New Roman. To
achieve genuine prosperity and an economy worth sustaining, it is
essential to ensure that neither form of capital is diminished.
Times New Roman
Times New RomanTogether, the principles of
Natural Capitalism provide the foundation for a complete rethinking of
business. They show how, contrary to conventional wisdom, far greater
profits are to be achieved through protecting and enhancing nature,
culture, and community than by harming them.
Arial0000,8080,00003. Tad
Hargrave,Innovator and Social Entrepreneur0000,8080,0000