Edwards (2005) writes, "This principle asks businesses to use foresight in the development of new products and processes and, if these are deemed potentially dangerous to society, to refrain from further action" (p. 55). This ethical concept shifts responsibility from the consumer and regulators to the business itself. The burden lies with the company to prove that technologies, chemicals, or practices are sustainable and safe. This is important because many companies view the requirement of proving non-hazards as an obstacle to technological advancement.
Maybe the most important concept in sustainability is that economic development is human development. This view integrates culture and economy. "The economy represents our societal metabolism; it processes resources and information and circulates the resulting products throughout" (Goerner et. al., 2008, p. 157). Prosperity is a function of human capital and local networks of collaboration. This is important since it reverses top-down notions which promote material means (factories, money, convention centers) and the interests at the top by ignoring the health of those at the bottom. It refuses to prioritize rugged individuals, capitalists, and managers over those upon whose work their success is built. It calls on businesses to empower individuals, families, and community groups to organize, educate, and innovate in sustainable ways. At the heart of this is the notion of local networks. Energy and intelligence should come from the local community for a business to be considered sustainable. Wealth should not be siphoned off to absentee owners, but kept local and distributed fairly.
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Sustainability It appears there is much riding on the earth's future. Leadership of the next decades must be ready to deal with new challenges that have not been recorded in history. A major issue of this future will be the ability for society to sustain itself amid an illusion of resource scarcity. The purpose of this essay is to investigate the next generations' ability to carry the torch of sustainability as
Buildings will be required to obtain energy certification. At the current time, construction engineers are the most likely candidate for the job. This being the case, it is estimated that approximately 12,000 engineers will need to be retained to carry out these functions (Coverdale, 2002). As one can see, the EPBD will place a strain on the construction industry in terms of knowledge and the manpower needed to carry out
A second major facto in the growing trend for a new greener industry is that these measures also represent a more efficient operation from a financial perspective as well. For instance, recycling aluminum cans on the job is an example of a sustainable practice that contributes in a positive way to the bottom line (Shepherd, 2009). Recycling aluminum cans on the jobsite help to feed the local economy as well.
Analysis of the Field Sustainability is a concept that is receiving attention in numerous industries—from auto manufacturing to accounting (Bouten & Hoozee, 2015; Kwangeson, 2014). Companies like Tesla, Porsche, GM, Audi, Volkswagen and others are finding ways to become more sustainable by creating electric vehicles (EV) that consumers can buy in place of gas-powered cars to avoid polluting the earth. Sustainability concepts focus mainly on green energy and protecting the environment,
Sustainability: What is required to stop global warming and other negative consequences of industrialization? The need for businesses and governments to be sustainable enterprises is one of the most talked-about subjects in the media today. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): "Sustainability is based on a simple principle: Everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment. Sustainability creates and maintains
Corporate Sustainability Summary of the purpose of Corporate Sustainability Reporting Reporting corporate sustainability is one of the best ways to ensure that a company is not only doing well financially in the present but also in securing a better and more certain future. The reporting of corporate suitability ensures that the current needs of the organization are effectively met without comprising future needs of the organization. Reporting on corporate sustainability also ensure
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