...In ecology, sustainability is how biological systems remain diverse and productive. Long-lived and healthy wetlands and forests are examples of sustainable biological systems. In more general terms, sustainability is the endurance of systems and processes. The organizing principle for sustainability, is sustainable development, which includes the four interconnected domains, ecology, economics, politics and culture.[1] Sustainability science is the study of sustainable development and environmental science. Healthy ecosystems and environments are necessary to the survival of humans and other organisms. Ways of reducing negative human impact are environmentally-friendly chemical engineering, environmental resources management and environmental protection. Information is gained from green chemistry, earth science, environmental science and conservation biology. Ecological economics studies the fields of academic research that aim to address human economies and natural ecosystems. Moving towards sustainability is also a social challenge that entails international and national law, urban planning and transport, local and individual lifestyles and ethical consumerism. Ways of living more sustainably can take many forms from reorganising living conditions (e.g., ecovillages, eco-municipalities and sustainable cities), reappraising economic sectors (permaculture, green building, sustainable agriculture), or work practices (sustainable architecture), using science to develop new...
Words: 258 - Pages: 2
...to Sustainable Green Printing” “On our way to Sustainable Green Printing” Preface This assignment is about a case study, which means the description of a situation regarding the development of a sustainable business. The case tells a story of how this particular business ended up where it is today. The context of this assignment will give a description of a situation regarding the development of a sustainable business. This case tells the story of how “Andi Druk” started evolving in sustainability and how the company is doing nowadays. Below I will describe the relevant information about the sustainable company. Table of Contents Introduction 4 Section 1: Industry Background 5 1.1 Printing Industry background 5 1.2 Innovation in the printing industry 6 1.4 Government Regulation 7 1.5 Firm size 8 1.6 Trends 8 1.7 Sustainability in the printing industry 9 1.7.1 Cradle- to-cradle and fully sustainable 10 1.8 Opportunities and Challenges for the Sustainability Printing industry 12 1.8.1 Opportunities 12 1.8.2 Challenges 12 Section 2: Company Background 13 2.1 Company Overview 13 2.2 Environment 14 2.3 Services 15 Section 3: Competitors 17 Conclusion 18 Reference 20 Appendix 1: 22 Interview 26 Introduction “Andi Druk” is a printing industry, situated in Maastricht, The Netherland. The company is established on the market for almost 80 years and is specialized in...
Words: 11027 - Pages: 45
...‘Sustainability’ The Brundtland report (named after Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, the youngest person and first women ever to hold the office of Prime Minister of Norway, who spearheaded the initiative which ultimately led to the earth Summit in 1992), published in 1987 by the United Nation’s World Commission on Environment and Development, defined sustainable development as “Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. Sustainability has been used more in the sense of human sustainability on planet Earth. At the 2005 World Summit it was noted that this requires the reconciliation of environmental, social and economic demands - the "three pillars" of sustainability. This view has been expressed as an illustration using three overlapping ellipses indicating that the three pillars of sustainability are not mutually exclusive and can be mutually reinforcing. (Definitions of sustainability often refer to the "three pillars" of social, environmental and economic sustainability) (A representation of sustainability showing how both economy and society are constrained by environmental limits) Rapid growth of industrial activities in the past has led to natural resources being depleted at a rate that is faster than the rate of restoration. If this trend continues, most globally admired companies will be out of business. Growth of businesses will always be dependent on the resources available. And if there is no...
Words: 7186 - Pages: 29
...Sustainability The first establishment of a national policy for environmental sustainability came in 1969 (NEPA). The purpose was to foster and promote the general welfare, create and maintain conditions under which man and nature can exist in productive harmony and fulfill the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generation. On July 9, 1970, President Nixon submitted to congress a reorganization plan purposing the establishment of a US Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA), which became responsible for carrying out federal laws to protect the environment. In June 1993, President Clinton signed an executive order establishing the Presidents Council on Sustainable Development (PCSD). It was created to help create US policies that will encourage economic growth, job creation, and environmental protection. The idea of sustainable development was promoted by the “ Bruntland Report” delivered by the World Commission on Environment and Development chaired by Gro Harlem Bruntland in 1987. The commission defined sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Sustainability is the management of environmental, social and governance issues. It is basically about “going green” in every possible perspective. Respecting each other as people, taking care of the environment and living/working in a harmonious way of life; adds up to sustainability...
