"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." - Brundtland Commission, 1987
Does your business fit this definition of sustainable development?
Sustainable development is a worthy goal for small businesses everywhere. As members of our various communities, we know that society, the environment, and the economy are interconnected. It just makes sense to pay attention to the environmental impact of our economic practices, and try to ensure that our communities are healthy, pleasant places to live.
Paying attention to sustainable development is especially sensible when so many of our potential customers and clients are actively seeking greener products and services. Witness the growth of industries such as "organic" food, for instance. Many food producers have switched to organic production methods; organic products can be sold for a higher price in the market, and consumers are willing to pay that price. Making environmentally conscious decisions about your business operations can be good for the bottom line.
One of the basic assumptions underlying the definition of sustainable development is that environmental considerations have to be entrenched in economic decision-making. While our government has made a strong commitment to practicing sustainable development and implementing policies to support it, if small businesses don't get on board, full sustainable development is impossible. "In Canada, almost 80 per cent of the population is urban. Therefore, a shift to more sustainability must take place at the local level, in the places where we live, work, and shop" (The Sustainability Report).
If you're like me, you're an environmentally conscious person. You reduce, reuse, and recycle in your home, and you've taught your children to do these things, too. But what about where you work? Are you also operating your business in an environmentally conscious fashion?
For small businesses to be actively involved in sustainable development, they need to adopt environmentally sound business principles and translate these into action. The following page will give you the information you need to put the definition of sustainable development into action.
