We work with clients to create and scale new businesses that address the climate crisis and help build a more sustainable future.
What it takes to scale future green businesses
The net-zero transition will reshape the economy, opening new markets and imperiling others. With a potential of $12 trillion in annual sales from high-potential green offerings by 2030, there are many opportunities.
What we do
We help businesses of all types go beyond decarbonization and rethink what it takes to be a green enterprise.
Industry-disrupting start-ups
pursuing rapid scale ups to accelerate sustainability impact
Budding unicorns
seeking guidance to help formalize business plans
Investors
supporting green enterprises and tech solutions with start-up or scaling
Incumbents
with transformative green ideas to spin off into new businesses
Business inquiries
Looking for sustainability solutions?
Green Business Building Summits
McKinsey’s Green Business Building Summits are unique forums focused on building and scaling green business ventures and new technologies
Examples of our work
Nature-based carbon sequestration
We launched and scaled a major operational carbon-sequestration business alongside an agricultural corporation across multiple global geographies
Green steel
We helped create a hydrogen-powered, carbon-free steel plant, taking it from proof of concept through testing and validation to launch within a year
Green hydrogen
We developed a national plan for a government to participate in the green hydrogen industry and identified opportunities to connect its actions with private-sector initiatives
Electric-vehicle OEM business
We worked with a large conglomerate to build an e-mobility OEM “business within a business,” including development and launch of an e-mobility product
Featured Experts
Anna Granskog
PartnerHelsinki
Extensive experience in the electricity, basic materials, and engineering industry sectors with particular focus on strategy...
Rob Bland
Senior PartnerBay Area
Leads Fuel, a McKinsey Company, throughout North America, serving start-ups and unicorns, counseling clients on growth and environmental...
Nimal Manuel
Senior PartnerKuala Lumpur
Serves telecommunications and public sector clients on strategy, marketing and sales, and digital transformation
Sector Experts
Xavier Costantini
Senior PartnerMontevideo
Leads the Sustainability practice in Latin America. Helps companies in highly complex industries achieve successful operational...
Tomas Nauclér
Senior PartnerStockholm
As global leader of McKinsey Sustainability, helps companies and governments develop strategies grounded on a fact-based understanding...
Mark Patel
Senior PartnerBay Area - San Francisco
Advises clients across sectors on sustainability with a focus on climate technologies; leads client work across industrial, high-tech,...
Gisa Springer
PartnerLondon
Co-leads McKinsey's work in Green Business Building (GBB) in Europe, bringing deep expertise in strategy, corporate ventures,...
Featured insights
Interview
Henrik Henriksson: Rapidly scaling a green steel start-up
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Henrik Henriksson, CEO of H2 Green Steel, talks about the challenges and successes in founding a green business start-up and out-executing peers in a competitive environment.
Article
Decarbonize and create value: How incumbents can tackle the steep challenge
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While the task is not easy, incumbents—including those in hard-to-abate sectors—can decarbonize and generate value through a...
Article
Full throttle on net zero: Creating value in the face of uncertainty
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To thrive amid shocks to the net-zero economy, leaders are shifting strategies to position themselves to win when the skies clear...
Article
Scaling green businesses: Next moves for leaders
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New challenges—and opportunities—have emerged for green business builders. A set of actions could help companies scale during...
Article
Spotting green business opportunities in a surging net-zero world
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Explore how 8 industries may transition to reach a 2050 net-zero scenario, and how organizations can respond with new green businesses...
Featured Podcasts
Interview - Learn to Leap: Green Business Building Edition
From niche to mainstream: Advancing partnerships in green investing
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The managing partner and founder of Emerald Technology Ventures shares how the company works with start-ups and corporations...
Interview - Learn to Leap: Green Business Building Edition
Building a green energy ecosystem: Lessons from zolar
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The cofounder and the managing director of Germany-based zolar discuss launching the green energy start-up to simplify the process...
Interview - Learn to Leap: Green Business Building Edition
How to accelerate innovation in new green business building
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Companies that want to scale quickly must cultivate deep market knowledge and a culture that embraces learning through failure....
Keep exploring
We partner with groups across McKinsey to bring clients the best experts, brightest ideas, and freshest thinking. Together, our cross-functional teams provide unparalleled support on every aspect of building a green business, from conception to profitable delivery.
