While most major businesses today have commitments to sustainable development, there are people who believe that sustainable development calls for trade offs. This school of thought argues that better social and environmental outcomes will be achieved only at the expense of slower economic development and growth, because better social and environmental outcomes inevitably require business to be constrained in some way.

Now, thanks to the work of the Foundation, a clearer picture is starting to emerge.

In October 2004, at a conference in Melbourne, the Foundation showed compelling evidence that business activities designed to contribute to sustainable development also have the potential to deliver better business results. From independent analysis of a portfolio of 60 projects, they showed that the reverse is also true: innovative thinking for business benefits can also deliver significantly improved social and environmental outcomes.

The Foundation's project portfolio covers a broad range. Current areas of activity include:

• Advanced, energy efficient iron making and aluminium smelting technologies.
• Greenhouse gas emissions reduction technology for fossil fuels, and renewable fuel and hydrogen alternatives.
• Integrated water and energy management systems.
• Mining with a smaller footprint, and integrated approaches to mine closure and rehabilitation.
• Enhanced biodiversity in mining environments.
• Investigating regional synergies (co-operatively reducing overall waste heat, waste water, waste solids and emissions in a region).
• Ore treatment technologies aimed at extending reserves while also reducing environmental impact.
• New systems seeking to ensure that resource development contributes to the social and economic sustainability of communities.