Showing papers on "Social sustainability published in 2003"

Multiple Levels of Corporate Sustainability

Abstract: According to Dr. Clare Graves, mankind has developed eight core value systems,1 as responses to prevailing circumstances. Given different contexts and value systems, a one-solution-fits-all concept of corporate sustainability is not reasonable. Therefore, this paper presents various definitions and forms of sustainability, each linked to specific (societal) circumstances and related value systems. A sustainability matrix– an essential element of the overall European Corporate Sustainability Framework – is described showing six types of organizations at different developmental stages, with different forms of corporate sustainability, each supported by specific institutional arrangements.

Just Sustainabilities : Development in an Unequal World

Abstract: Introduction: Joined-Up Thinking: Bringing Together Sustainability, Environmental Justice and Equity * Part 1 - Some Theories and Concepts: Environmental Space, Equity and the Ecological Debt * Neo-Liberalism, Globalization and the Struggle for Ecological Democracy: Linking Sustainability and Environmental Justice * Inequality and Community and the Challenge to Modernization: Evidence from the Nuclear Oases * Part 2 - Challenges: Social Justice and Environmental Sustainability: Ne'er the Twain Shall Meet * Part 3 - Cities, Communities and Social and Environmental Justice: When Consumption Does Violence: Can there be Sustainability and Environmental Justice in a Resource-Limited World? * Race, Politics and Pollution: Environmental Justice in the Mississippi River Chemical Corridor * Identity, Place and Communities of Resistance * Environmental Justice in State Policy Decisions * Part 4 - Selected Regional Perspectives on Sustainability and Environmental Justice: Sustainability and Equity: Reflection of a Local Government Practitioner in Southern Africa * Mining Conflicts, Environmental Justice and Valuation * Women and Environmental Justice in South Asia * Maori Kaupapa and the Inseparability of Social and Environmental Justice: An Analysis of Bioprospecting and a People's Resistance to Biocultural Assimilation * Political Economy of Petroleum Resources Development, Environmental Injustice and Selective Victimization: A Case Study of the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria * Environmental Protection, Economic Growth and Environmental Justice: Are They Compatible in Central and Eastern Europe? * the Campaign for Environmental Justice in Scotland as a Response to Poverty in a Northern Nation * Conclusion: Towards Just Sustainabilities: Perspectives and Possibilities * Index

Sustainability Science and Engineering: The Emergence of a New Metadiscipline

Abstract: A case is made for growth of a new metadiscipline of sustainability science and engineering. This new field integrates industrial, social, and environmental processes in a global context. The skills required for this higher level discipline represent a metadisciplinary endeavor, combining information and insights across multiple disciplines and perspectives with the common goal of achieving a desired balance among economic, environmental, and societal objectives. Skills and capabilities that are required to support the new metadiscipline are summarized. Examples of integrative projects are discussed in the areas of sustainability metrics and integration of industrial, societal, and environmental impacts. It is clear that a focus on green engineering that employs pollution prevention and industrial ecology alone are not sufficient to achieve sustainability, because even systems with efficient material and energy use can overwhelm the carrying capacity of a region or lead to other socially unacceptable outcomes. To meet the educational and human resource needs required for this new discipline, the technological and environmental awareness of society must be elevated and a sufficient and diverse pool of human talent must be attracted to this discipline.

Focusing on Value: Reconciling Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainability and a Stakeholder Approach in a Network World

Abstract: David Wheeler is Erivan K. Haub Professor and Barry Colbert is Senior Research Fellow in the Business and Sustainability Programme in the Schulich School of Business, York University, Toronto, Canada. R. Edward Freeman is the Elis and Signe Olsson Professor of Business Administration and Director of the Olsson Centre for Applied Ethics in the Darden School of Business, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA. Focusing on Value: Reconciling Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainability and a Stakeholder Approach in a Network World

Leading Change toward Sustainability: A Change-Management Guide for Business, Government and Civil Society

Abstract: Foreword William McDonough Foreword Paul de Jongh Introduction to the Second Edition: Leading Change towards De-carbonisation Part I: Why some organisations succeed and others fail 1. A tale of two companies 2. What went wrong? 3. A primer on sustainability 4. Socioeconomic implications of sustainable development 5. Sustainability, governance and organisational change (116K) Part II: The wheel of change toward sustainability 6. Change the dominant mind-set that created the system through the imperative of achieving sustainability 7. Rearrange the parts of the system by organising deep, wide and powerful sustainability transition teams 8. Change the goals of the system by crafting an ideal vision and guiding principles of sustainability 9. Restructure the rules of engagement of the system by adopting source-based strategies 10. Shift the information flows of the system by tirelessly communicating the need, vision and strategies for achieving sustainability 11. Correct the feedback loops of the system by encouraging and rewarding learning and innovation 12. Adjust the parameters of the system by aligning systems and structures with sustainability 13. Aligning governance with sustainability 14. Closing thoughts on the change process Appendix A: Assessing your organisation's 'sustainability blunders' Appendix B: Assessing your governance system Appendix C: Assessing your sustainability change initiative Author's postscript Bibliography

New visions for addressing sustainability.

