I was delighted to see that environmental concern has even reached that Mecca of consumerism The Rockefeller Centre in NYC. Apparently the Christmas tree last year broke with tradition and was adorned with environmentally ‘friendly’ LED lights! Clearly, the tide of sustainable business is sweeping through the most surprising places.

To kick off my predictions for 2008 I turn to the most conservative of global organisations to highlight what may lie ahead. Last week Unilever unveiled its Environment and Social report focusing on three key areas for the future:

1. The social impact of its foods and home and personal care products, principally on people’s health through nutrition and hygiene, eg:

∑      Over 17,000 food products have been reviewed through a Nutrition Enhancement Programme, resulting in individual action plans to improve foods’ nutritional profiles, where possible, by reducing fats, sugar and salt.

∑      Over 18,000 villages have been reached by Lifebuoy soap’s health education campaign. Targeting 200 million people in India, the five-year campaign aims to improve awareness of basic hygiene by showing how simple steps such as handwashing with soap can counter the spread of disease.

2. Unilever’s work to minimise its environmental footprint and to secure sustainable supplies of key raw materials, eg:

∑      All eco-efficiency targets were exceeded in 2005. The company was listed in the Carbon Disclosure Project’s Climate Leadership Index and remained food industry leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes.

∑      Its Sustainable Agriculture Programme was extended to cover more crops, and Unilever continues to chair the multi-stakeholder Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil to encourage sustainable production across the industry.

3. How Unilever’s operations create wealth and how this benefits local communities and other stakeholders, eg:

∑      Innovative research with Oxfam studied the impacts of business on poverty reduction. Findings showed that around 300,000 people in Indonesia make their livelihoods in Unilever’s value chain, more than 40 times the number directly employed. New research with business school INSEAD will develop an economic impact assessment model for trial in our African business.

∑      A pledge of $1million to the Investment Climate Facility, a new public-private partnership to promote business-led economic activity in Africa.

Source: CSRWire

Not to be outdone P&G in the UK have also made some significant pledges to tackle their own environmental impact whilst driving new revenue and profit opportunities. Additionally, they have launched the Future Friendly initiative backed by Energy Savings Trust, Waste Watch, Water-Wise & Global Cool. It aims to inform the consumer that products bearing the logo will help them in their efforts to minimise water, save energy and reduce waste.

Clearly there are question marks around how two companies, at the forefront of global consumerism, and which are still producing detergents, four blade razors and disposable nappies can be truly sustainable. However, what it demonstrates is that sustainability is high on the agenda in boardrooms around the world and will be in full focus for 2008.

There are many trends that are evolving however there are a few things worth looking out for over the next year which will support sustainability.

The first is the rise of ‘local choice’, particularly in food. Food, as part of health and wellbeing, has never been more top of mind. Food security as a result of drought, flood and nutrient impoverished soils in Australia has also ensured that we are all taking much more notice of where our food comes from.

This trend is brought to life by the 100 Mile Café in Melbourne which claims that 98% of its menu is sourced within 100 miles of the restaurant. It has a great future judging by my suki yaki (slices of scotch fillet, spinach rolled in wombok, silken tofu, shitake and enoki mushrooms in a soy, sake and mirin dashi, served with rice) which had an average of only 67.2 food miles and tasted amazing (nb. I am not on the 100 Mile payroll).

Another trend to look out for will be attempts to limit the ballooning waste from take away food and drink. The amount of resources used and waste generated by something as simple as a cup of coffee or imported bottled water is going to be challenged by the advent of people ‘bringing their own’ cup. A hot (and/or cool) brand to consider buying shares in next year will be Sigg, world leaders in thermally insulated stainless steel bottles and cups.

‘Share it, don’t own it’ is a trend with huge potential. As people attempt to reduce their consumption, they realise that there are many products and services that can be borrowed, loaned or ‘bought in’ when required. Which makes much more sense than buying something that gets one use (at Christmas) and ends up gathering dust in the shed for the rest of the year. One Free Bike, FlexiCar and a concept called ‘Fractional Ownership’ are worth looking at as an example of this trend.

Finally we all know that ‘craft’ is cool again. We are seeing increasing numbers of under thirty year olds knitting and crocheting in cafes and on public transport. Friends of mine are holding ‘Crafternoons’ where people get together to fix and sew clothes, through to launching ‘Nanna-technology’ companies, where the tricks of the trade of our Nannas are being re-introduced to the 21st Century.

Appropriately for this festive time of year I will finish on a crafty idea that has spread from America and is making an appearance on numerous blogs, websites and amongst an increasing number of families. The Handmade Pledge found at www.buyhandmade.org is one very real way in which you can reduce your environmental impact whilst supporting local business when buying presents this year.