It's Good to Be Green, Says Nortel CEO

Going Green is Good for Business, says Nortel CEO

It is imperative that businesses quickly recognize the need for environmentally sound behaviors and match these with good business practices, said Mike Zafirovski said today at FORTUNE's first-ever GREEN Conference in Pasadena, Calif.

The Nortel president and CEO participated in the conference as part of the Canadian company’s ongoing commitment to create products and services that make it possible for enterprises and service providers to be more energy efficient while reducing their carbon footprint. This commitment includes elements of Nortel's data portfolio, which is recognized by The Tolly Group, an independent IT validation service, as the industry's greenest – helping to reduce energy consumption by as much as 50%.

"The integration of environmental responsibility into corporate business models is not only the right thing to do but a necessity for business success," Zafirovski said. "As a businessman, my perspective always starts with a mandate to enhance shareholder value. But even with this as my focus, I strongly believe the time is right for business and society to get together to address today's environmental problems."