A report of global sustainable development model companies in the emerging markets was released on Sept 15 at the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2011, which is also known as Summer Davos in Dalian.

The report, entitled Redefining the Future growth: the New Sustainability Champions, is the result of an international project jointly launched by the World Economic Forum and Boston Consulting Group last year.

Taking into account criteria including sustainability, innovation, geography and size, researchers looked into around 11 million companies based in the emerging markets such as China, India and Brazil, analyzed more than 1,000 of them, and found 16 exemplary companies as the New Sustainability Champions.

The report aims to provide insights that can help business leaders better balance economic growth with responsible management of natural resources.

"The New Sustainability Champions are more than just symbols," said Knut Haanaes, the managing director of Boston Consulting Group. Their overall performance matters because "three quarters of the growth we will see globally during the next 10 years will be in the emerging markets, and these markets will have huge resource constraints".

The champions, including Dalian Zhangzidao Fishery Group in China, Equity Bank in Kenya and Shree Cement Ltd in India, are believed to have "new approaches, not only for doing business in resource-constrained and population-stressed environments, but more importantly for shaping a positive vision for future growth", the report has noted.

He suggested that other companies can learn experiences from the champions on how to improve their competitiveness by combining social value into their business operations.

"We are one of the most profitable cement companies, and we converted profits into prosperity by adding happiness and sustainability in the whole process," said Prashant Bangur, executive joint president of Shree Cement.

"The effort of sustainability can take care of any challenge and restraint, and it can definitely make the world greener," he said. "We have applied a philosophy of being green, and being green is profitable."

Wu Hougang, chairman and CEO of Zhangzidao Fishery Group said his company has several advantages in the practice of sustainable development. "First and foremost, it's the concept of sustainability," he said. "Then, we have a multilevel breeding model, which ensures biodiversity in the ecosystem."

"Also we have a harmonious community that the industry must depend on," Wu added.

In the next year, the World Economic Forum plans to organize a series of activities, particularly forums to promote the practices of the New Sustainability Champions, according to Jeremy Jurgens, senior director of the World Economic Forum's Centre for Business Engagement.

List of New Sustainability Champions:

Broad Group, People's Republic of China

Equity Bank, Kenya

Florida Ice & Farm, Costa Rica

Grupo Balbo, Brazil

Jain Irrigation System, India

Manila Water Company, Philippines

Masisa, Chile

MTR Corporation, Hong Kong SAR

Natura, Brazil

New Britain Palm Oil, Papua New Guinea

Sekem, Egypt

Shree Cement, India

Suntech, People's Republic of China

Suzlon, India

Woolworths, South Africa

Zhangzidao Fishery Group, People's Republic of China