The Concept of Sustainability in Today's Business Leadership

When talking about sustainability numerous people associate it with just protecting the environment. Sustainability is far more than going green, but it is a principle that many companies have adopted and have worked persistently to improve over the last several years. Sustainability is defined as the ability to continue a behavior indeterminately, but it also includes improving human life overall. Sustainable development is broken down into three pillars: economic, social, and environmental (Harich & Bangerter, 2014). Economics is the study of how people use resources, which correlates to the goal of sustainable development by using resources to their full potential (Laszlo, C., & Zhexembayeva, N., 2011, p. 60). Economic sustainable development allows companies to give their customers what they want without overusing mutual resources. Social development combines the social world with the physical realm to provide a good quality of life (Benoit, 2010, p. 7). Social sustainability focuses on the well-being of people and their communities. Environmental development, the most recognizable, includes protecting the environment by reducing pollution, recycling, switching of electronic devices when not in use, etc. All three of these pillars make up what is known as sustainable development. In this paper, I researched a company and their involvement in sustainability and how it applies to the

Although there is no formal definition for the term, individuals have tried to define sustainability according to their function or area of study. The term “sustainability,” once an obscure ecological concept, has now been adopted by many in the business world to connote the principles of social and environmental responsibility (Joseph Fiksel, Jonathan Low and Jim Thomas). Further, sustainability can be seen through the eyes of business as a way to create value. More likely than not, the term sustainability can be linked to the ability of decreasing costs, wastes and inefficiencies. According to the vice president of General Electric,

As the competitors, notably Haigh Chocolates and Max Brenner are increasingly innovating to meet the needs of their customers demanding healthy and ethically manufactured products (Heffernan, 2015), it is important for Koko to upgrade its operations to remain competitive. Even the literature has revealed that businesses armed with sustainable resources and capabilities will not only help to improve social and human welfare but also overall achieve organisational objectives (Sharma, 2003).

Businesses who participate in environmentally friendly practices will become more profitable. There are difficulties and costs that a business will face and profit takes time but is proven to positively impact a business. “The reluctance to address the forces that are polluting the planet always comes down to money (Smith, “6 Reasons Nations Don't Go Green.”). Implementing environmentally friendly practices within a company “will win them customers, and increase profits” (McDonald, “Why Do (or Don’t) Companies Go Green?”). Many global companies today carry out environmental management tools to adapt to environmentally friendly practices, which helps gain customers, and in turn becomes more profitable. In this paper, I will go into further detail explaining why businesses should be more environmentally friendly, the benefits to be gained, costs that come with being environmentally friendly, and management ways that help a company become environmentally friendly.

Many firms are learning that being environmentally friendly and sustainable has numerous benefits. (O.C Ferrell, Fraedrich, Ferrell, 2015). This could enable them to increase goodwill from various stakeholders and also save money in the long term. This will mean that they are being more efficient and less wasteful of resources, which will enable them to be more competitive by satisfying stakeholders. The CEO of

Bertrand Piccard quotes, “In the 21st century, the heroes will be the people who will improve the quality of life, fight poverty and introduce more sustainability. This is a powerful message, it sums up the concepts discussed throughout the course. Additionally, the case studies such as the New Belgium Brewery, SC Johnson and The Kimberly Clarke organization have been proven to practice this philosophy. As society progresses in its efforts to provide a more sustainable future, there is a fundamental foundation of principles that must be followed to ensure success. Sustainable business development takes into account the application of business operations as it relates to the three pillars of sustainability, which is a dynamic yet integrative place to begin this journey. DesJardins, (2006) calls for a re-imagination of the future to create a vibrant sustainable model; which forms similar beliefs to Piccard. In addition, organizations are more inclined to create sustainable practices based on consumer demand and the willingness of leadership to participate in sustainability programs.

Conducting business today is extremely energy-intensive, which has led to the depletion of our natural resources and degradation of the environment. My goal is to become a Sustainability Manager for a retail or consumer goods company whose sustainability goals are aligned with mine, such as Ikea or Nike. In the long-term, I hope to move up within the organization and become the Head of Sustainability.

The purpose of this paper is to compare the sustainability practices of two companies in the same industry. The two companies chosen for comparison are The Hershey Company and Coca-Cola Enterprises, both of which are in the consumer staples industry. These two corporations are ranked sixth and eighth, respectively, on the Newsweek Top Green Companies in the U.S 2015. They have taken pride in creating sustainable product designs, having environmentally sustainable processes and supply chain management.