Words: 746 - Pages: 3
...society with the intention to bring awareness to sustainability. In Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma, the issue of agriculture sustainability is presented. True sustainability is not just agriculture; it is all the natural renewable resources available in the world. Humans do not realized the amount of packaged products they consume in a day or the harmful chemicals that we pollute the earth with when we drive or apply them to agriculture. As consumers we look for convenient, cheap, and accessibility to minimize the time needed in order to perform everyday tasks. Until humanity grasps how these every day products are hazardous not only chemically but also on our natural resources; we as a people will continue to consume un-renewable resources. By increasing the concept of a sustainable development, humanity will use fewer nonrenewable resources such as petroleum’s and fossil fuels and rely on renewable resources such as solar energy. Without a defined structure of true sustainability; governments, corporations, businesses, companies and individuals will continue to depreciate the Earth’s natural resources until it is uninhabitable. “All definitions of sustainable development require that we see the world as a system—a system that connects space; and a system that connects time.”(EurActiv, 2004) Sustainability as referenced in Pollan’s book The Omnivore’s Dilemma is referring to human sustainability. The use of sustainability in this form has yet to receive a true definition...
Words: 2433 - Pages: 10
...Best practices in sustainability: Ford, Starbucks and more While the vast majority of US companies are asleep at the wheel when it comes to tackling climate change, these corporations are best in class, according to a new report. Ceres highlighted 18 US corporations as best in class for their sustainability efforts. While the vast majority of US companies are asleep at the wheel when it comes to facing up to multiple sustainability challenges, a select group is waking up to the need for urgent action. In a new report, Ceres, a non-profit focused on sustainable business, lambasted the lack of progress across American corporations in general – but also highlighted some companies that deserve praise. Critics would rightly say that there is not a single major corporation that is doing enough to adequately confront issues such as climate change and resource scarcity. But Ceres says a small but growing number of companies rank in the "top tiers" of performance across multiple disciplines, ranging from supply chain management to carbon emissions reductions. Its latest research shows that "companies with strong accountability systems - board oversight, clear policies on human rights and environmental management, active stakeholder engagement and disclosure - in many cases also have strong results on greenhouse gas emissions, use of renewable energy, strong work with suppliers, as well as driving sustainability into product and services". In order to encourage other businesses...
Words: 1061 - Pages: 5
...Sustainability What does sustainability mean exactly? Sustainability means that a company is aware of the impact and effects that it has in the community and environment that surround it. For a company to be considered socially and environmentally responsible, it must prove that what works and what’s good for them, is also good for the environment and society in general. In other words, companies should always function and meet their goals while remaining socially and environmentally conscious, where they can increase their profits and their wealth while balancing the effects they have on every other element and/or player that participates in the operating and production process of the company. Because of the increasing importance of how much impact businesses can have on the environment, many companies have been implementing new and improved sustainability initiatives across the globe. Some have organized recycling programs, while others have developed water conservation initiatives, approaches to support climate change, energy conservation, energy building, and more. For the purpose of this assignment, I’m going to focus on Starbuck’s sustainability practice to create green stores across all its company-owned outlets. Starbucks has always been known for its responsible practices and the approaches that it takes to produce the coffee grains and other ingredients that it uses on its worldwide-known beverages. However, in 2009, Starbucks set a new goal which would focus on...
Words: 1150 - Pages: 5
...Business and Sustainability Write an essay on the following topic: Based on your personal definition of sustainability, how committed are organisations to sustainability practices? What changes in corporate strategy and policy are necessary in the journey to sustainable business? Illustrate your answer with examples. Introduction Conducting business in the global economy, enterprises are under more communities’ scrutiny on their operations (Dey & Sircar, 2012). Moreover, sustainability is considered as the focal point of enterprises in creating shareholder value, performing management practices (Epstein, 2008), instrumental to survival in an increased competitive environment (Eweje, 2011), and achieving competitive advantages (Galbreath, 2011). As a result, this issue draws much attention from a broad base of stakeholders, comprising of customers, communities, employees, governments, and shareholders (Hess & Warren, 2008; Eweje, 2011). However, how to employ sustainability has remained a challenge for business leaders (Epstein & Buhovac, 2010). Accordingly, sustainability is commonly executed “more coincidentally than with a clear strategy” (Baumgartner & Ebner, 2010, p. 77). To obtain a deeper understanding of the topic, this essay begins with exploring the definition of sustainability. Followed by which is the investigation of how committed organisations are. Thereafter, the way to incorporate sustainability in companies is examined. Finally...