Abstract: Attaining sustainability will require concerted interactive efforts among disciplines, many of which have not yet recognized, and internalized, the relevance of environmental issues to their main intellectual discourse. The inability of key scientific disciplines to engage interactively is an obstacle to the actual attainment of sustainability. For example, in the list of Millennium Development Goals from the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, 2002, the seventh of the eight goals, to "ensure environmental sustainability," is presented separately from the parallel goals of reducing fertility and poverty, improving gains in equity, improving material conditions, and enhancing population health. A more integrated and consilient approach to sustainability is urgently needed.

On the path to sustainability: integrating social dimensions into the research and practice of environmental management

Abstract: The theme of the Tenth International Conference of the Greening of Industry Network in Goteborg, Sweden, was focused on exploring the social dimensions of sustainability. This focus is timely because extant research and practice in sustainability has emphasized the environmental dimension. The UNWCED definition of sustainable development as ‘development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’ is clear about the integration of the economic, ecological and social impacts of development (UNWCED, 1987, p. 43). As underlined by UNWCED, sustainable development refers to the concept of ‘needs’, but limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organizations on the environment's ability to meet present and future needs are also a central concern. Lafferty and Langhelle (1999) suggest that sustainable development must be treated as an ethical code for human survival and progress, and it is on a par with other high-minded ideas such as democracy, freedom and human rights. The ‘openness of meaning’ of such concepts can never be closed and the fruitfulness of the concept of sustainable development is linked to continued political discourse on the concept's content and future goals and to the continuing debate about the instrumental implications of its normative aspirations (Lafferty and Langhelle, 1999, p. 26). The tenth GIN conference with its explicit focus on the social dimensions of sustainability facilitated the continuation of this discourse. Just as scholars and practitioners concerned with sustainable development have focused mainly on environmental management, those concerned with corporate social responsibility (CSR) have focused on social and ethical issues such as human rights, working conditions and philanthropy. The social principles of justice and inclusiveness embedded in the concept of sustainable development have entered the corporate or research agenda to a very limited extent, even among firms making promising environmental efforts at a global scale (Ruud, 2002a). Promoting sustainable development requires that governments incorporate these principles into designing holistic policies that motivate and enable firms to develop more sustainable strategies (Roome and Cahill, 2001). This was also underlined by the chief executive officer of the Volvo group during the first plenary session of the GIN conference in Gothenburg. We begin by examining to what extent the social aspects of sustainability have been integrated into public policy and government regulations and then into organizational research and practice. We then examine the extent to which the best representative papers in this volume from the tenth GIN conference have been able to achieve the integration of social and environmental dimensions. We conclude with some thoughts on future directions for sustainability research. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

Toward Just Sustainability in Urban Communities: Building Equity Rights with Sustainable Solutions:

Abstract: Two concepts that provide new directions for public policy, environmental justice and sustainability, are both highly contested. Each has tremendous potential to effect long-lasting change. Despite the historically different origins of these two concepts and their attendant movements, there exists an area of theoretical compatibility between them. This conceptual overlap is a critical nexus for a broad social movement to create livable, sustainable communities for all people in the future. The goal of this articleis to illustrate the nexus in the United States. The authors do this by presenting a range of local or regionally based practical models in five areas of common concern to both environmental justice and sustainability: land use planning, solid waste, toxic chemical use, residential energy use, and transportation. These models address both environmental justice principles while working toward greater sustainability in urbanized areas.

2. For-Profit Social Ventures

Abstract: Traditional sector boundaries are breaking down as societies search for more innovative, cost-effective, and sustainable ways to solve social problems and provide socially important goods, such as education and health care. One result has been a rise in the number of social entrepreneurs who want to combine a social purpose with a for-profit organizational structure. Is the wealth-creation imperative inherent in for-profit organizations really compatible with optimal social impact? This paper is designed to help would-be for-profit social entrepreneurs understand and address the challenges of using a for-profit organization to serve a social objective. Drawing on a wide range of literature as well as case studies, we identify the challenges facing for-profit social ventures and outline strategies for responding. Of course, there are limits to what can be done within a for-profit structure. Our analysis should help social entrepreneurs recognize those limits and respond to them intelligently as they design their organizations.

