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Environmental

Sustainability JENNIFER DEBOER

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Preview & ObjectivesToday’s lesson will address the following questions:

� What is (environmental) sustainability?

� What are indicators of sustainability?

� What are dimensions of sustainability?

� What are common conceptualizations/models of sustainability?

� What is business sustainability?

� What motivates businesses to be sustainable?

� What sustainable strategies/practices do businesses pursue?

� How do businesses pursue sustainability strategies?

� What are implications surrounding business sustainability?

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What is sustainability?

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Definition and Background

Sustainability represents the ability to sustain; it encompasses the

endurance of processes and systems.

Sustainability is “the property of biological systems to remain diverse

and productive indefinitely,” (James et al., 2015).In

The United Nations formed the World Commission on Environment

and Development (WCED) to unite countries to pursue sustainable

development together. Our Common Future famously defines

sustainable development as, “development that meets the

needs of the present without compromising the ability of

future generations to meet their own needs,”

(Brundtland Report, 1987).

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Are we currently environmentally sustainable?

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Vital Indicators… 6

Population Total Real GDP

Water Use Ozone Depletion

https://www.slideshare.net/IGBPSecretariat/planetary-stewardship-sybil-seitzinger

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Accelerated Change… 7

Paper Consumption

Tropical Forest and

Woodland Loss

Fisheries Exploitation Biodiversity Loss

Natural Climatic Disasters

https://www.slideshare.net/IGBPSecretariat/planetary-stewardship-sybil-seitzinger

Climate Change Indices 8

Global carbon dioxideArctic sea-ice minimum

Global surface temperature Global sea level

http://www.igbp.net/globalchange/climatechangeindex.4.56b5e28e137d8d8c09380002241.html

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More Info… 9

Planetary Boundaries

(Rockstrom et al., 2009):

https://www.ted.com/talk

s/johan_rockstrom_let_the

_environment_guide_our_

development

What are the three

(most common)

components of

sustainability?

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Environmental Dimension

� Includes issues surrounding environmental

stewardship, natural resources, climate change,

renewable energy, and related areas

� Seeks to promote the responsible use of natural

resources to ensure a healthy environment for

future generations

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Economic Dimension

�Concerns economic outcomes, market

performance, and indirect economic impacts

(e.g. employment rates) on local, national, and

global systems

� Seeks to promote economic value creation over

time

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Social Dimension

�Considers issues of human rights, quality of life, resource

access, and corporate responsibility

� Seeks to promote the ability of a societal system to

function over time

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How do we

conceptualize

these three

dimensions?

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Three Pillars Model 15

SustainabilityEconomic

Environmental

Social

Venn Diagram Model 16

Economic

Environmental Social

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Venn Diagram Model 17

Economic

EnvironmentalSocial

Nested Model

Society

Economy

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Environment

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Group Activity #1: Role Playing� Create groups of 4 – 8 students

� Refer to your Group Activity #1 handout

� Ideally, approximately half of your group will play “Role A” and half of your

group will play “Role B” – if the number of group members assigned to the roles

is uneven, some group members may switch roles, but only to bring the number

of each role even (i.e do not switch roles because you disagree with the role

you’ve been given)

� In this role playing scenario, have a discussion with your group about the future

of the Giant Sequoia National Monument to work towards a collective

recommendation

� You’ll have approximately 15 minutes to come up with a recommendation

� Recommendations will be shared and discussed with the class

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Business Sustainability � Business sustainability is often defined as managing the triple bottom line - a

process by which companies manage and integrate financial, environmental,

and social risks, obligations and opportunities.

� These three impacts are sometimes referred to as profits, people and planet.

� Businesses are typically considered sustainable if they meet the following criteria:

� The business incorporates principles of sustainability into each of its business

decisions.

� The business supplies environmentally friendly products or services (ideally

those that replace non-renewable products and/or services)

� The business is more environmentally friendly than its competition

� The business has made a substantial commitment to environmental principles

and practices in its business operations

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Sustainable Business Example

https://www.jetblue.

com/green/climate-

change/

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Why do businesses “go green?”

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Motivations

� Competitiveness: profitability, market share, cost savings, cost-

benefit analysis, risk mitigation, innovation, tax incentives,

competitive advantage

� Legitimation: compliance with norms and/or regulations,

consumer demands, brand reputation and publicity, imitation,

survival, employee attraction and retention

� Environmental Responsibility: leadership, ecological values, social

good, concern about resource limitations, desire to provide

healthier work environment

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Model of Ecological Responsiveness

(Bansal and Roth, 2000)

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What strategies do businesses take to “go green?”

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Strategies� Stakeholder Engagement

� Innovation & Technology

� Collaboration

� Sustainability Reporting

� Greening the Supply Chain

� Green Human Resources Management

� Environmental Management Systems

� Environmental Certifications

� Environmental Marketing

� Environmental Audits

� Life Cycle Assessment

� Environmental Performance Reporting

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Orsato, 2009 27

How do businesses “go green?”

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Process/Implementation

� It’s a path dependent process!!!

� Research indicates the following factors promote this process:

� Leadership values

�Company culture

� Innovation and Technology

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Adams et al., 2016 30

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Adams et al., 2016 31

Implications

�Competitiveness?

� Legitimation?

� Environmental Responsibility?

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Group Activity #2 � Find a partner or two – make sure at least one person has internet access

� Choose one of the following companies:

� International Paper

� Weyerhaeuser

� Patagonia

� Salt Spring Coffee

� Go to the company’s website and identify at least 5 environmental practices or

strategies

� Using your handout, indicate where you believe these practices or strategies would

be placed on the sustainability oriented innovation model

� Find another group that chose the SAME company as you and compare notes

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Thank you!

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