I wrote a paper on sustainability for the 2004 World Science Forum. (It was selected for a prize.) In it, I highlighted historical cases from a mostly environmental standpoint and highlighted several companies that are currently engaging in 'sustainable practices.' The thing is that with starting from the environmental viewpoint, one can make cases that extend beyond science, which make points for long-term sustainability and profitability to the point that a campany will be able to stay in business.