NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Disruption can mean many different things to different people. To established business leaders, it can mean a threat to market share or an opportunity to adapt and retain a leading position into the future. To innovators and start-ups, it can be a ticket to creating new markets or re-writing the rules of an old one.

However, there’s one growing disruptive trend that unites all companies, and can help unlock innovation and create the industries of the future. The need to act on climate change is the greatest potential cause of disruption faced by new and established businesses alike, and is also the greatest catalyst for innovation for those willing to harness it.

Sustainable business models have the potential to unlock $12 trillion in new market value, according to a report by the Business and Sustainable Development Commission.

Here are some examples of how companies are harnessing the power of disruptive innovation, as they grow new business opportunities and help to tackle climate change.

Photo courtesy of Shever.