The Allianz Group has been active in the microinsurance industry since 2005, when the South-East Asian tsunami devastated communities and left many families homeless. The company realized that the risks faced by the poor are much the same as those for others, but without insurance, the financial impact of disasters such as the tsunami is obviously greater. From a business point of view, this is a significant opportunity: microinsurance in emerging economies represents a market of great potential growth and profitability, as insurance markets in many rich countries become saturated and growth prospects limited. On a global scale, Allianz aims to reach 3 million clients with microinsurance products by the end of 2009.

Coca-Cola’s innovative approach to distribution is proving to be both good for the company and good for development as demonstrated in a recent report published by the company along with the CSR Initiative at the Harvard Kennedy School and the International Finance Corporation. According to the study, the company has, to date, created over 2,500 manual distribution centers (MDCs) in Africa, generating over 12,000 jobs and more than US$ 500 million in annual revenues.

This case study, part of the WBCSD's Mobility for Development project, investigates the mobility situation in the Brazilian city of São Paulo. It highlights the dramatic shift in patterns of mobility over the last 40 years and looks at ways to better integrate different transport modes and thereby reduce heavy congestion on the city's roads.

Funded by Vodafone as part of a series of studies on the socio-economic impact of mobile phones, the report, “India: The impact of mobile phones”, demonstrates that mobiles aid the process by which disadvantaged groups, including the low-skilled labor force, enjoy the fruits of economic growth.

Asiana Airlines, a member of the Korean BCSD, recognizes the importance of preventing global warming as a part of its corporate social responsibility and makes companywide efforts to do so by saving energy and reducing aircraft emissions. By combining all of its efforts, Asiana Airlines reduced emissions by 220,000 tons in 2007.

ArcelorMittal recognizes that its social and environmental responsibilities extend beyond its own operations. How suppliers behave reflects on the company, and ArcelorMittal can exert a positive influence on their performance. ArcelorMittal's supply chain is large and complex. Enforcing high and consistent standards of corporate responsibility in these circumstances is a tough challenge, but ArcelorMittal has made that commitment, and is working to achieve it.

CEMEX has been working on habitat restoration models since 1995 as part of its Santa Maria conservation project in the northern region of Mexico. So far CEMEX’s efforts have restored more than 4,000 hectares degraded by overgrazing and poor farming practices. This has brought back biodiversity through natural vegetation, wildlife and water resources. It has also brought economic benefi ts, allowing landowners to have access to new opportunities to use the land in a sustainable way.

Some 55% of South Africa’s wetlands have been lost due to poorly managed agriculture and commercial forestry, mining, urban development, pollution, dam building, erosion and fire. Given that around 6 million South Africans lack piped drinking water, they rely on streams and other natural bodies of water, which wetlands often help to purify and protect.

Upon privatization of South Africa 's extensive timber plantations, Mondi bid for plantations on the western shores of Lake St Lucia. Water (wetland ecosystems) and “sense of place” were the key issues affecting the area's usage. Mondi came together with the relevant authorities to define a new eco-boundary that recognizes the importance and functionality of the extensive wetland systems for Lake St Lucia.

Conservation agriculture is providing the solution to soil erosion that threatened the future of one of Europe's most important wildfowl wetlands, in Spain 's Doñana National Park . More than 3,000 farmers have been involved in a three-year project to tackle soil contamination of the wetlands from olive groves and intensively cultivated farmland. Weed cover is being used to protect soil structure. The project has transformed traditional agriculture into soil conservation agriculture enabled with Syngenta weed management technology. It improves Syngenta's market position and has displayed Syngenta's commitment to the environment, sustainable agriculture and to its customers.