The post-bureaucratic era has seen the augmentation of leadership practices cultivating business sustainability from a pecuniary model to an ecological modernised ideology. Although, such dynamic contribution to business dogma has transformed neo-classical principles. Thus, exemplifying it as a “hybrid” form of economic “bureaucratic” growth and “Weberian” social and environmental rational (Clegg and Courpasson 2004: pg; 527). In this essay, I argue that post-bureaucratic leadership practices contribute to managing sustainability to an extent, as prior bureaucratic methods remain interpolated. Firstly, in section one I evaluate the limitations of groupthink cultivating a “fear of separation” within in post-bureaucratic era by calling on the views of Dimtroff, Schmidt and Bond (2005) however, I compare its effectiveness through the Columbian and the Challenger accident incurred by NASA, suggesting “post-heroic” forms of “group think” encumber judgement of management limiting ethicality. Following this, I will contrast the argument by drawing upon Clegg, Teo and Josserand (2006), implying that changes in practices within the post-bureaucratic era have “branched” and remain interpolated with bureaucratic leadership styles. In doing so, I will examine the writings of Stubbs and Coklin (2008), exploring the effects of the sustainable business model through Bendigo Bank and Interface, advocating that leadership practice contributes to the purpose of an organisation, through an

Sustainability is defined as the ability to endure.(1) Though the idea of sustainability can be applied to most anything from a sustainable ecosystem that has survived thousands of years to a sustainable workplace that uses green technologies. Paul Hawken captured today’s connotation of sustainability in saying “Sustainability is about stabilizing the currently disruptive relationship between earth’s two most complex systems—human culture and the living world.” (2) There are countless ways to live, work, and produce sustainably. Sustainability not only needs to be practiced by citizens, but businesses need to join the green movement as well. Without creating, following, and enforcing green policies, negative effects will be evident and innumerable

For example, Interface’s model emphasised a more ecological and environmental drive, while accompanying the social aspects of maximising stakeholder satisfaction. However, Bendigo Bank solely emphasised on the social aspects, in accordance to the enhancement of customer and community welfare. Overall, the contribution to sustainability elucidated a post-bureaucratic view, however, Clegg and Courpasson (2004) suggest, post-bureaucracy forms are an original amalgamation of older principles in a perception designated as a new. Therefore, the degree of bureaucratic essence was evidential as both cases acknowledge profit as a significant outcome in the social and the environmental aspect of an organisation. Therefore, Stubbs and Cockling (2008) highlight the role of leadership in contributing to sustainable values, by aligning organisational ideal's with the “community values”. Hence, focused leaders are then contributing to “cultural sustainability” in the minds of the “stakeholder” (Bansal, 2002 cited in Stubbs and Cocklin 2008 pg. 116). However, Cockling and Stubbs advocate, once the culture attains sustainability there is little reliance on hierarchical leadership. Thus, modern-bureaucratic leadership has indefinitely interpolated with this collective style of post-heroic stakeholder sustainability, shaping and driving the purpose and mission of the business, through the sustainable business

1. After reading the section “Gary Hirschberg Grows Company That Makes Planet a Priority,” I do not believe Stonyfield Farm’s business model can be applied to other organizations because most companies have different goals and principles set in place. Hirschberg’s mission on creating a healthy, yet profitable product without harming the environment are not characteristics that most organizations try to follow. A perfect example of a company that puts the profitability of their product before the environment is Nike. Nike has found itself in the midst of controversy over the years for outsourcing all of their products overseas without ensuring that the factories are operating ethically or if they are using Earth’s resources efficiently.

“Businesses are an integral part of the communities in which they operate. Good executives know that their long-term success is based on continued good relations with a wide range of individuals, groups and institutions. Smart firms know that business can’t succeed in societies that are failing—whether this is due to social or environmental challenges, or governance problems. Moreover, the general public has high expectations of the private sector in terms of responsible behavior. Consumers expect goods and services to reflect socially and environmentally responsible business behavior at competitive prices. Shareholders also are searching for enhanced financial performance that integrates social and environmental

Sustainability has become a great topic of interest in many arenas. Particularly, leading organizations are recognizing sustainability needs to be an essential aspect of their long term strategies. With this recognition, better business practices are being sought by investors as well as sustainability is becoming a driving force for better efficiencies and innovation. Two organizations, Wal-Mart and Starbucks, have both took on sustainability as long term initiatives to address their customer needs and affect how their suppliers operate.

Over the past few decades, sustainable business practices have become more prevalent and required in corporations. Australian organisations are required to be responsible for being sustainable socially, economically and environmentally, here we focus on the environmental factors. Australia’s government is constantly coming up