1

Business sustainability

Course Title

Student’s name

Institution

Professor’s name

Date
 2

Business sustainability

1.

a) What are the four (4) root causes of unsustainability and apply a real-world

business example for each, with sources.

The four causes of unsustainability;

i. Wasteful usage of resources

With the wrong usage of various resources, the assets that are misused lead to an extra

wastage of the seven squanders of lean assembling, which is the ineffective use of force, warmth,

and lights. This wastage is a typical waste within various representatives that occasionally

accomplish certain activities at workplaces which never happens at home.

Occasions, where unsustainable resources are wasted, include fossil fuels that are

extracted from the earth, that cannot be reused and could eventually become extinct after a

certain period.

ii. Poverty;

Poverty is most cases would keep people in situations where they are forced to become

more focused on the climate that brings about bigger families, poorly managed garbage removal

leading to unfriendly daily environments, over exploitations and issues that arise while trying to

address the various issues the people are facing.

iii. High population growth rates

The main cause of this issue happens when there are more births than deaths that

result become be perceived as a characteristics increment. Numerous reasons account for fast

populace development in scenarios such as an increment in dispersion and creation of food,

mitigated or stopped sicknesses, and enhanced well-being and medication. With time a growing

number of people have settled for a better living, which in result leads to an expanding future

population while provincial populace development can be attributed to relocation.

iv. Far and wide

Recycling contamination issues lead to other issues. Aimee Lee from the charitable

Recycle Across contamination (RAA) talks of a great deal of tainting issues that could be taken

by applying legitimate actions. Better sorting would lead to the saving billions of dollars that are

currently being spent in eliminating pollutants and impurities from the recycling stream.

Examples;

I. Waste problem:

The production of cement represents as much as 8% of the entire world's carbon dioxide

every year, which will keep on increasing given the interest for concrete keeps developing by 7%

annually. Then the mining business additionally shows high storage of waste materials that could

significantly harm the climate.

II. Ghosts nets, which are ropes and nets that fishers use has been disposed of into

water collections harming the marine life and biological systems where they end up trapping and

murdering various fish, ocean life, and turtles. As they start to disintegrate, they suck
 4

microplastics into the water bodies which fish devour, eventually finding their way into the

human body. Apparition fishing gear is taken to be the most harmful type of marine waste, and

ranges somewhere between 600,000 and 800,000 metric big loads of it remains within the seas

every year. However, unsafe as it is to rely on the climate alone, despising the fishing gear is an

easy undertaking. Thus, the anglers should consider ship nets that weigh up to 50 metric tons to

the nearest reusing office, starting with the provincial territories where they live. In most cases,

most lack the time, skills, and hardware to achieve such (Calabrese & Menichini, 2019).

3.

a. Explain why sustainability is ‘just so darn difficult to achieve today’ even

though we warned more than 50 years ago.

The tragedy of the commons is a term that is used to describe what happens to the

community resources and facilities as a result of human greed. It was initially formulated as

Garrett Hardin in 1968. In the given theory, Hardin shows when something is owned by a group

and not privately owned, the entire sustainability can be affected since this is a commodity that

not a single person has an obligation for or technically owns. In instances where not a single

person owns the given resource, all the members registered to it are open to taking from it. When

not, a single person has attached to it then all the people are open to benefit from it, regardless of

them being beyond their fair share or rather not sustainable. These can be applied to any sort of

shared resources. The question that comes up is how to manage property that does not belong to

any single person? Natural resources for instance fisheries, energy sources like clean air, fossil

fuels, and water, and the soil are some of the examples that everyone is entitled to and yet no one
 5

protects them. Given the given scenario where resources belong to everyone who is obliged to

make a call to action? Currently protecting the given common-pool resources has become a

problem, not only on a local scale but also on a national and international scale as well.