Words: 2850 - Pages: 12
...Sustainability Course Project Kathy Neihardt Sustainability 1. What is Sustainability? 2. Can our Society Endure? 3. What is a Sustainable Business? 4. World’s Most Sustainable Companies 5. Corporate Sustainability 6. What is the EPA Doing? 7. What is Sustainable Management? Sustainability Sustainability “creates and maintains the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony that permits fulfilling the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations” (EPA, 2015). Sustainability is also “important to making sure that we have and will continue to have the water, materials and resources to protect human health and our environment” (EPA, 2015). Sustainability What is Sustainability? Sustainability is “everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends on our natural environment, we need to create and maintain the conditions under which nature can exist in productive harmony to support present and future generations” (U.S. EPA, 2015). Can our Society Endure? According to SustainAbility “today it is by no means certain our society has the capacity to endure, not in such a way the nine billion people expected on Earth by 2050 will be able to achieve a basic quality of life. The planet’s ecosystems are deteriorating and the climate is changing. We are consuming so much and so quickly that we are already living far beyond...
Words: 950 - Pages: 4
...concept of ‘sustainability’ became a phenomenon that was widely embraced by many government agencies and corporations worldwide. The importance of sustainability has grown especially in the context of rising global competition and economic downturn with research indicating that 93 percent out of 800 global CEOs acknowledging the important role of sustainability in their companies’ success [Refer to Figure 1 and Appendix A]. (Gibson & Hassan 2005; Lacy & Hayward 2011) Figure 1 – Importance of Sustainability Issues to Business’s Future Success (Source: Lacy & Hayward 2011, pp. 350) Sustainability is a broad concept which can be defined as the long term ability of managing and maximizing practices to achieve positive outcomes while minimizing the negative impacts on future generations and their ability to achieve future needs. (Hitchcock & Willard 2009; White 2009; Crowther & Capaldi 2008; Henriques & Richardson 2004; Aras & Crowther 2008) The 1987’s Bruntland Report (Our Common Future), by the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED), identified economic, social and environmental aspects as dimensions present in the concept of sustainability. (Crowther & Capaldi 2008; UN Documents 2011; Filho 2000) [Refer to Figure 2] This TBL reporting standard has been established to expand transparency of corporate reporting. (Mueller, Klandt, McDonald & Finke-Schuermann 2007) Figure 2 – The Elements of Sustainability (Source: Crowther...
Words: 2991 - Pages: 12
...Among all stakeholders, recognition is focusing increasingly on the need for sustainable corporate practices, given pressing economic, social, and environmental problems on a global scale. By conducting business in ways that promote ecological health and human welfare, corporations increase value over the long term for consumers, shareholders and others for both current and future generations. Business students need to be familiar with, and committed to, principles and practices of corporate sustainability. This short essay outlines several sources in the literature on corporate sustainability provided by the following organizations: International Organization for Standardization (ISO); Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC); Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; International Federation of Accountants (IFAC); Ernst & Young; and Association of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). An annotated bibliography follows the discussion, highlighting articles of interest in corporate sustainability literature. Finally, figures provided in an appendix illustrate key concepts from the discussion. ISO 26000:2010 International Organization for Standardization * Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. A global consortium of experts in multiple aspects of quality-related standardization representing industry, nonprofits, government, healthcare, and academia. * Formulated by technical committees, standards are released after extensive review and a minimum 75% favorable vote by...
