Definition of sustainability

What is the definition of sustainability? What is sustainability exactly? And why do we even have to care about it?

The simple answer is: Without sustainability, humanity will not have a future! In times of climate change and environmental pollution it is more important than ever before to take care of our planet. In this article we’ve summarized the most important things you need to know about sustainability. So, let’s jump right into it!

The Definition of Sustainability

There is no commonly accepted definition of sustainability. Depending on the area of interest, there can be different ways to define sustainability. Generally, sustainability can be described as the capacity to support, maintain or endure and aims to connect the envionment with society and economy.

In recent years, the topic of sustainability has received increasing attention in public debates about climate change and pollution. The word itself has become a buzz-word.

As the concept got more famous, there are many people who don’t know about the origin of it. Thus, here is a quick summary of where sustainability is coming from and why it is so important today.

Definition of Sustainability: The Origin

Sustainability has become a mainstream term and is often misunderstood. Oftentimes, sustainability is used as a synonym for words like “green”, “eco-friendly”, “socially responsible”. But first things first…

The concept of sustainability first appeared in the Brundtland Report, published in 1987. This document was elaborated for the United Nations in order to warn about the negative environmental consequences of economic development and globalization. It was written with the aim of offering solutions to the problems arising from industrialization and population growth. A general definition of sustainability could be described as “the capacity to support, maintain or endure”.

Today, sustainability tries to secure present needs without compromising on the needs of future generations.

But how?

Without giving up any of these 3 essential pillars:

Definition of Sustainability: Planet, People and Profit

1. Environmental Sustainability (PLANET)

Environmental sustainability is concerned with aknowledging that nature and the environment are not an inexhaustible resource. Thus, it is necessary to protect them and use them rationally.

Our most basic requirements are:

unpolluted air
clean water
fresh food

All of thes are coming from our environment. And so does the energy and raw materials we need for construction and transportation.

Thus, environmental sustainability is essential if we wish to have the resources to meet our needs. In the broadest sense, environmental sustainability involves the entire global ecosystem (oceans, freshwater systems, land and atmosphere).

However, environmental sustainability principles can equally be applied to ecosystems of any size, even down to the scale of your small home garden.

2. Social Sustainability (PEOPLE)

Social sustainability promotes social development. It is seeking cohesion between communities and cultures to achieve satisfactory levels in quality of life, health and education.

A socially sustainable society is one in which all members have equal rights. All share equally in societal benefits, and all participate equally in the decision-making process.

As with environmental sustainability, social sustainability principles can be applied to societies of any size. For example, one of sustainability’s grand challenges is to simultaneously reduce consumption in the developed world while raising the standard of living of the developing world.

We need to be responsible global citizens by making informed choices every day within our homes and communities.

3. Economic Sustainability (PROFIT)

Economic sustainability focuses on equal economic growth that generates wealth for all. And the most important part: Without harming the environment.

It is about much more than the sustained growth of resources and profit margins. Economic sustainability takes into account the social and ecological consequences of economic activity.

We need to carefully consider the full life-cycle of our goods:

Extraction of raw materials,
Processing
Manufacture
Distribution
Use / Consumption
Maintenance / Repair
Recycling / Disposal.

Nowadays, many of the challenges that humans face such as climate change or water scarcity can only be tackled from a global perspective and by promoting sustainable development.

Definition of Sustainable Development

Sustainable development can be defined as economic development that is conducted without depletion of natural resources.

In order to achieve a sustainable future, the United Nations have set up the so-called Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While they sometimes can be paradoxial, their blueprint is clear: Achieving a just and sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face; such as:

Poverty
Inequality
Climate change
Environmental degradation
Peace
Justice

You can find all 17 goals here.

But: How can we reach these goals? Well… This question goes beyond the scope of this article. However, one thing is for sure: They can only be reached with the power of business.

Definition of Corporate Sustainability

Corporate sustainability emerged as a component of business ethics in response to public protest over the long-term damage caused by a focus on short-term profits.

In a business context, sustainability refers to more than just environmentalism. It refers to the impact a business has either on the environment or on the society.

The foundation for corporate sustainability lies in sustainable leadership and the long-term impact of a company’s activities. This covers a broad array of possible practices, all based on the 3 Pillars of Sustainable Business. The following would qualify as moves towards sustainability:

Cutting emissions
Lowering energy usage
Sourcing products from fair-trade organizations
Ensuring physical waste is disposed of properly and with a smaller carbon footprint
Driving sustainable innovations, such as biomimicry

However, because these policies tend to generate public goodwill, some companies have been accused of “greenwashing“.

What is Greenwashing

Greenwashing is the process of conveying a false impression or providing misleading information about how a company’s products are more environmentally sound.

Greenwashing is considered an unsubstantiated claim to deceive consumers into believing that a company’s products are environmentally friendly.

For example, companies involved in greenwashing behavior might make claims that their products are from recycled materials or have energy-saving benefits, although their core business is to sell products that aren’t green at all.

Although some of the environmental claims might be partly true, companies engaged in greenwashing typically exaggerate their claims or the benefits in an attempt to mislead consumers.

Examples of Greenwashing

As consumer demand for more sustainable products is growing, more and more companies are trying to market themselves and their products as green.

These are some examples of companies called out for greenwashing:

Volkswagen – cheating emissions tests
BP – misleading the public with advertisement
Nestle – false claims about their plastic packaing
IKEA – accused of illegal logging
JP Morgan – false claims about fossil-fuel investments

Greenwashing is one of the many reasons why sustainability education is so important.

Now that you know what sustainability is exatcly about, you are probably wondering how you can contribute to a more sustainable world and what we can do to solve climate change.

Here are some great sustainability books and 15 ways to live a more sustainable lifesystle.