The quality of resources used and how they affect our environment effectively can be

determined by IPAT. IPAT sometimes written as I= PAT and other times as i=P*A*T, is an

equation that shows the concept of the environmental impact (I) being the impact of the three

aspects; population:-what is the number of people using the resources and giving waste,

Consumption:- the average quantity of services and goods which everyone uses and

Technology:- how efficient the production of goods and services is. The given equation was for

the first time introduced by Ehrlich and Holdren who were scientists in the early 1970s as a plan

to calculate the effect of humans on the environment (Malik, 2018).

The main factor affecting the unsustainability of conventional enhancements are the

undesirable effects concerned with the human mind, for instance, greed and selfishness for

power and material wealth. The said bad attributes within the mind prompt us to earn, possess,

consume, and accumulate more wealth than what we need, and this remains the driving force for

economic growth, which is the cornerstone of conventional expansion. In our determination to

possess, earn, consume and accumulate numerous people have a tendency of turning a blind eye

to the aftermath of their actions to the surroundings and other fellow human beings, those that

are yet to be born included. The is the main and root cause of the unsustainability within

conventional growth.
 6

4. Provide at least two specific examples for each (2 threats & 2 opportunities) on how

climate change can positively and negatively influence business operations today.

The combination of fluctuation of prices and weather patterns leads to changes in demand

for various goods. Demand for cold-weather products such as ski equipment and oil heating

could decline. Various companies have been forced to spend a lot of money or upgrades to areas

to might have faced pollution facilities and installation of emission control systems to fulfill

greenhouse gas emission regulations which imply more cost.

Climate change also poses various challenges which could have huge impacts on business

internationally. Climate change can lead to various risks within the business community. The

first one is climate change. Numerous companies may find themselves shortages in terms of

supplies and other resources caused by climate change. Some of the companies may find

themselves spending more on resources due to the diminishing of their usual supplies. Examples

of such resources could include operational impacts caused by bad weather, water scarcity

among others. Another risk related to business that companies could face is related to the normal

operation of things such as technology use, marketing, and regulation that are related to the

climate changes as society reacts, this would result in more costs (Altieri, & Nicholls, 2017).

This applies to companies that are not within the energy industry which cannot be

affected though not directly by energy regulation and the costs that are incurred. Big changes in

prices for utilities and transportation have to be passed on by suppliers. Similarly, the companies

in the middle have to be passed on to their consumers.

On the other hand, opportunities are available for various environmentally- friendly

corporations. For instanced companies such as Seventh Generation, Patagonia and Dr. Bronner’s

have all been successful by caring and encouraging, and guiding their customers on how to make

environmentally-conscious choices while they are shopping. Additionally, reputation is

supremely vital to businesses and, the current world, numerous people want to get reputation

concerning environmental responsibility. Additionally, numerous companies would face legal

action mounted upon them, making them responsible for the role they play contributing to

greenhouse levels within the atmosphere which leads to climate changes.

On the other hand, climate changes bring about some business opportunities

internationally. The low carbon transition has had an impact given it creates opportunities for

efficiency, expansion, and innovation which has resulted in impacting past high-carbon

industries such as transport and energy and other numerous sectors. Companies can save on costs

related to materials and energy, achieve new consumer needs, enhance their reputations and

lastly be able to retain talent with the organizations (Keele, 2019). All these are the aftermath of

working on the reduction of their emissions and those of their suppliers and customers which is a

constructive outcome.
 8

5.

a) Businesses in the current society are now understanding the importance of

incorporating environmental and social management issues within their planning and operations

daily activity. With baring of profits rooting from trends related to sustainability, numerous

companies together with their management sectors are implementing sustainable plans to react to

the environmental and other issues that affect the normal functioning of global business

operations. Numerous consumers have been perceived to be have become more loyal to

companies that have focused on sustainable practices within their corporates. How can

organizations and companies integrate sustainable practices within their models? This can be

achieved by following three steps; that is engagement with stakeholders, governance, and

disclosure (Lane, & Devin, 2018).

