Essay about Definition of Sustainability and a Good Structure of It

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

The global population is expected to reach 9 billion people by the year 2050 and scientific projections indicate that world is on a trajectory towards an environmental and global food crisis. World Leaders, environmental enthusiasts and aid agencies have cause for alarm as they support urgent policies for change, for without them mankind will face unprecedented food insecurity. In 2015 estimates were that there were “some 795 million people” [World Food Programme, 2015], experiencing food insecurity and 3.1 million children under 5 died through malnutrition, while Australians continue to waste an estimated 361 Kg’s of food per person per yr [PMSEIC, 2010, p.44] All the while the earth groans under the weight of Greenhouse Gas Emissions [GHG], deforestation, soil degradation and

Sustainability from a strategic business perspective is the potential for the long-term well-being of the natural environment, including all biological entities, as mutually beneficial interactions among nature and individuals, organizations, and business strategies. (O.C Ferrell, Fraedrich, Ferrell, 2015). Business sustainably is often defined as managing the triple bottom line – a process by which companies manage their financial, social and environmental risks, obligations and opportunities. These three impacts are sometimes referred to as profits, people and planet. (Business sustainability definition from financial times lexicon, no date). This essay will discuss the idea of sustainability being an important element within a businesses and its core strategies and the importance of it within different businesses. Secondly, this study will look at how different stakeholders are affected and influenced by sustainability as this could be seen as a catalyst to improving the environment as a whole and. Then this study will look at how businesses not focusing

It provides the stakeholders’ of a particular organization with information regarding their business activities such as its “impacts on the economic” factors of society, “environment” and “social community” (Carlon 2016). Companies often choose to supply their stakeholders with a sustainability report as its main purpose is to “improve internal processes, engage stakeholders and persuade investors” (Wikipedia 2016) which will in turn build the company’s overall success. This means that it could result in more efficient operations, attract and obtain potential employees, expand the size of its current target market and appeal to prospective investors.

Sustainability is a growing concern for many individuals and companies as resources are becoming increasingly limited, hazardous, and expensive. Over the last few years, more people have been informed about sustainable options, which have been easier to obtain and contribute to, as well as wanting to purchase more sustainable options from companies. Since the idea of sustainability is so broad, everyone can contribute in a way they feel is most beneficial. Whether individuals and companies are giving back for personal or self-regarding reasons, it is still helping give back to the environment and provide a more sustainable future.

Sustainability is defined as the ability to endure.(1) Though the idea of sustainability can be applied to most anything from a sustainable ecosystem that has survived thousands of years to a sustainable workplace that uses green technologies. Paul Hawken captured today’s connotation of sustainability in saying “Sustainability is about stabilizing the currently disruptive relationship between earth’s two most complex systems—human culture and the living world.” (2) There are countless ways to live, work, and produce sustainably. Sustainability not only needs to be practiced by citizens, but businesses need to join the green movement as well. Without creating, following, and enforcing green policies, negative effects will be evident and innumerable

The idea of sustainability has become an increasingly common term in the rhetoric surrounding business ethics, as corporates are gaining broader acknowledgement of this pro-active method which guarantees business long-term viability and integrity by focusing on the triple bottom line. In business, the three aspects of sustainability include social, economic and environment.

This research paper was written with the purpose of providing some answers as to why sustainability reporting in the United States should be mandated by regulators. The paper briefly describes the GRI standards and guidelines, the benefits of sustainability reporting, some relative advantages limitations in adopting sustainability reporting, as well as provides a few examples of companies that have successfully adopted

Yvon Chouinard and Vincent stated, “Sustainability is a term that calls us not to take more from nature than we can give back.” Many Companies have failed to grasp this concept. It is startling to realize how much has been taken from nature and how little has been given back. A responsible company makes magnificent products, treats their workers well, improves the community, and protects nature. Humans need to realize that they are part of nature. They r in the process of destroying themselves when they act irresponsibly.

In order to successfully process the performance of Woolworths Holdings Limited in terms of their performance regarding sustainability in a triple bottom line context, it is important to evaluate the company’s activities with reference to both the GRI Sustainability Reporting Guidelines, as well as the JSE SRI index. Doing so will enable a thorough review of the company’s activities within a South African context as well as on a global scale. As described in the GRI, the sustainability report of Woolworths Holdings Limited should include a balanced representation of the sustainability performance of the business and should include both positive and negative aspects of sustainability related aspects. (See 2.7.1.2) For this reason, Woolworths Holdings Limited’s Good Business Journey Report will be analysed in order to compare the negative and

Originally, sustainability reports were written by small and medium-sized environmental companies; however, in the late 1980s large companies in the chemical industry start writing sustainability reports in hopes of improving their images. This trend has expanded in the past 20 years to more companies as a mean of improving internal procedures, charming stakeholders and appealing investors. Each company can increase their sustainability representation observing, gaging and recording it, while acquiring an optimistic bearing on the economy, people and the environment. Sustainability award standings and schemas are measured and conveyed by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). The purpose of the GRI sustainability report is concerning

Thus, a sustainability report should provide a balanced and reasonable representation of the sustainability performance of a reporting organization – including both positive and negative contributions. CLP Chairman and CEO statement address this issue in a way that CLP have already proved to be a sustainable business. However, the needs and expectations of their stakeholders are evolving more quickly than before. The result is that CLP needs to anticipate, adapt and act more quickly and effectively than ever if they are to sustain their business.

To cite this article: Rob Gray (2006) Does sustainability reporting improve corporate behaviour?: Wrong question? Right time?, Accounting and Business Research, 36:sup1,

During the semester, we learned a lot about corporate sustainability report in business and how important it is for people and environment. I realized the huge impact of this issue and some companies do a well job in sustainability. Economy, society, and environment are three major concepts in sustainability and play important roles in business world. All the companies are trying to achieve highest profits and market shares in their industry, but some of them ignore the environment and society which means they are not ethical or harmful to environment. Although they could gain profits in some way, their reputation will be damaged in a long-term period. Thus, finding a balance between those three initiatives becomes critical necessary to be successful.

Sustainability is a topic that has become very important in recent years. Sustainability is defined as, “the ability to continue a defined behavior indefinitely.” ("Finding and Resolving the Root Causes of the Sustainability Problem", 2014)