Enterprise-wide solutions for sustainability
Climate action is a business imperative.
The new generation of business leaders recognize that climate investments can fuel sustainable growth, open new markets, and future proof their businesses in ways that benefit people and the planet. Environmental Defense Fund works alongside partners like Amazon, Danone, and Tata Steel to achieve historic environmental wins and transform entire sectors while staying authentic to their missions.
Our climate experts with extensive corporate and finance backgrounds develop pragmatic science, policy, and economics guidance — for resilience and a strategic advantage. We collaborate with business to:
- Transition value chains by providing actionable guidance for companies to cut emissions, protect nature, and strengthen their bottom line.
- Finance a sustainable economy by delivering financial analysis and engagement that empowers entire sectors to navigate uncertainty and build value.
- Amplify innovation by convening a wide range of stakeholders to create and inform new and innovative market-based mechanisms that scale climate solutions.
- Promote policy advocacy by finding common ground among businesses, governments and communities to navigate shifting landscapes.
- Grow a new climate workforce by partnering with industry experts and strategic companies to cultivate and grow new talent while boosting capacity to set and meet climate targets.
When companies leverage these opportunities across their enterprise, the returns are beneficial for all people and the planet.
Our experts are partners for action.
Environmental Defense Fund’s experts call on their deep private sector expertise to inform our approach to applying climate science, economics, policy, justice and equity to address today’s biggest challenges. We pioneer best practices with our industry partners and deploy actionable solutions worldwide. Meet our experts.
AT&T -- the world's largest telecommunications company
EDF's work with AT&T spans many years and categories. Together, we have developed innovative tools and resources to reduce water use and manage water risk, partnered through EDF Climate Corps to accelerate energy efficiency and clean energy solutions, and explored how AT&T products and solutions can help solve the climate crisis.
McDonald's -- a pioneer in sustainable packaging
When EDF and McDonald's teamed up in the late 1990s to tackle Styrofoam packaging and waste, our first-of-its-kind collaboration saved an estimated $60 million in packaging costs, eliminated over 300 million pounds of waste, and most importantly pioneered a new model for private sector--NGO collaboration that has now become a standard practice.
Walmart -- the world's largest retailer
Our decades-long partnership with Walmart is a powerful example of the business and environmental results that corporate-NGO collaborations can deliver. From our initial focus on waste and energy efficiency in Walmart's operations, we have scaled up industry-leading efforts to slash greenhouse gas pollution for the global supply chain, accelerate sustainable agriculture practices, reduce deforestation, and remove millions of pounds of "chemicals of concern" from household and personal care products.
Lyft -- sustainably rideshares and mobility
EDF's Climate Corps fellows are embedded directly into the operations of Lyft, helping them lead the future of ridesharing and sustainable mobility options. Our work with Lyft has focused on achieving carbon neutral operations and meeting climate goals aligned with the Paris agreement.
KKR -- a leading global investment firm
Our work with KKR catalyzed the private equity (PE) industry's first initiative to measure, manage and improve environmental performance across the firm's investment portfolio. The partnership saved $1.2 billion by cutting energy use and waste and created a new model for value creation for the PE sector.