Never before have people taken as much interest in the state of the environment and future prospects of our global resources as they do today. Warnings of growing environmental and associated social problems which could literally endanger the future of humanity appear to be causing a significant shift in attitudes among a successively increasing portion of the world’s citizens. In many countries, environmental and social problems rank as one of the most prioritised issues of the future, triggered by the alarming climate change during the last decades. The awareness that humans and the environment are exposed to threats no longer invisible and unknown too many of us has created powerful emotions and willingness to act.  

The international community has been involved in defining and establishing the landscape for global sustainability for nearly 50 years. Main landmarks include the United Nations conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm 1972, the 1992 United Nations conference Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, and the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. These events established a global direction towards sustainable development. But while projects and activities for sustanability are carried out across the globe, the planet's environment and its inhabitants' quality of life continue to be seriously threathened.

The background of the Sustainability of the Planet Program is a global survey among SMEs, conducted in 2005. The survey concluded that small and mediums sized enterprises have a significant impact on the environment. But the incentives from customers and regulators are insufficient to make SMEs reduce their negative impacts. Rather, SMEs tend to see environmental legislation and standards as obstacles for action.

The program was initiated by Daniel Gagnier, Alcan who is also ISO/TC207 chair of the ISO 14000 series of standards. The program is supported by industries such as ABB and Alcan, and by the Swedish government through the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. The 2006 Forum & workshops gathered 135 experts from 33 countries and the directors from organizations such as the International Standards Organisation, the United Nations Environment Program, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, the International Institute for Sustainable Development and United Nations Global Compact. The program is organised by the Swedish Industry Association and  the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise.