How Sustainability Is Used In the Business World and Professional Business Communication When talking about sustainability numerous people associate it with just protecting the environment. Sustainability is far more than going green, but it is a principle that many companies have adopted and have worked persistently to improve over the last several years. Sustainability is defined as the ability to continue a behavior indeterminately, but it also includes improving human life overall. Sustainable development is broken down into three pillars: economic, social, and environmental (Harich & Bangerter, 2014). Economics is the study of how people use resources, which correlates to the goal of sustainable development by using resources to their full potential (Laszlo, C., & Zhexembayeva, N., 2011, p. 60). Economic sustainable development allows companies to give their customers what they want without overusing mutual resources. Social development combines the social world with the physical realm to provide a good quality of life (Benoit, 2010, p. 7). Social sustainability focuses on the well-being of people and their communities. Environmental development, the most recognizable, includes protecting the environment by reducing pollution, recycling, switching of electronic devices when not in use, etc. All three of these pillars make up what is known as sustainable development. In this paper, I researched a company and their involvement in sustainability and how it applies to the
Sustainability, within the business context, has transitioned from a pecuniary model to an ecological modernised ideology. However, such dynamic perspective from external and internal stakeholders, refurbished the sustainable development of businesses, incorporating a more intricate measure of economic, social and ecological perspective. Therefore, management has refurbished practices, incorporating the dimensional homogenisation of the Triple Bottom line theory through a model aspect to a practical development. In contrast, economic models solely incorporated in “special events” are noted as valid by governments. However, discussion from Sherwood, Jago, and Derry (2016: pg 16) suggest government reporting consist of “deceptiveness.” Thus,
Bertrand Piccard quotes, “In the 21st century, the heroes will be the people who will improve the quality of life, fight poverty and introduce more sustainability. This is a powerful message, it sums up the concepts discussed throughout the course. Additionally, the case studies such as the New Belgium Brewery, SC Johnson and The Kimberly Clarke organization have been proven to practice this philosophy. As society progresses in its efforts to provide a more sustainable future, there is a fundamental foundation of principles that must be followed to ensure success. Sustainable business development takes into account the application of business operations as it relates to the three pillars of sustainability, which is a dynamic yet integrative place to begin this journey. DesJardins, (2006) calls for a re-imagination of the future to create a vibrant sustainable model; which forms similar beliefs to Piccard. In addition, organizations are more inclined to create sustainable practices based on consumer demand and the willingness of leadership to participate in sustainability programs.
Interesting question, I would like to start by saying that sustainability is a complete cycle that can be used to achieve a goal, whether it regards supplying products or operating an organization. Sustainability also touches on the very important issue of interacting with customers with the target of optimizing the benefits accruing from social, economic and environmental outcomes.
However, for the purpose of this essay, sustainability will be defined as “the concept of sustainability explores the relationship among economic development, environmental quality, and social equity.” Furthermore, this concept of sustainability has been evolving since 1972, where it was introduced at the UN Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm. (Smith 2011).