Corporate sustainability starts with corporate governance. This can be reached if the plan

of a business and sustainable practices are integrated within the plan of the business. Some of the

said strategies could include marketing and eco-friendly programs, initiatives, and strategic

management infrastructure. Thus, companies have to employ leaders that would be in charge of

sustainability and have got the right experiences, credentials, and skills required to enforce the

sustainability plan. For example, numerous fortune companies have hired and designed titles

such as sustainability officers and directors that are meant to ensure sustainability aims are

achieved. This makes it easy to have a strategy for sustainability together with the risk and

revenues that would incur. The governance also requires the functional directors and main

executives to get involved and remain accountable for reaching the sustainability goals. To make

sure the employees remain dedicated to sustainability, compensation and incentive plans have to

be used and remain attached to the performance of the workforces through assessing them.
 9

Positions regarding sustainability policies have to be clearly stated and the process done

transparently after the implementation of business sustainability strategies and related

commitments.

Businesses and organizations can do numerous changes to ensure social and

environmental impacts are well protected within their operations. However, main advancements

can only take place if the stakeholders are involved. The first stakeholders are the business

partners. This group entails the suppliers, distributors, and other entities within the value chain.

An effective relationship between the organizations and business partners is important in

monitoring sustainability in all aspects of an organization. this collaboration ensures the

organization and related industry associates play a role in mitigating the negative effects of

organizational operations and could result in the invention of new products and services

eventually. The other segment of stakeholders that are supposed to get involved within these

strategies is the customers. An organization is not able to accomplish much without the

consideration of its consumers. The need for customer engagement and participation related to

environmentally friendly consumption is important(Lane, & Devin, 2018).. Apart from

consumers purchasing products while concentrating on the cost and features, they need to

concentrate on features such as if the product being purchased is environmentally friendly or

recyclable especially with the packaging. Therefore, companies have to engage with their

customers and teach them sustainable options such as carpooling, recycling, and responsible

consumption among others.

An organization needs to remain effective in expressing its vision concerning

sustainability to all its participants. Every individual, despite the roles and positions they have

within an organization, is obliged to understand and embrace their obligations in achieving the
 10

company’s vision on sustainability and corporate social responsibility. It is also important for the

organization to come out clear regarding achievements concerning sustainability. Some of the

examples of the need-to-be aspects that can be included are annual reports, financial findings,

corporate websites, and sustainability reports.

b). Identify some common mistakes organizations make which prevent them from

achieving an integrated sustainable strategy.

Often executives take for granted the softer risks which can be mitigated instead focus

all their energies related to essential business operations where they have control over. While at

sustainable planning, organizations prepare for big changes and investments. The results in the

executives ignoring the softer risks. The aftermath of these outcomes is that the risks left

unmanaged remain in the same state until they begin to impact the organization’s bottom line

and at this time the managements are normally at undesirable points where they are unable to

employ acceptable and inclusive solutions that can be effective in the long term operations. This

can be rectified by the use of all the stakeholders earlier during its occurrence and engaging

equivalently to the risk (Lane, & Devin, 2018). Other mistakes that are made include

regurgitating older versions of plans, not relying on the short and easy plan, failure to plan on

how sustainability strategy implementation, failure to define the sustainability goals, and missing

on reviewing and revising cycles to rectify the direction of sustainability approaches.

7.

a) Explain the triple bottom line benefits for that specific management strategy.

The triple bottom line entails the examination of business performance basing the results

on three main aspects that are people, profit, and the planet. Organizations get numerous benefits
 11

from water in numerous ways so that they can achieve their profits. Though, through the

application of the bottom line, organizations can utilize water resources responsibly while at the

same time minding sustainability. Such companies normally asses the water risk and additionally

account for regional water involvements to reduce aspects such as availability and quality

concerning water(Cole & Haukaas, 2018). Thus, companies monitor and measure water

discharges, quality, quantity, and consumption rates and give providence for hygiene procedures

and sanitation services during the process. Through the application of triple bottom line

companies and organizations can set and achieve targeted ambitions that mitigate water quality

and availability influences.

b). identify two specific activities/ strategies businesses can use to promote/actualize

that specific management strategy.

