Studies present business case

Examples of emerging market businesses that have gained a commercial advantage by taking account of their social and environmental impacts have been collected by the private sector arm of the World Bank.

The International Finance Corporation has published the case studies in a new compilation, Market Movers, in conjunction with the SustainAbility consultancy. Among them is a case study of the Chinese company Deqingyuan, which went out on a limb to introduce animal welfare standards for its chickens, clear labelling of eggs and environmental measures on its farms. When bird flu then hit the Far East, consumers switched to Deqingyuan eggs in huge numbers, doubling profits and allowing the firm to expand its infrastructure six fold in one year.

Also featured are:
 MAS Holdings, a Sri Lankan apparel manufacturer that increased the retention of its mostly female employees by offering them better benefits – and as a direct result won contracts with some of the world’s leading retailers.
Amanco, a Latin American water pipe manufacturer that decided to design a cheap line of piping to market to poorer people in Guatemala – and has generated more than $4million (£2m) in sales as a result.