What is sustainability?
That is the most common question we receive.
While there are several definitions, the one we like best is:
Sustainability means meeting the needs of today without sacrificing future generations’ ability to meet their needs.
So, sustainable policies balance today’s needs for profit and people and planet with future needs for profit and people and planet. In other words, sustainable policies consider the of economy (profits and value), society (social responsibility) and the environment.
Often, we are also asked if sustainability is the same as “going green” or “being green.”
“Being green” means having the smallest impact on the planet as possible. It is a step in the right direction because conservation will prolong the use of available natural resources, which will still run out at some point. However, being green ignores individuals, society, and profits; so being green is good, but it is not fully sustainable.
At Insight Rising, our goal is to help business clients make plans and take actions that are good for people and the planet while simultaneously increasing profits and long-term value. Through innovative thinking, that’s not merely possible. It is realizable.
In theory, for any organization, including a business, complete sustainability means operating in such a way that returns the resources used by the organization to its origin after the product or service is fully consumed. This popular commercial for the Toyota Prius gets to that notion:
Despite that goal, the principals at Insight Rising believe that feasible, implementable sustainability programs will differ for each client because of the unique demands of their set of stakeholders. That’s why we bill our firm as Business Consultants for Sustainable Profits.
So, a sustainable company will integrate sustainability into every facet of it operations and decision-making.
In that way, sustainable business practices involve managing people and assets to:
- Reduce waste and costs,
- Increase revenue and profits, and
- Increase long-term value by motivating employees to be creatively economical.
We want to help your organization unleash the innovative forces that already exist within the firm to find new ways of to meet its profitability requirements as well as its obligations to global society and the environment.
We welcome the opportunity to present our approach to sustainability (and what it means to businesses and other organizations) to any group. Please contact us for more information.