Sustainability reporting has become increasingly prevalent in organizations of all types and sizes. A company or organization’s sustainability report is a published report that details the economic, environmental and social impacts that are a direct result of their daily activities. These reports also depict the organization’s
Sustainable development recognizes the importance of economic wealth, environmental integrity, and social balance (Gladwin et al. 1995, cited in Gao and Bansal,2013). Environmental integrity recognizes the value and the limits of natural resources and social balance is distributed impartially across individuals and social orders to meet fundamental human needs (Bansal, 2005 cited in Gao and Bansal, 2013). Barbier (1987) has stated the purpose of sustainability is to maximize simultaneously the goals that should be met, such as trying to meet all the basic necessities for all individuals and to increase the utility of goods and service for all people in the economy (as cited in Gao and Bansal, 2013). Also, Salzmann integrated business sustainability into their business policies for a better outcome (Salzmann et al, 2005, cited in Sjors, Walter, Jacqueline). Another thing is the corporate social responsibility, that has been characterized in a wide range of ways, as its most fundamental level, CSR is about business assuming responsibility for the
There is a growing trend among companies to disclose and report their social and environmental impacts not only concerned with the financial performance of a company but its impact on society and environment. Thus, sustainability becomes an important issue. Sustainability is the capacity to endure and is the long-term maintenance of responsibility, which included environmental, economic, and social dimensions. It is mandatory for a company to disclose its sustainability information. In addition , the sustainability disclosure is based on a theory called "system-oriented theory", which includes three aspects:stakeholder theory, legitimacy theory and
The goal of this report was to learn more about a global company’s sustainability strategy and understand how it relates to its international operations. Our
Sustainability can be defined as a long and creative process which creates positive and lasting results. Sustainability is a beneficial progress that consists of meeting people’s needs without conflicting the ability for future generations to meet their own needs. The change in resources will enhance both current and future generations to meet human needs. Sustainability is an important part that is presented in Ford’s overall image. At Ford, sustainability is a business model that involves long term conservation and enhances environmental, social and financial capital (“Sustainability Report”, 2014). There are three main reasons that explain how Ford is improving the importance of sustainability/social responsibility within their company compared to BMW.
Sustainability is the ability for a system or process to endure over time without compromising future generations and their abilities to fulfill these processes. In America when we think of sustainability we most often just consider environmental and ecological sustainability. It was evident that sustainability means something completely different in Paris as well as Germany. The European wholesome view at sustainability takes many aspects into light including ecological and environmental as well as political and cultural. The governments and businesses set up sustainable living practices that are embraced by society to help society move forward into a sustainable future. Society also embraces innovation much differently with more collaboration and less worry of intellectual property ideas can flow much more smoothly. To encourage advances in sustainability and innovation european firms and the government 's focus on maximizing the potential of the 3 Ps, people, planet and profits, with profits being last for a reason.
If we were to ask 5 different people the definition of sustainability, we would receive 5 different answers. However, the triple bottom line is a typical concept used often when talking about the subject of sustainability within a business. John Elkinston, a global authority on corporate social responsibility and sustainability coined the phrase for the first time in his book ‘Cannibals with Forks: The Triple Bottom Line of 21st Century Business’, in 1997. His argument was that the methods by which companies measure value should not only include financial bottom line, profit or loss but also a social, economic and environmental one as well (John Elkington, 1997). The concept has evolved into one that often has 3 overlapping circles which indicates that sustainability is typically defined as the place where economic success, social responsibility and environmental protection are all as significant as each other in business. In other words, the concept of the triple bottom line mainstreams the idea of sustainability as including people, planet and profit. It allows a business understand that a long term sustainability in an organisation requires more than just financial equity. It also helps to clarify that when businesses consider what sustainability means for them, it doesn’t mean that they had to give up the notion of financial success (Katz, RAK., Page, AP, 2013, Pages 852-855). The public is not satisfied with organisations who mainly concentrate on short term profit
Why Corporate sustainability? Corporations are the fundamental cells of modern economic life and their phenomenal success in transforming
Sustainability and business are not always looked as a good functioning pair. Businesses often struggle to implement sustainability measures, as they think that it is costing money to shareholders/investors. However, due to increasing pressure from the public, businesses are being forced to reconsidering at adopting sustainability and good business practice. In today's interconnected global economy, the long-term goals and success of business are inevitably connected by embedding the environmental, social and governance issues into corporate management, operations and supply chain. While corporate sustainability recognizes that, though the corporate growth and profitability are vital, it also requires the corporation to pursue societal goals, particularly those relating to sustainable development like; safeguarding environmental, social equality and economic development.
Sustainability is more than corporate social responsibility. It is a challenge to companies, how they grow and make more profit without harming the environment, society and efficiencies of the employees.
Sustainability is part of corporate social responsibility that is becoming a significant integral part of company’s identification nowadays. It shows how a company achieves ethical standards and how a company applies the values of sustainability in