Biography
Introduction Biography
Stephan Schmidheiny has made industrial history, as both an entrepreneur and pioneer. After taking over responsibility for the family firm Swiss Eternit Group in 1976, he began to push for an end to asbestos processing, leading the way in the world in this regard. He subsequently played a key role in saving the Swiss watch industry, and built up an industrial group in Latin America. He served as an advisor to the United Nations and the OECD, established the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, and set up numerous organisations that promote sustainability. As a philanthropist and author, and as the person who coined the term 'eco-efficiency', he has lent crucial impetus to the debate on sustainable economic, social and environmental development worldwide.
Arts
Daros Collection
Opening of Daros Exhibitions in Löwenbräu Areal Zurich (until 2008). Since 2010 art works of the Daros Collection are exhibited in the permanent collection of Fondation Beyeler in Riehen BS, Switzerland
Awards
World Business Council for Sustainable Development
Appointed Honorary Chairman of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
Politics
Panama Canal Authority
Election to the International Advisory Board of the Panama Canal Authority
Politics
OECD High Level Advisory Group on the Environment
Appointed Co-Chair of the High Level Advisory Group on the Environment of the OECD; publication of a report; 1998 completion of the group’s work
Publications
Financing Change
Publication of “Financing Change – The Financial Community, Eco-efficiency, and Sustainable Development”
Science
Peterson Institute for International Economics
Elected to the Board of Directors of the Peterson Institute for International Economics; from 2001 member of the Executive Board; stepped down in 2003
Science
Latin American Center for Competitiveness and Sustainable Development
Foundation of the Latin American Center for Competitiveness and Sustainable Development at the INCAE Business School in Costa Rica