Teaching social justice.

Abstract: Social justice is a core nursing value and the foundation of public health nursing. Social justice ideology requires nursing students to uphold moral, legal, and humanistic principles related to health. As such, teaching social justice requires a basis in moral developmental theory. In addition, teaching social justice demands action beyond classroom pedagogy. The author describes how social justice is taught within a baccalaureate program. A social justice project is described and examples are provided.

Metrics for supply chain sustainability

Abstract: Most interpretations of sustainable development recognise that there are constraints on long-term human activities imposed by material and energy availability and by the capacity of the planet to accommodate wastes and emissions; inter- and intra-generational equity within these constraints is then an ethical principle underlying sustainability. This leads to identifying three dimensions of sustainable development: techno-economic, ecological and social. This paper reviews the development of indicators to reflect these three dimensions, applicable to industrial sectors, companies and broad groups of products or services. Indicators of environmental and economic performance are relatively well established. They can be combined to indicate the sustainability of products, services and supply chains. Indicators of social performance are more problematic, particularly indicators to describe the social value of products and services. Cases from the process, petroleum and petrochemicals, electronics and fast moving consumer goods sectors are reviewed, showing that social indicators must be developed through public participation.

Educating For Sustainability: Developing Critical Skills :

Abstract: This article explores the contribution a pedagogical approach based in critical theory can make to education for sustainability in business schools. In addition to the regular business and environmental management curriculum that provides tools for incremental improvement, we advocate introducing a radical change perspective aligned more with the “strong” sustainability paradigm. Concepts from critical theory can be usefully employed to bridge weak and strong sustainability paradigms. A critical skillset incorporating reflexivity, critique, and social action/engagement is elaborated and illustrated through the incorporation of these skills in the framing of an environmental management/sustainability elective and through exercises.

A systems approach to sustainability and sustainable development

Abstract: The concepts of sustainability and sustainable development are analyzed from a systems perspective. In the most general terms, sustainability of any system can be represented by a non-decreasing valuation function of the outputs of interest of the system considered. Different perspectives on the system of reference are discussed, from the extreme anthropocentric to the extreme bio- or ecocentric positions, and related to the criteria (based on the assumed substitutability between natural and manufactured capital); of very strong, strong, weak, and very weak sustainability. A set of underlying determinants of sustainability is proposed and discussed, including availability of resources, adaptability/flexibility, homeostasis, capacity of response, self-reliance, and empowerment. The concept of sustainable development is discussed and alternative theoretical perspectives that have been used in the literature are presented. The relationship between sustainability, development, nondevelopment, and maldevelopment; and material and non-material economic growth is mapped as a Venn diagram; alternative trajectories towards sustainable development for rich and poor countries are identified. Five alternative paradigms/strategies for sustainable development are summarized, showing the complexity of the process of choosing the right actions to move towards sustainable development.

Sustainability of collaborative capacity in community health partnerships.

Abstract: Sustainability is a key requirement for partnership success and a major challenge for such organizations. Despite the critical importance of sustainability to the success of community health partnerships and the many threats to sustainability, there is little evidence that would provide partnerships with clear guidance on long-term viability. This article attempts to (1) develop a conceptual model of sustainability in community health partnerships and (2) identify potential determinants of sustainability using comparative qualitative data from four partnerships from the Community Care Network (CCN) Demonstration Program. Based on a grounded theory examination of qualitative data from the CCNevaluation, the authors hypothesize that there are five primary attributes/ activities of partnerships leading to consequential value and eventually to sustainability of collaborative capacity. They include outcomes-based advocacy, vision-focus balance, systems orientation, infrastructure development, and community lin...

Sustainability and Performance

Abstract: With the economy and the equities markets increasingly unpredictable and faith in corporate governance in steep decline, it is not surprising that stakeholders of all types have growing interest in the sustainability of companies. Yet the word sustainability remains ambiguous and politically charged, particularly within the lexicon of business. When, as is commonly the case, the term is limited to encompass environmental management or social equity, sustainability is often perceived to be at odds with fiduciary responsibility and unlinked to business strategy. This article makes a business case for sustainability by adopting a broader view: A sustainable organization is one whose characteristics and actions are designed to lead to a desirable future state for all stakeholders. According to the author, intangible indicators that gauge sustainability also can be indicators of efficacy ? that is, of how well a company is run ? and companies that actively manage and respond to a wide range of such indicators are better able to create value for all stakeholders over the long term. Drawing on a number of studies, including Cap Gemini Ernst & Young's formulation of its Value Creation Index, the author identifies a variety of intangible indicators, then suggests how they relate directly to sustainability and ultimately to company performance. The article concludes by sketching out the parameters of a company-level sustainability model that can be empirically tested and used to both manage operations and set strategy.

