Forum for the Future has established itself as a leader in thought and action. We have changed hearts and minds in business and been instrumental in changing the way leading companies and sectors operate.

We have helped government, cities and public service providers understand how to develop sustainable public services which offer a better life to the people they serve.

Here are a few of the things we’ve achieved.

Greening Retail With the weekly shop making up 45% of the average household’s carbon emissions, it’s vital that retailers and FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) brands help their customers live greener lives.  We’ve been working with major retailers since 1996. Tesco announced its £500 million package of green measures at our 'Green Grocer' event in 2006. In 2008 we helped Cadbury develop its Purple Goes Green initiative, which pledged bold cuts in carbon, waste and water, and made it the first branded manufacturer to commit to absolute reduction targets.  And we helped Marks & Spencer develop 'Plan A', widely quoted as the benchmark for comprehensive consumer sustainability campaigns.

Holidays that don’t cost the earthOur Tourism 2023 project brings together some of the world’s biggest tourism organisations, including British Airways, TUI Travel and Thomas Cook, to help them understand the future of the industry, manage risk and find new opportunities.  Our challenging scenarios helped the founding partners focus on the sustainable future they want to achieve, and they have pledged to create a profitable industry that benefits communities in tourist destinations and enhances the environment.

Sustainable London and the Green Olympics We’ve been working in London for more than a decade. We founded the London Sustainability Exchange with the City of London Corporation back in 2000 and launched it as an independent NGO in 2008 with a portfolio of groundbreaking climate change awareness work with London’s black and minority ethnic communities. We are now working with Olympic Sustainability Partners BP, BT, Cisco, EDF and General Electric to make the London 2012 games the greenest ever.

Procurement excellence Public organisations spend £160 million a year in the UK alone, so they can make a huge impact by buying sustainable products and services. Our Buying a Better World toolkit on sustainable procurement is used by the United Nations and several global corporations, and is recommended by the UK’s Audit Commission and the UK National Health Service.

Fit for the future The UK National Health Service, which has Europe’s largest public sector carbon footprint, asked us to explore how climate change might affect healthcare. Our Fit for the Future project presents four scenarios to guide strategy and makes recommendations on how to create a more efficient, low-carbon system that delivers better public health. The study holds important messages for public and private healthcare providers globally, and the NHS is rolling out its findings to every hospital and Care Trust in England.

Investing in the environment The UK government asked us to research the role that new financial mechanisms can play in advancing sustainability. Our Forest Investment Review showed how public money can stimulate private sector investment to preserve rainforests. We are also advising on how carbon offsetting can be developed to benefit the poor in developing countries.

Click here for details of some of the projects we were most proud of in 2008