What are leading researchers from diverse fields such as law, politics, sociology and business discovering about corporate sustainability? To find out, a coalition of schools and institutions from leading universities has formed the Alliance for Research on Corporate Sustainability (ARCS), which will be housed at the Darden School of Business. The alliance’s mission is to serve as a powerful vehicle for advancing rigorous academic research on corporate sustainability, which means creating viable businesses that protect the natural environment while ensuring the future development of the economy and society.
Founding ARCS members include Darden, Dartmouth College’s Tuck School of Business, Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment, Harvard University’s Center for the Environment, the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business and the University of Western Ontario’s Richard Ivey School of Business.
“Solutions to our most pressing environmental problems will require the proactive engagement and leadership of the business sector,” said Darden Professor Michael Lenox, Faculty Director of ARCS and the Executive Director of Darden’s Batten Institute. “Our members’ research will develop greater understanding of the opportunities and limits of public policies and business strategies to create sustainable businesses.”
ARCS will link academic researchers from a wide array of fields who are investigating corporate sustainability issues from different angles. The organization will provide them with resources to aid their research and will sponsor an annual conference to bring them together to discuss their work.
“Darden has chosen to become a founding member of ARCS, as well as to host ARCS on our campus, because we believe that business and academic institutions need to find the balance between economic viability and sustainability,” said Darden Dean Bob Bruner. “Our environmental challenges open up opportunities for innovative and entrepreneurial leadership from the business sector that has the potential to create value for both corporations and society.”
The first annual ARCS Conference was hosted by the Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise at the University of Michigan from May 7-9, 2009. In the fall, ARCS will co-sponsor a sustainability academy for doctoral students at the Richard Ivey School of Business from October 22-27, 2009.
On ARCS’s website (www.corporate-sustainability.org), registered researchers from around the world will be able to connect to learn how corporate sustainability is being addressed globally and what’s working in the push to go “green.”
Projects under development include a downloadable database on corporate environmental performance metrics, a searchable database of research articles on corporate sustainability, as well as research news, blogs and video interviews with leading scholars. ARCS is also home to MapEcos.org, a web tool offering detailed, facility-level data on environmental performance and management.
“There is a real need for teaching materials and research to educate future business leaders on how they can balance environmental, social and economic factors into decision-making when leading an organization,” said Erika Herz, Managing Director of ARCS and Darden’s Manager of Sustainability Programs.
To learn more, watch the video: Professor Michael Lenox and Erika Herz describe ARCS’ goals on Darden’s YouTube Channel.
Founded in 1955, the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business improves society by developing principled leaders in the world of practical affairs.
For additional information, contact communication@darden.virginia.edu.