Words: 3341 - Pages: 14
...new laws, and arbitrate conflicts to benefit the society in several ways including sustainability. Business owners whether for profit or non-profit are held accountable to the current Federal, State, and Local laws. If corporate sustainability reporting is not a current law then a company does not have the responsibility to incorporate disclosures relating to environmental, social and economic trends of the company resulting from sustainable actions into its financial statements. Milton Freedom put this best “"there is one and only one social responsibility of business – to use it resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profits so long as it stays within the rules of the game, which is to say, engages in open and free competition without deception or fraud" (Freidman 1970). Thus we believe that whether private or public, a business does not have the responsibility to report on sustainability as well as take sustainable initiatives if it is not required by the law. However, according to the trend more and more businesses are reporting on sustainability, and taking initiatives to become sustainable. Cascade Engineering is one of them. Based on our analysis of the sustainability report by Cascade Engineering, and knowledge gathered about the organization, we have concluded that there are several reasons for it to produce a sustainability report. Most importantly, sustainability is fundamental to its mission statement, “To have a positive impact on our society...
Words: 1444 - Pages: 6
...Bmw Sustainability On the website of BMW they refer that their long term goal is to combine efficiency with increased driving pleasure. The continuous optimisation of the vehicles, such as systematic weight reduction, innovative aerodynamics and engine efficiency measures, as well as the use of alternative drivetrain solutions and the research of new technologies, to provide sustainable mobility already today. BMW has announced the creation of a sub-brand devoted to "sustainability" and said it had established a unit for mobility services. Sustainability is business reality about making the business more efficient, without compromising the resources for tomorrow. Sustainability has become a very extensive and complex field. However, many approaches to sustainability of the business are fragmented, often disconnected from the business. The industry's largest luxury car producer said on Monday that its "BMW i" marque would launch its first two vehicles - an electric city car and a rechargeable hybrid car - in 2013. One of the weeks’article proposes a model of how incumbents and new entrants engage in sustainable entrepreneurship. They suggest that in the early stages of an industry's sustainability transformation, new entrants (‘Emerging Davids’) are more likely than incumbents to pursue sustainability-related opportunities. Incumbents react to the activities of new entrants by engaging in corporate sustainable entrepreneurship activities, like BMW compare to other car manufacturers...
Words: 291 - Pages: 2
...education for sustainable development is to help people develop the attitudes, skills, and knowledge to make informed decisions for the benefits of themselves and others, now and for the future, and to act upon those decisions” (Canada Council for the Arts). Education for sustainable development is an approach to teaching and learning based on the ideals and principles that underlie sustainability of human rights, poverty reduction, sustainable livelihoods, peace, environmental protection, democracy, health, biological and landscape diversity, climate change and so on. Education is a human right and the primary agent of transformation towards sustainable development by increasing people’s capacities to transform their visions for society into reality (Margaret & John, 2009, p.77). To implement education for sustainable development, in many communities or institutions seek to promotes and improve basic education, education programs at all levels to address sustainable development, develop public awareness and understanding of sustainability, and provide training for jobs. Through education for sustainability for living, students gain knowledge, skills and values to address the environmental and social challenges of the coming decades. There are many aims have been proposed by philosophers and other education theorists; they include the cultivation of curiosity and the fostering of creativity, the production of knowledge and of knowledgeable students to enhance of understanding , the...
Words: 495 - Pages: 2
...Sustainability is a system or process based on resources that will not be exhausted over a reasonable period. The process must not generate unacceptable pollution externally or internally. Sustainability is about using something that will last long term. This balancing act is critical for present and future generations of species. Sustainability is utilizing resources that are needed for the present and persevering resources for the future. The lack of knowledge about the future affects attempts to engage in sustainable behavior because knowledge of resources and environments brings sustainable behavior. Without this understanding the future is doomed. The understanding of the future allows for the allocation of resources judicially. The influence of society and government is based on future expectations and without knowledge of the future it is set to fail and become extinct. For example, the Roman Empire was richest and powerful empire of its time. The reason for the fall of the empire was its lack of sustainability. The Romans thought for the present allowing them to conquer and implement their values but there was not a plan in place to sustain these conquered countries. The lack of knowledge about the future affected the Romans because their resources were drained by war and occupying to many countries. Knowledge of the future is the key to sustaining the human species. All our problems are caused by people, for without people there would be no problems....
Words: 365 - Pages: 2
