This document discusses sustainability and why it is important for businesses. It defines sustainability as meeting present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs. While some think the sole purpose of business is profit, the document argues businesses must exist for higher purposes. It outlines the triple bottom line of people, planet, and profit. Key sustainability concepts are systems thinking, stakeholders, and material issues. The business case for sustainability includes reducing costs and risks, gaining competitive advantages, and improving reputation. Actions businesses can take include evaluating impacts, embedding sustainability into planning, understanding issues, setting goals, and implementing initiatives.

1. sustainable
thinking
why doing good
is good for business

2. what is
sustainability
?

3. one definition...
Meeting the needs of the
present without compromising
the ability of future generations
to meet their own needs.
Brundtland Commission, 1987

4. a widely held belief...
business exists to make a profit

5. For those who think
business exists to make a profit,
I suggest they think again.

6. For those who think
business exists to make a profit,
I suggest they think again.
Business makes a profit to exist.
Surely it must exist for some
higher, nobler purpose than that.
Ray Anderson, founder, Interface

7. sustainability issues...
resources, biodiversity, natural systems, climate change
economic survival, carbon economy, innovation
population growth, infrastructure, human rights,
community support/diversity, urban systems

8. sustainability
101
a quick look at 4 essential concepts

9. 1 Triple bottom line
People Social
Planet Environmental
Profit Economic

10. 2 Systems thinking
Take the pelican...

11. 3 Stakeholders
Staff, customers, suppliers, government, NGOs,
community, influencers, investors, media...

12. 4 Material issues
What impacts does your business have?
Which issues matter most?
degree of
concern to
stakeholders
level of business impact

13. The business case
1. Reduce costs 6. Increase productivity
2. Gain competitive 7. Attract & keep staff
advantage
8. Gain trust & loyalty of
3. Manage/reduce risk customers/stakeholders
4. Comply with regulations 9. Improve reputation,
‘licence to operate’
5. Reach new markets, add
new products/services 10. Innovate, learn, grow

14. sustainability
stories
are you sitting comfortably?

20. Actions for your business
evaluate, report,
adapt, reinvent
embed
sustainabilty into
business planning
& processes
understand
sustainability
issues & impacts
for your business
investigate
opportunities to be
more sustainable; set
goals/benchmarks
implement initiatives,
communicate, promote,
engage stakeholders