I believe that the 'flywheel' of business change is starting to spin faster. Why? Because the drivers for change are becoming starker and because the necessary business response is better understood.

After a turbulent year in the financial markets, National Ethical Investment Week 2012, which starts on Sunday 14 October, is set to be the biggest in its five-year history.

When we launched our eco and ethical programme, Plan A, in 2007 we made some big bold product related commitments. For example, to get all our wood and fish from the most sustainable source possible. It wasn't the wrong thing to do but we were looking through the lens of 'issue' rather than 'product'.

In the current climate, 'going green' might not be at the top of most company 'to do' lists. Times are tough and there are numerous economic headwinds keeping us busy. So, am I wasting my time writing a blog post calling on companies to build sustainability into their business plans? Definitely not and here's why. In 2007 we set aside a massive £200 million for a five year project called Plan A (because there is no Plan B for the one planet we have), a sustainability programme that pledged to transform M&S by changing the way it did business.

As the ethical fashion and food categories of the RSPCA Good Business Awards are launched today, companies are finding that being animal welfare-friendly is better for business than it has ever been.