At its core, sustainability is about making sure that one positive impact doesn’t create more problems. There are four key overlapping areas to consider:
- Economic sustainability: a business or product has the resilience to have a positive impact for a long time.
- Social awareness: safeguarding people’s mental, physical and emotional well-being for generations.
- Cultural sustainability: respecting the customs and values of customers and suppliers – not negatively impacting one community for the benefit of another.
- Environmental impact: reducing pollution and waste, protecting diversity and nature, and mitigating climate damage.
All four areas are vital for sustainability. Satisfied employees and communities support businesses to thrive. And a cleaner, healthier planet benefits both businesses and people.