Sustainable Construction Is Business Opportunity even in a Recession    

Today's sustainable products and practices for the global building industry present unique and emerging business opportunities, even in a global recession, according to DuPont Building Innovations Vice President and General Manager Thomas F. Schuler at The 2009 Economist Sustainability Summit.
    "We still need to provide products that combine aesthetics, functionality and sustainability, otherwise people won't buy them," Schuler said at The New Climate: Global Warming and its Implications for Corporate Strategy conference. "That's a particular challenge as we continue to deal with a global recession and the need to balance the importance of developing more sustainable products with costs consumers and building owners are willing to bear."
   Schuler also highlighted opportunities for the global industry based on supply issues that drive rapid acceptance of sustainable practices, such as the growing demand for commodity raw materials and the emergence of the middle class in emerging markets.
   DuPont introduces about 1 000 new products each year, many of them with environmental benefits, and manufactures a number of materials for energy efficient, sustainable construction for buildings.