Since the world economy depends on a base of natural resources that is being severely degraded, reducing consumption and waste creates new opportunities for businesses to grow through the innovation of less wasteful process and with life-enhancing goods and services. Tomorrow's Markets argues that future markets will favor businesses that partner with government and civil society groups to serve basic needs, enhance human skills, increase economic capacity, and help remedy inequities.

"This report will provide companies with information to identify the fundamental signals that influence their success and drive their innovation," said Bjoern Stigson, WBCSD president. He added that developing economies will present companies with new market opportunities to help meet health, education, and nutrition needs.

The report stresses that wherever they operate, businesses must meet both increasingly rigorous governmental regulations as well as societal expectations of socially responsible behavior. Tomorrow's Markets highlights the critical importance of democracies and laws that promote ethical behavior in creating the playing field for profitable business competition.

"The challenge of the future is to choose a course that satisfies the market requirements for growth, maintains the natural balance that sustains our economies, and meets the needs and rights of global communities awakening to new dreams of health, prosperity, and peace," said Jonathan Lash, WRI president.