Yesterday, Oct 10, was a fascinating day: the Live Better Sustainability Summit.  I watched as the majority of Wal-Mart’s merchandising group (100’s of buyers who manage billion dollar portfolios of everything from soap to sports equipment) walked with the senior executives/CEOs of over 250 of the largest consumer products companies in the world.  This would have been momentous by itself, because such a large group of CEOs is rare, but it was even more exciting to see who they were talking with and what they were talking about. 

In a huge conference center, with a packed room that would have made any trade show jealous, there were over 60 of the most influential organizations in sustainability teaching, influencing, and learning about applying sustainability.  I watched as Fisk Johnson conversed with Interface Raise.  I saw one of the Gallo family members speaking with Environmental Defense Fund.  I watched the CEO of a major dairy company getting excited about calculating their carbon footprint with the help of a few consulting companies.

At 1:00 we brought everyone together, and I found a spot standing against the wall because we ran out of chairs in the main conference room which held 750 people (there was also a packed overflow that sat another 600). Here, Lee Scott and the senior leadership of Wal-Mart explained the vision of sustainability as a business opportunity and set expectations.  “Let me be clear, this is not a PR stunt.”  Lee Scott said.  As one of the 4 people living this as their job at Wal-Mart, I can tell you, he is right.

After this main session, we had breakout sessions where folks like Ideo and Biomimicry shared their knowledge and energized the crowd around designing with nature in mind and as a guide. 

And, most exciting of all, walking thru the halls, listening to peoples conversations, we witnessed change.  The leaders of the finest companies in consumer products were making plans for new ideas that will lead to innovative, more sustainable products. In one case I witnessed a CEO calling their executive team to get them mobilized before day’s end around finding the hidden inefficiencies in their products and manufacturing.  It was thrilling to see that what we had hoped for; an inflection point, may have actually occurred yesterday.  Time will tell.