Sustainable Business Key Issues

Sustainable Business: Key Issues is the first comprehensive introductory-level textbook to address the interface between environmental challenges and business solutions to provide an overview of the basic concepts of sustainability, sustainable business, and business ethics. Fully updated for the third edition to take into account recent developments and trends, such as the climate emergency, COVID-19, and supply chain sustainability, this textbook introduces students to the background and key issues of sustainability and suggests ways in which these concepts can be applied in business practice. Though the book takes a business perspective, it is interdisciplinary in its nature and draws on knowledge from socio-economic, political, and environmental studies, thereby providing a critical understanding of sustainability in the changing paradigm of global business. It goes beyond the conventional theories of sustainability and addresses critical issues concerned with population, consumption, and economic growth. It discusses realistic ways forward, in particular, the circular economy and Cradle to Cradle frameworks. The book is both a theoretical and apractical study guide for undergraduate and postgraduate students of broad areas of sustainability, teaching ways to recognize opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship at the intersection of environmental, economic, ethical, and social systems. It takes a strategic approach in applying the power of business methods and policy to address issues of global importance such as climate change, poverty, ecosystem degradation, and human rights. This textbook is essential reading for students of business, management, and sustainability courses. It is written in an engaging and accessible style, with each chapter including case studies, discussion questions, and end of chapter summaries.

