The Role of Private Sector in Social and Economic Development

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 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

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.

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

I attended a meeting last week with other faculty members. One of them let fly her/his opinion that “sustainability does not exist” or is, at best, a “bankrupt” notion that is basically a form of “greenwashing” and that sustainable development was a “joke.” Hmmm . . . . Please comment on that assertion. In the process, discuss the “big idea” of sustainable development, and more generally the concept of sustainability as applied to individual businesses. For that matter, what is a “sustainable enterprise?” Can being “sustainable” be good for business?

In today’s economy, sustainable entrepreneurship is a popular topic. Companies all over the world are trying to create a green image. A sustainable business has a positive impact on the global and local environment, community, society and economy, and focuses on the three P’s: People, Planet and Profit (Milieufocus, par. 3). The focus on pPeople looksstand for fair and beneficial business practices towards labor and the community and region in which a corporation conducts its business. Emphasis on the pPlanet

The basic definition of economic sustainability is the capability of an economy to support a level of economic production indeterminately. This description does not note the inherent relationship economic sustainability has with the other types mentioned above. Doane and MacGillivray (2001) offer a more detailed approach in its definition of economic sustainability. They note that social and environmental components are intrinsic to economic sustainability and state that it would be more apt to describe economic sustainability as ‘the process of allocating and protecting scarce resources, while ensuring positive social and environmental outcomes’.

The competitive environment in today’s business world poses many dangers to the sustainability of the biosphere, which is so vital to life. Business organizations have a responsibility to help sustain and preserve the environment for future generations. Corporations must take initiative in developing business plans that incorporate sustainable business practices into the strategic direction of the organization. Successful achievement of a sustainable business plan also requires identification of barriers to implementation and development of strategies to overcome such barriers. In addition, to

The greatest challenge faced by many organizations today and especially the labour intensive industries is ensuring there is a sustainable

The current study will support the need to create new, environmentally sustainable and socially responsive organisations, whilst enhancing company values (Closs, et al; 2011). Decision makers will develop a positive attitude towards sustainable development. It will present an opportunity for the organisation to be pro-active in discussing sustainability issues and it will also present an opportunity for the organisations to partner with

Sustainability implies that the organization is managing in economic, ecological and socially competent ways. All organizations range on a continuum of their sustainability level with some being more sustainable than others. Generally, as Dunphy, Griffiths and Benn (Module One, Topic 1.5) point out, the more sustainable an organization is, the more they help the surrounding environment, be this local (the particular country) or macro (the world itself). The environment also reflects the sustainability ethos and situation of the organization itself.

The Australian government is active in its move to promote and push for sustainable business practices, one of their more recent resolutions is the Clean Energy Legislation, which is made of individual bills covering levys on green house gases and fuel tax, this enforces corporations to oblige and making a move towards being green (Griffiths, 2012). However this means that certain organisations will do the bare minimum of what is required of them by law and nothing more. There are other initiatives in place to encourage sustainable business practices which are not legally binding, such as Sustainable Business Australia, who provide policy recommendations and resources for sustainability challenges (SBA, n.d). Companies who become members with SBA are held in high regards by their stakeholders as they abide by the recommendations regarding carbon action and resource solutions. There is also an emphasis on the people, and their crucial role in creating business value. Previously people were satisfied with just their basic needs being fulfilled, but no longer, we now see Maslow’s hierarchy of needs triangle unravelling as people require more to feel satisfied with themselves and what they do in their work space (Kiel, 1999). With encouragement from government and local communities, Australia is making an effort with great determination towards having the best sustainable business

creating sustainability where economic, environmental and social awareness is needed to keep the balance. Reducing expenses is one way to improve profits. sustainable enterprises disconnect revenue growth from depletion of natural resources by drastically reducing the amount of natural resources required to make their products and by using resource and energy efficient manufacturing processes. This can come from using wind, solar, and hydro energy. These are clean energy sources that first provide clean energy, second will never run out of power. Also allow for the planet to survive for generations to come.

There are three pillars that make up overall sustainability: social, economic, and environmental sustainability. Social sustainability focuses on all human needs being met and a society functioning properly indefinitely. Economic sustainability is achieving a certain level of economic success indefinitely. It also involves having an extremely low percent of people living below the poverty line, which relates to social sustainability. Environmental sustainability is described as, “the rates of renewable resource harvest, pollution creation, and non-renewable resource depletion that can be continued indefinitely.” ("Finding and Resolving the Root Causes of the Sustainability Problem", 2014) Achieving environmental sustainability will positively affect the social and economic aspects. These three categories are directly related to each other, and to truly reach complete sustainability each of the group’s needs must be met. There are many ways for individuals, groups, companies, and societies to help make a difference in reaching this goal. Environmental issues are currently very prominent in the US and other countries. There are countless activists and researchers doing everything they can to make a difference. Most businesses, like

Sustainability is one of the main keys to success for corporate companies in the 21st century. Research has shown that companies that successfully maintain sustainability within their companies usually have long-term success over companies that have not achieved sustainability within the company. One reason that sustainability is important for companies to have is because by addressing it can improve operational efficiency and also lower many costs. Another reason why that the concept of sustainability is important is because it merges social, environmental, political and ethical issues that can be detrimental to a company internally and externally, if they are not handled in an appropriate manner and incorporated into company policies or follow policies already in place. In order to avoid these problems from occurring or if they do occur they will not be detrimental and cause huge problems that cannot be fixed for a company, sustainability is very important to have in place already or strive to achieve. Sustainability drives companies to develop specific goals to address those social, environmental, political and legal issues. Importantly having the proper sustainability within a company can hopefully address all those issues altogether.