299
sustainability and we will continue to use science to help us address future challenges. Currently, systems thinking remains in the margins of scientifi c development, but increasingly this needs to be brought to the fore so that large companies
such as Unilever, as well as governments, are better equipped to make choices that
can drive transformational change. This implies even more intensive cross-disciplinary activity, merging elements from Environmental Sustainability Science,
LCA, Earth Systems Science, Resilience Science and Economics for more holistic
insights and business/policy relevant assessment tools. The emerging developments
in big data, informatics, and the deployment of imaging technologies and information systems to visualize earth systems will facilitate the move towards a more
holistic understanding of environmental impacts and the sustainable management of
Earth’s resources.
Open Access This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution
Noncommercial License, which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in
any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited.
References
Baitz, M., Albrecht, S., Brauner, E., Broadbent, C., Castellan, G., Conrath, P., Fava, J., Finkbeiner,
M., Fischer, M., Fullanai Palmer, P., Krinke, S., Leroy, C., Loebel, O., McKeown, P.,
Mersiowsky, I., Möginger, B., Pfaadt, M., Rebitzer, G., Rother, E., Ruhland, K., Schanssema,
A., & Tikana, L. (2013). LCAs theory and practice: Like ebony and ivory living in perfect
harmony. International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 18 , 5–13.
Barnosky, A. D., Hadly, E. A., Bascompte, J., Berlow, E. L., Brown, J. H., Fortelius, M., Getz,
W. M., Harte, J., Hastings, A., Marquet, P. A., Martinez, N. D., Mooers, A., Roopnarine, P.,
Vermeij, G., Williams, J. W., Gillespie, R., Kitzes, J., Marshall, C., Matzke, N., Mindell, D. P.,
Revilla, E., & Smith, A. B. (2012). Approaching a state shift in Earth’s biosphere. Nature,
486 (7401), 52–58.
Bell, G. (Interview by) (2013a). Doing well by doing good. Strategic Direction , 29 (4), 38–40.
Bell, G. (Interview by) (2013b). Want to change the world? Think differently. Strategic Direction ,
29 (5), 36–39.
Biggs, R., Carpenter, S. R., & Brock, W. A. (2009). Turning back from the brink: Detecting an
impending regime shift in time to avert it. Proceedings of the National academy of Sciences of
the United States of America, 106 , 826–831. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0811729106 .
Böhringer, C., & Jochem, P. E. P. (2007). Measuring the immeasurable – A survey of sustainability
indices. Ecological Economics, 63 , 1–8.
Carpenter, S. R., & Bennett, E. M. (2011). Reconsideration of the planetary boundary for phosphorus. Environmental Research Letters, 6 , 014009. doi: 10.1088/1748-9326/6/1/014009 .
CDP, GHGP, & WWF. (2014, March). Mind the science, mind the gap . Concept Note. Retrieved
January 30, 2015, from http://www.ghgprotocol.org/fi les/ghgp/Concept%20Note%20-%20
MScienceMGap.pdf
Chaplin-Kramer, R., Sharp, R., Mandle, L., Sim, S., Johnson, J., Butnar, I., Milà i Canals, L.,
Eichelberger, B., Ramler, I., Mueller, C., McLachlan, N., Yousefi , A., King, H., & Kareiva, P.
(2015). Spatial patterns of agricultural expansion determine impacts on biodiversity and carbon
storage. Proceedings of the National academy of Sciences of the United States of America,
112 (24), 7402–7407. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1406485112 .
Clift, R., & Wright, L. (2000). Relationships between environmental impacts and added value
along the supply chain. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 65 , 281–295.
15 The Role of Science in Shaping Sustainable Business: Unilever Case Study
sustainability and we will continue to use science to help us address future challenges. Currently, systems thinking remains in the margins of scientifi c development, but increasingly this needs to be brought to the fore so that large companies
such as Unilever, as well as governments, are better equipped to make choices that
can drive transformational change. This implies even more intensive cross-disciplinary activity, merging elements from Environmental Sustainability Science,
LCA, Earth Systems Science, Resilience Science and Economics for more holistic
insights and business/policy relevant assessment tools. The emerging developments
in big data, informatics, and the deployment of imaging technologies and information systems to visualize earth systems will facilitate the move towards a more
holistic understanding of environmental impacts and the sustainable management of
Earth’s resources.
Open Access This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution
Noncommercial License, which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in
any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited.
References
Baitz, M., Albrecht, S., Brauner, E., Broadbent, C., Castellan, G., Conrath, P., Fava, J., Finkbeiner,
M., Fischer, M., Fullanai Palmer, P., Krinke, S., Leroy, C., Loebel, O., McKeown, P.,
Mersiowsky, I., Möginger, B., Pfaadt, M., Rebitzer, G., Rother, E., Ruhland, K., Schanssema,
A., & Tikana, L. (2013). LCAs theory and practice: Like ebony and ivory living in perfect
harmony. International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 18 , 5–13.
Barnosky, A. D., Hadly, E. A., Bascompte, J., Berlow, E. L., Brown, J. H., Fortelius, M., Getz,
W. M., Harte, J., Hastings, A., Marquet, P. A., Martinez, N. D., Mooers, A., Roopnarine, P.,
Vermeij, G., Williams, J. W., Gillespie, R., Kitzes, J., Marshall, C., Matzke, N., Mindell, D. P.,
Revilla, E., & Smith, A. B. (2012). Approaching a state shift in Earth’s biosphere. Nature,
486 (7401), 52–58.
Bell, G. (Interview by) (2013a). Doing well by doing good. Strategic Direction , 29 (4), 38–40.
Bell, G. (Interview by) (2013b). Want to change the world? Think differently. Strategic Direction ,
29 (5), 36–39.
Biggs, R., Carpenter, S. R., & Brock, W. A. (2009). Turning back from the brink: Detecting an
impending regime shift in time to avert it. Proceedings of the National academy of Sciences of
the United States of America, 106 , 826–831. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0811729106 .
Böhringer, C., & Jochem, P. E. P. (2007). Measuring the immeasurable – A survey of sustainability
indices. Ecological Economics, 63 , 1–8.
Carpenter, S. R., & Bennett, E. M. (2011). Reconsideration of the planetary boundary for phosphorus. Environmental Research Letters, 6 , 014009. doi: 10.1088/1748-9326/6/1/014009 .
CDP, GHGP, & WWF. (2014, March). Mind the science, mind the gap . Concept Note. Retrieved
January 30, 2015, from http://www.ghgprotocol.org/fi les/ghgp/Concept%20Note%20-%20
MScienceMGap.pdf
Chaplin-Kramer, R., Sharp, R., Mandle, L., Sim, S., Johnson, J., Butnar, I., Milà i Canals, L.,
Eichelberger, B., Ramler, I., Mueller, C., McLachlan, N., Yousefi , A., King, H., & Kareiva, P.
(2015). Spatial patterns of agricultural expansion determine impacts on biodiversity and carbon
storage. Proceedings of the National academy of Sciences of the United States of America,
112 (24), 7402–7407. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1406485112 .
Clift, R., & Wright, L. (2000). Relationships between environmental impacts and added value
along the supply chain. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 65 , 281–295.
15 The Role of Science in Shaping Sustainable Business: Unilever Case Study