Sustainability and sustainable development are two terms in vogue today. This isn’t by chance, as the environmental situation worldwide is critical and requires quick and precise action from all of us — including companies.
Even so, many people still don’t know what sustainability is and what sustainable development is, or rather, the difference between them. Is this your case? Let’s start from the beginning and look at the meaning of both these terms.
Sustainability is a process that starts out by acknowledging one’s own excessive consumption and, from there, adopting initiatives to reduce these excesses in favor of those who are unable to consume the minimum necessary. To this end, several actions are adopted, to wit:
These actions can be adopted at both the personal and business level, and their intensity depends on the level of commitment of the people or business.
It was in 1987 that Norwegian diplomat Gro Harlem Brundland first coined the expression “sustainable development”. She referred to the term as the ability to:
“Meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
It holds a more comprehensive meaning and addresses mainly the possibility of meeting the needs of the current generation, without compromising future ones.
If human beings make rational use of the resources available today and promote quality of life for everyone, more people will be able to enjoy this in the future. It’s not a matter of stopping to use inputs, but rather to rationalize them intelligently — this applies to the attitudes of individuals, businesses and governments.
The main difference between these two concepts resides in the fact that sustainability foresees the balance of what nature provides us, that is, a limit to the consumption of natural resources to promote quality of life.
On the other hand, sustainable development focuses on preserving the ecosystem, while meeting the socioeconomic needs of communities. Sustainable development looks at using nature as a way to promote development.
A company that adopts a sustainable stance becomes ethical in the eyes of society, its suppliers and customers. Thus, it ends up benefiting from this practice for having the condition to continue having resources at its disposal that support its existence and operation, even in the long term.
Sustainable development is just a way of expressing an enterprise’s intention to grow according to three basic aspects:
When a corporation manages to combine these factors strategically, it leads to a much smaller environmental impact and lower production costs. In this way, the business aligns itself with the needs of the ecosystem it operates in, so that future generations can also take advantage of the resources available today.
It is possible to start adopting sustainable actions in the company little by little through simple initiatives. Here are a few.
One of the best ways to measure your energy consumption is to look at your electricity bill. Good management of this cost is also a way to try to save energy — which is good for the company’s cash flow and the environment.
It is important to invest in technologies that optimize the use of electrical energy, such as presence sensors and even software products that program computers to turn off after working hours. The redesign of office space, to make better use of lighting and natural ventilation, is also a good strategy.
Choosing renewable energy is also a way to increase energy efficiency, reducing waste and the high costs of energy generation from non-renewable sources.
Solar and wind energy are just a few examples. The benefits of migrating to the Free Energy Market, for example, can be felt in the short term. In addition to reducing costs, negotiations take place freely, allowing energy consumers with a monthly demand greater than 500 kW to adapt their contract according to their needs.
This allows you to choose cleaner, more-sustainable energy sources, obtain better prices and payment terms, in addition to ensuring a customized supply. As this is a more competitive environment for suppliers, your company ends up taking advantage of more-advantageous opportunities.
Since starting the digital transformation, we have been able to transition several resources to the virtual world. From reading books to managing company documents, everything can be done from computers or mobile devices.
Monitoring this movement and digitalizing internal processes is a smart way to ensure more sustainability. Reducing paper usage and printing is just the first step, but nonetheless fundamental.
The lighting distributed throughout a company’s physical structure considerably affects consumption and demand for electrical energy. LED lighting is more efficient and cheaper.
Therefore, consider replacing all light bulbs, promoting greater employee comfort and adopting a more sustainable form of using this resource that’s indispensable in corporate spaces.
Sustainable development is everyone’s responsibility and calls for everyone’s effort to achieve it. Many times, in a business environment, there needs to be a change of mindset before moving forward and implementing major actions, such as committing to a global compact.
Instead, try to adapt small processes, improve efficiency in the use of natural resources and invest in initiatives that show that the company’s intention is to contribute to a more sustainable future. Don’t forget that your business can become a transformation agent, even if it starts with baby steps.
Did you enjoy learning about the difference between sustainability and sustainable development? So, how about staying up to date on other content in our blog? We are always producing informative content for your business, as well as tips on sustainability, innovation and the clean energy market!
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