Table of Contents List of Figures List of Tables List of Boxes Foreword to new edition Acknowledgements List of abbreviations SECTION I. KEY CONCEPTS Chapter 1. Introduction: Key concepts in sustainability and business What is this book about? Brief definition of sustainability Evolution of sustainability thinking Business sustainability Why do business sustainably? Social and economic sustainability: linking business and society Environmental sustainability: linking business and environment Eco-efficiency Introducing Cradle to Cradle and circular economy What links business, ethics and sustainability? How to do business ethically and sustainably? Chapter organization Case study Patagonia Key terms Discussion questions Class Activity: How to save the planet: Degrowth vs Green Growth? End of chapter summary Chapter 2. Business ethics Linking Sustainability and ethics Different types of ethics Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) From CSR to corporate citizenship Human Rights Labour issues: Poverty, pay and working conditions Fairtrade Business & Poverty - ‘bottom of the pyramid’ Animal welfare Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Corporate governance Case study: Volkswagen’s response to the ‘emissions scandal’: Was it ethical? Key terms Discussion questions End of chapter summary Class Activity: Volkswagen SECTION II CRITICAL EVALUATION: KEY CHALLENGES Chapter 3. Environmental challenges What is meant by environment? Environmental impacts Environmental problems Climate change Failing goals of reducing emissions Corporate response to climate change Loss of biodiversity Limits to growth Pollution and the industrial disasters Waste Causes and Explanations Historical causes Tragedy of the commons Political causes Commodification of nature Ecological Restoration and Pollution Control Ethical considerations Environmental values Case study: Shell and the Sustainable Development Goals Key terms Discussion questions End of chapter summary Class Activity Chapter 4. Social and economic challenges Poverty Origins of poverty Poverty and sustainability Economic development Inequality and development Post-colonialism and neo-colonialism Population growth Causes of population growth Demographic transition theory What is sustainable development? Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Sustainable development paradox Sustainable development and inequality Business and sustainable development The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Managing sustainable development in business Case study: Who is the Victim of Climate Change? Question Key terms Discussion questions End of chapter summary Class Activity: Debate Economic growth can be decoupled from increase in consumption of natural resources Chapter 5. Key challenges for making sustainability a reality The changing global business environment Paradoxes of sustainability Possibility vs. Dream Practical challenges Globalization of consumption Disputing the mainstream sustainable business models Short-term and long-term solutions Critique of the triple bottom line Critique of "sustainable" consumption Rebound effect Tackling oil dependency and climate skepticism Ethical challenges Intergenerational Justice Biospheric Egalitarianism Environmental justice vs. ecological justice Charity paradox The question of demographics The role of decision-makers Case study: Smart phones at school Questions Key terms Discussion questions End of chapter summary Class Activity No Impact man SECTION III. GLOBALIZATION, TECHNOLOGY, AND NEW TRENDS IN BUSINESS Chapter 6. Globalization and business What is meant by globalization? Schools of globalization thinkers "Risk society" The relationship between globalization and sustainability Global organizations concerned with sustainability Globalization of sustainability concerns The greening of global supply chains Globalization of technology Health: Medical technology Agriculture: The Green Revolution Manufacturing: Fordism and Post-Fordism Technology: Energy Digital Technology The Internet of Things Globalization of neo-liberal democracy ‘Groupthink’ or cultural hegemony: global spread Theories of development and innovation Ecological Kuznets Curve Ecological modernization theory Post-material value theory Case studies: 3-D printing Key terms Discussion questions End of chapter summary Class Activity Imagine you are the CEO of a global company Chapter 7. Strategic Change for Sustainability Sustainability and Competitive advantage Knowledge management Creativity and innovation Corporate Visioning Green marketing and customer engagement Green shopping and market segmentation Responsible advertising Brand value and sustainability Role of Consultancies in promoting sustainability Case Study: ‘B Corp’ Certification Key terms Discussion questions End of chapter summary Class Activity: Marketing a green enterprise Chapter 8. Human Resource Management, green jobs and a green economy Knowledge and Skills: Human Resource Development Sustainability and HRM Whistleblowing HR and the social ecology of the organization Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Acquiring Ecological Self Knowledge UN Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) Sustainability and Leadership Decent and Sustainable Work Green Jobs in a Green[ing] Economy Eco-entrepreneurship Case Study: Unilever, Oxfam and Labour Rights in Vietnam Key terms Discussion questions End of chapter summary Class Activity Imagine you are head of an HR team SECTION V SOLUTIONS Chapter 9. Creating Sustainable Business Practice Government regulation and policy Polluter Pays Principle The Precautionary Principle Extended Producer Responsibility The Participatory Principle Environmental management systems Eco Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) Sustainable supply chain management Change management Natural Step Eco-labels Sharing networks Corporate Reporting Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Green Accounting systems and Investment strategies Case study: Supply chain innovation within the palm oil industry Key terms Discussion questions End of chapter summary Class Activity: Companies meeting SDGs Chapter 10. New strategic thinking Structural and social solutions Collaboration and stakeholder engagement Communication: ‘Talking the Walk’ initiatives Understanding sustainable consumption Consumer choice editing Sharing economy Realizing impacts: direct and indirect Private and public action Business and NGO cooperation Green and ethical investment Business and technological solutions Business ecology Industrial ecology Life cycle assessment Sustainable Design Biomimicry The Blue Economy Case study: the rise of ‘slow fashion’ Key terms Discussion questions End of chapter summary Class Activity: Sustainable and ethical investment Chapter 11. Cradle to Cradle Cradle to Cradle (C2C): the cycle of rebirth Cradle-to-grave Being ‘all good’: eco-efficiency versus eco-effectiveness Nutrient cycles Key principles of C2C Waste = food Use current solar income Celebrate diversity C2C Certification schemes Material Health Material Reutilization Renewable Energy and Carbon Management Water Stewardship Social Fairness Incorporating Cradle to Cradle design into products Challenges to C2C Case studies: Olio: Addressing food waste via an innovative circular business model Key terms Discussion questions End of chapter summary Class Activity: Student assignments Cradle to Cradle Chapter 12. Towards circular economy From optimizing existing models to revolutionary change Background of circular economy concept Drivers of change Ellen MacArthur Foundation Product-service systems (PSS) The question of design Organization of processes Disruptive innovation Assessing progress towards circularity Selected similarities between sustainability and the circular economy The risk of subversion Scaling up circular economy Closing the loop Summarizing hopeful sustainability frameworks Case study: The ci

Helen Kopnina (PhD Cambridge University, 2002) is currently employed at Northumbria University, Newcastle, UK. Helen teaches sustainable business and conducts research within three main areas: sustainability, environmental education, and biological conservation. Helen has(co)-authored over 200 articles and 17 books Rory Padfield is an Associate Professor in the Sustainability Research Institute at the University of Leeds, UK. He is programme leader for the MSc in Sustainability and Business at the University of Leeds, and co-leader for the Business and Organisations for Sustainable Societies (BOSS) research group. A trained development geographer, Rory’s research focuses on the broad themes of supply chain and natural resource governance, communication of sustainability, and sustainability across and between different scales of businesses and organizations. Josephine Mylan is a lecturer in Sustainability and Innovation at Alliance Manchester Business School. She is affiliated to both the Sustainable Consumption Institute (SCI) and Manchester Institute of Innovation Research (MIoIR). Josephine’s research engages with questions of how societies can transition to less resource-intensive ways of meeting our needs, with interests in sustainable consumption and production, low carbon transitions, etc.