ABSTRACT
This report presents the business case for why Cummins Inc., a 10-billion-dollar diesel
engine and power company, should adopt a sustainability strategy, and provides suggestions
for how the company can incorporate the concept of sustainability into its existing processes.
The Four-Question Sustainability Framework, a tool created specifically for this project, is
used throughout the report.
The five reasons why Cummins should adopt a sustainability strategy are:
• Sustainability is part of Cummins’ history.
• Sustainability is in line with Cummins’ vision, mission, and values.
• A sustainability strategy will help Cummins address macro-environmental trends.
• A sustainability strategy will enable Cummins to reap financial benefits.
• A sustainability strategy is necessary for Cummins to remain competitive.
We present a case study of Fleetguard’s creation of the Mach filter to demonstrate how the
interplay of these factors influenced a Cummins business unit to pursue a new product linked
to sustainability.
To explain how Cummins can integrate a sustainability strategy, we develop a sustainability
vision statement for Cummins. We then draw upon the Four-Question Sustainability
Framework to systematically analyze existing processes and suggest enhancements for how
the company can become more sustainable. We recommend implementing these changes
through four main channels: overall company objectives, planning processes, operational
practices, and financial analyses.