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13 The Future: Achieving Sustainability
a role of measuring the progress of the society towards sustainability through the
development and maintenance of sustainability metrics.
Do you think governments have done enough to promote sustainability in
Africa?
13.7 Role of Businesses
During the last few years, the definition of sustainability has shifted from environmental stewardship to incorporate social equity and economy. Organizations
that have an interest in sustainability measure their performance using the triple
bottom line that is made up of social, environmental, and economic criteria. The
increased interest of investors in business sustainability resulted in the development
of Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes in 1999 that compare the performance of the
leading business globally based on the triple bottom line. Unless multinational
organizations sustainably conduct their businesses, they risk losing community
support, alienating clients, and making suppliers lose business (Slaper and Hall
2011). More importantly, there is a need for sustainable business to ensure that the
available resources are used prudently and promote wellness. Perhaps, the best way
of achieving this is through the deployment of the concept.
Explain the contribution of Dow Jones to sustainability. As communities,
what can we do to ensure that businesses become responsible to us and the
environment?
13.7.1 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) refers to the initiatives undertaken by a
company to conduct assessments and take responsibility for its impacts on the
environment and social well-being. This term usually describes efforts that go
beyond what the authorities and environmental lobby groups require. It could also
entail incurring short-term costs that may not immediately offer financial returns
to the business, but rather enhance positive socio-environmental change. This is
crucial for achieving sustainability because it focuses on the most salient needs of
the firm. The success story of Unilever is sufficiently publicized, but it is difficult
identifying with a business of such magnitude. The positive aspect is that even small
13 The Future: Achieving Sustainability
a role of measuring the progress of the society towards sustainability through the
development and maintenance of sustainability metrics.
Do you think governments have done enough to promote sustainability in
Africa?
13.7 Role of Businesses
During the last few years, the definition of sustainability has shifted from environmental stewardship to incorporate social equity and economy. Organizations
that have an interest in sustainability measure their performance using the triple
bottom line that is made up of social, environmental, and economic criteria. The
increased interest of investors in business sustainability resulted in the development
of Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes in 1999 that compare the performance of the
leading business globally based on the triple bottom line. Unless multinational
organizations sustainably conduct their businesses, they risk losing community
support, alienating clients, and making suppliers lose business (Slaper and Hall
2011). More importantly, there is a need for sustainable business to ensure that the
available resources are used prudently and promote wellness. Perhaps, the best way
of achieving this is through the deployment of the concept.
Explain the contribution of Dow Jones to sustainability. As communities,
what can we do to ensure that businesses become responsible to us and the
environment?
13.7.1 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) refers to the initiatives undertaken by a
company to conduct assessments and take responsibility for its impacts on the
environment and social well-being. This term usually describes efforts that go
beyond what the authorities and environmental lobby groups require. It could also
entail incurring short-term costs that may not immediately offer financial returns
to the business, but rather enhance positive socio-environmental change. This is
crucial for achieving sustainability because it focuses on the most salient needs of
the firm. The success story of Unilever is sufficiently publicized, but it is difficult
identifying with a business of such magnitude. The positive aspect is that even small