We focus on the sectors and issues we believe are critical to the change we need now.  That’s why Forum for the Future is working with some of the worlds’ largest retailers, with key financial institutions, with travel and tourism providers and the organisations that build and run the cities we live in.

We seek to transform them by applying our expertise in futures thinking, innovation, leadership and communications.

We believe we can have the biggest influence by working with sector leaders: organisations which have relationships with hundreds of suppliers and millions of customers. By helping them become advocates for sustainable living, we seek to make a better life for all.

Bringing the future into strategy

Long-term thinking is vital if we are to plan decisively for a sustainable economy, but most organisations struggle to take a long view when faced with short-term pressures. We use visions and scenario planning to help organisations understand the range of threats and opportunities ahead and use that understanding to shape today’s strategy.

In 2008 we published Climate Futures, a study commissioned by HP Labs, which analysed the political, economic, social and psychological impacts of climate change. It has earned a global reputation and led to similar studies in 2009 on the future of healthcare, tourism, fashion and low-income countries.

Read more about our futures work

Innovating products and services

To survive and prosper in the 21st century we will need new ways to live, work, produce and consume. Both businesses and public sector organisations will need to master sustainable innovation to compete and succeed in the new economy. Our innovation experts help companies design new ways of doing more with less.

We worked with AkzoNobel and Carillion to study the environmental impacts of paint and paint systems over its entire lifecycle. The project has allowed Dulux to reduce the carbon footprint of some of its mainline paints by 30% and created money-saving innovations in manufacture, packaging and waste disposal. We are sharing the learning we developed on this project to help other organisations understand how to design sustainability into their products and services.

Read more about our innovation work

Building strategic leadership

We work with companies and individuals to show them how they can be more successful by becoming leaders on sustainability.  We’ve helped Balfour Beatty, Guardian Media Group, O2 and others understand how they can profit from sustainability, and then implement successful change strategies. We want to show that sustainable organisations can be more successful and we do this by sharing persuasive examples.

We work with leaders to help them understand what the future may hold and how to drive change through their organisations.  We’re providing tailored leadership development programmes for organisations including Shell, InterfaceFlor and the UK National Health Service.  And there are more than 130 graduates of our Masters in Leadership for Sustainable Development, many now holding senior positions in blue chip companies and government.

Read more about our work on business strategy and leadership

CommunicationsOur communications set out bring to life the urgency of the challenges facing us and the opportunities waiting for those with the vision and energy to seize them. We want to capture the imagination of leaders and entrepreneurs around the globe, show them that a sustainable way of life is possible and give them the information they need to transform businesses and public services.

We advise our partners on how to talk to their customers and stakeholders about their environmental ambitions, and how to develop compelling market propositions. Our own communications lead the debate on how we can secure a prosperous, low-carbon future. Green Futures, our award-winning magazine, has been quoted by Tony Blair and reaches politicians, business leaders, campaigners and a growing international audience online.

Read more about our communications