The OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) defined the EGS industry as follows: “The environmental goods and services industry consists of activities which produce goods and services to measure, prevent, limit, minimise or correct environmental damage to water, air and soil, as well as problems related to waste, noise and eco-systems. This includes cleaner technologies, products and services that reduce environmental risk and minimise pollution and resource use (OECD, 1999).”

Most people - in business, the media, politics and activism, as well as individual consumers view green business as a recent phenomenon, something that has suddenly ‘sprung up’, perhaps thanks to Al Gore's movie or other influencers. In fact, this is a so called "overnight sensation" that's been several decades in the making. To fully understand the greening of mainstream business, it's important to understand this trajectory.

Successful sustainability initiatives have become a key component of global firms' brand strength, according to the consultancy behind the annual Best Global Brands Report. Speaking ahead of the September 19 publication of the report's latest edition, Interbrand chief executive in London, Rune Gustafson, said that it was becoming almost impossible for a firm to retain a strong brand without also having a credible sustainability strategy.

‘More environmentally friendly logistics strategies and operations will come - but this will be as a result of consumer pressure and will require collaboration between supply chain partners and a culture of trust.’ This was the key message which emerged from the SCALA Consulting Annual Logistics Debate, "Will environmental issues force logisticians to think the unthinkable?"