Several undertakings can be used to actualize water management. These are; protection

of groundwater resources. During rain or occurrence of precipitation forms, some water sips into

the ground. The Water located in the saturation zone is referred to as groundwater. Sources that

contaminate this include chemical landfills, road salts, septic tanks, water stored in tanks,

hazardous waste, and other many aspects. Thus, the contamination of these groundwater leads to

the capability of the water being utilized as a freshwater source. Regeneration of groundwater

sources usually takes a long time to regenerate(Van der Hoek, & Struker, 2016). Protecting

groundwater resources will go a long way in keeping water management. Similarly, groundwater

protection is possible through the usage of various regulations that can be put both at the national

and local levels to avoid aquifer contamination. For instance, policies can be put in place to

ensure the manufacture of toxic products is avoided, coming up with strategies to manage waste
 12

produced by industrial companies and again maintaining the waste and its disposal and ensuring

the maximum allowable degree of pollutants is enacted.

The second strategy for water management is ensuring water harvesting is made

possible. This can be done in various ways such as digging canals, lakes, installing ponds that

can gather water, and also expanding on water reservoirs and other many techniques that can be

applied. Harvested and filtered water can be utilized in flushing toilets, small-scale agriculture,

gardening at home, and irrigation of lawns.

c) suggest a reporting/guiding organization the business could use to assist with the

disclosure and integration.

Putting attention on various principles is a guarantee that there is an effective way in

which integrated reporting, which through implementation can have numerous enhancements

among other types of reports which turn out to be a remedy to various deficiencies within

corporate reporting. An organization could be used to apply frameworks developed by Dr.

Stephanie Bertel concerning the network to achieve business sustainability which is intended for

giving the best knowledge on integrating sustainability within a business. The framework

comprises sixty diverse practices that are subdivided into thirteen pathways. The framework

gives practices that support the fulfillment of an organization’s current practices and

sustainability that advance the entire agenda on sustainability. Additionally, it offers systems

rules and metrics that implement sustainability.

7.

a) explain and provide examples of how businesses can implement each of these

natural capitalism practices.

Natural capitalism refers to a system that ensures four principles can interlink, and a

point where environmental and business interests overlap, and where businesses can better

achieve the needs of their customers, assist in solving environmental issues and make profits at

the same time. Thus, this is an economic system that deals with incentives that are profitable

based and assist in having good care on the environment in terms of profit and also assigns value

to stewardship of the planet. For instance, in terms of income from the natural capital entails the

products from plants and trees within their original state and not just from their extraction

strategies.

It can get tedious while aiming at attaining sustainability in a scenario where

capitalism is present, but four main adjustments can be implemented and adjusted to ensure the

two interlink. The first one entails coming up with a comprehensive strategy that ensures

enhancements and developments instead of using GDP as a measure of wellbeing which is

commonly affected by various shortcomings thus GPI can be utilized instead s (Hayden, &

Wilson, 2017). The limitations of GDP involve various failures to account for dissemination of

commodities, not modifications due to pollution to costs, failed modified leisure time, and trade

commodities that are only accounted for by officials. GPI is well related to GDP however, in

addition, it comprises of the different metrics that reveal the costs of negative impacts that are

linked with economic operations for instance criminal offenses (Ivković, 2016). Thus,

implementation of GPI could account for environmental exploitation coming up with a

framework that gives the best solutions that better sustainability.

Another method that can be applied involves reviewing and reconsideration of social-

effective use of resources within the community or society concerned. This strategy accounts for

both the external costs and also benefits the internal benefits. Regardless numerous businesses
 14

can only make use of cost- benefits while implementing decisions failing to include communal

benefits and costs (Long, & Ji, 2019). Thus, a business needs to focus on social-efficient

resolutions that entail effective cost benefits assessment that recognize the future generations,

resulting in certain benefits and computation of costs similarly. Therefore, the business has to

include a sustainable degree and future and contemporary benefits and costs. During these

activities, all the expenses have to be vindicated to ensure all the communal needs and natural

needs are secured which in the future might confine indemnities.

