Sustainability Provides Economic and Environmental Returns

NEW YORK, Sept. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Sustainable businesses of tomorrow will be measured by more than financial returns: they will also be assessed on efficient use of resources and environmental considerations, said Craig Cogut, founder and co-managing partner of Pegasus Capital Advisors. Cogut, who is participating in the Clinton Global Initiative summit in New York, added: "As an outcome of this global recession, the sum of the parts of the future sustainable company must be greater than 'green.' Companies that compete successfully on the basis of resource efficiency, while concurrently contributing to environmental and other public policy challenges -- such as food and worker safety -- truly offer the greatest returns and will be the new market leaders. This is the new sustainable paradigm."

Pegasus has a track record founded on low use of financial leverage in the creation and growth of resource efficient companies. Pegasus focuses on adding significant value to resource efficient businesses positioned to grow rapidly. The firm has deep experience in discovering and creating sustainability investments, with real-world, tangible and immediate solutions that influence markets every day.

Consider the Pegasus portfolio investment company Intelligent Global Pooling Systems (iGPS) -- the world's first company to provide manufacturers and retailers with an all-plastic pallet pool with embedded RFID-tags. iGPS offers the most advanced and safest pallet, as evidenced by its rapid adoption throughout the U.S. supply chain. No matter how they are compared, iGPS pallets are superior to wood alternatives -- particularly in terms of broader public policy issues such as fire safety, worker safety and food safety. For example:

• Efficient and Cost-Effective: Wood pallets are 50 percent heavier, which means iGPS plastic pallets offer significant transportation cost savings and reduced fossil fuel emissions. iGPS pallets will last more than 15 years, and are recycled at the end of their lives rather than being burned or landfilled.
• Food Safety: iGPS pallets keep food products safe. Wood pallets, which are porous, can harbor harmful bacteria like salmonella, e. coli and listeria. In addition, embedded RFID tags enable shippers and receivers to track and trace shipments in real time.
• Worker Safety: Wood pallets are 50 percent heavier than iGPS plastic pallets. The lightweight and durable construction of the iGPS pallet means they are also easier and safer for workers to handle and require less fuel to transport.
• Fire Safety: iGPS has met the most stringent global fire safety standards, including FM Approvals 4996 and UL 2335 (file no. R25482). The iGPS plastic pallet represents the only pallet on the market that meets these stringent fire safety standards, which protect lives and property.
  

"Businesses that can compete successfully on the basis of efficiency will be the winners in the new economy," Cogut said. "Sustainable businesses of the future will be measured by sound financial performance as well as tangible resource efficiency performance across the product life cycle."