Giving value to nature’s free services is an instance of another adjustment that can be

interlinked with the other. In most instances, the value given in some natural capita is many ways

underestimated. As an outcome, the value should be given for natural resources to come up with

values that can be calculated regarding firewood.

Lastly letting customers come up with well-thought decisions is another effective and

proficient shift. In many occurrences, the free market concerning capitalism brings up trading

costs for both services and goods that are based on the amount a client has plans for parting with

to get various commodities. On the other hand, the trading cost in some instances could fail to

present the real cost of such goods and services. Thus, for the customers to have the right

knowledge related to various commodities, they have to consider the secret costs that are entailed

with all the commodities to be purchased that include both goods and services. For instance, the

inventory costs related to a hamburger such as environmental effects during the processing

procedures of beef, and also the enhanced health care costs for overweightness considerations.
 15

References

Bini, L., Bellucci, M., & Giunta, F. (2018). Integrating sustainability in business model

disclosure: Evidence from the UK mining industry. Journal of cleaner

production, 171, 1161-1170.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325176917_Stakeholder_Engagement_and_Sus

tainability_Reporting

Calabrese, A., Costa, R., Levialdi, N., & Menichini, T. (2019). Integrating sustainability

into strategic decision-making: A fuzzy AHP method for the selection of relevant

sustainability issues. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 139, 155-

168.

https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/tefoso/v139y2019icp155-168.html

Cole, J., Sharvelle, S., Grigg, N., Pivo, G., & Haukaas, J. (2018). Collaborative, riskinformed,

triple bottom line, multi-criteria decision analysis planning framework

for Integrated Urban Water Management. Water, 10(12), 1722.

https://arizona.pure.elsevier.com/en/publications/collaborative-risk-informed-triplebottom-line-

multi-criteria-dec

Hayden, A., & Wilson, J. (2017). “Beyond-GDP” indicators: Changing the economic

narrative for a post-consumer society? In Social Change and the Coming of PostConsumer

Society (pp. 170-191). Routledge.

https://www.routledge.com/Social-Change-and-the-Coming-of-Post-consumer-

SocietyTheoretical-Advances/Cohen-Brown-Vergragt/p/book/9781138642058

Ivković, A. F. (2016). Limitations of the GDP as a measure of progress and wellbeing.

Ekonomski Vjesnik/Econviews-Review of Contemporary Business,

Entrepreneurship and Economic Issues, 29(1), 257-272.

https://www.khanacademy.org/economics-finance-domain/apmacroeconomics/economic-

iondicators-and-the-business-cycle/limitations-ofgdp/a/lesson-summary-the-limitations-

of-gdp

Keele, S. (2019). Consultants and the business of climate services: implications of

shifting from public to private science. Climatic Change, 157(1), 9-26.

https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/climat/v157y2019i1d10.1007_s10584-019-02385-x.html

Lane, A. B., & Devin, B. (2018). Operationalizing stakeholder engagement in CSR: A

process approach. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental

Management, 25(3), 267-280.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/csr.1460

Long, X., & Ji, X. (2019). Economic growth quality, environmental sustainability, and

social welfare in China-provincial assessment based on genuine progress indicator

(GPI). Ecological economics, 159, 157-176.

https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/ecolec/v159y2019icp157-176.html
 17

Malik, A. (2018). The main driver of social unsustainability and its remedy. International

Journal of Social Economics.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/324615791_The_main_driver_of_social_unsust

ainability_and_its_remedy

Terziev, V., & Arabska, E. (2016). Nature and Evolution of Capitalism in Bulgaria: 2020

Agenda. Available at SSRN 2889707.

https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/98155/1/MPRA_paper_98155.pdf

Van der Hoek, J. P., de Fooij, H., & Struker, A. (2016). Wastewater as a resource:

Strategies to recover resources from Amsterdam’s wastewater. Resources,

Conservation and Recycling, 113, 53-64.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921344916301227