Should we measure corporate social responsibility

Abstract: This paper is critical towards efforts that try and measure corporate social responsibility (CSR). A critical approach can be important for the development of the theory of the emerging field of corporate social responsibility. A critical and provocative approach can generate discussion and debate. Three main points of critique are presented toward the current efforts in the literature to measure corporate contributions to economic, social and ecological sustainability. First, the use of the concepts of eco-efficiency and eco-efficacy in measuring corporate contributions to sustainability are criticized from the viewpoint of the complementarity relation of human-manufactured capital, natural capital and social sustaining functions. Second, the use of measures that focus on an individual process or an individual company are reconsidered with an approach to industrial and firm networks. Third, the use of the monetary value is reconsidered, e.g. by suggesting an approach based on physical material and energy flows and on a new paradigmatic foundation for social responsibility. The social and ecological indicators illustrating the social and environmental impacts of economic activity and of firms can be combined with economic indicators, but not expressed in monetary terms. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. and ERP Environment.

Housing for an Urban Renaissance: Implications for Social Equity

Abstract: Current UK housing policy favours high-density, mixed-use development on previously developed urban land. This ties in with a general policy to promote an 'urban renaissance', largely because of its claimed advantages for sustainability. However, there has been little testing to date of sustainability impacts in practice. This is particularly true for the social equity aspect of sustainability, despite its acknowledged centrality to the concept. This paper outlines the development of a theory of social equity in relation to urban form and presents empirical research based on this to test the case of the so-called 'compact city', that is, high-density, mixed-use urban form. The research involved a comparative investigation of a range of alleged social equity impacts in 25 medium-sized English cities of differing levels and types of compactness. The findings suggest that, in certain respects and with certain qualifications, the compact city has the potential to promote social equity. Likely benefits include...

Social enterprise: is it the business of social work?

Abstract: The paper explores the relevance of social enterprise to social work practice and policy development. Social enterprise refers to a broad set of approaches that use business acumen to address social goals. A marginal activity in social work for a long time, recently social enterprise has been thrust into the spotlight in debates about the future of social policy and community services. It is important that social workers understand the meaning and implications of social enterprise if they are to apply it critically and reflectively in practice and participate in contemporary debates about its relevance in promoting individual and community empowerment. The paper provides an overview of the meaning of social enterprise, outlines the reasons for the renewed focus on social enterprise and related concepts in social policy debates, particularly community economic development, and examines its underlying values. It concludes with a discussion of questions and concerns surrounding the implementation of social enterprise in Australia.

Sustainability Management with the Balanced Scorecard

Abstract: In recent years many corporations have implemented management systems and standards (such as ISO 14000, EMAS or SA 8000) for the purpose of sustainability management. However, these often fall short in companies' practice for two reasons: First of all, companies are frequently lacking appropriate strategies in the realm of sustainability management. Secondly, management systems or instruments are not integrated into companies' core processes. Does Kaplan and Norton's Balanced Scorecard concept provide sufficient potential to overcome these shortcomings in sustainability management? The answer is ‘yes' and ‘no': On the one hand, the Balanced Scorecard is a tool that focuses on qualitative aspects such as social and environmental ones. It provides a methodology to bridge the gap between the strategic and operative levels of companies. On the other hand, empirical findings show that sustainability management with a Balanced Scorecard bears strategic, cultural, structural and methodological implications. Nevertheless, these challenges are not preliminary due to the methodology of the Balanced Scorecard, but to processes of organisational change that are necessary on the road to sustainability. To illustrate the setting up of a Sustainability Balanced Scorecard, two different empirical concepts of sustainability management are discussed in order to show how different strategies can be put into action. Moreover possible causal relationships between environmental and social aspects and the financial bottom line are illustrated tackling the key question within sustainability management: ‘Does it pay to be sustainable?'.

The Paradox of Sustainability: Reflections on NGOs in Bangladesh

Abstract: Drawing on research from Bangladesh, this article questions the dominance of a narrow view of sustainability that rests predominantly on financial considerations. The push for financial sustainability has produced ambiguous results and, more important, has also introduced a degree of uncertainty into the relationship nongovernmental organizations maintain with their members. This article will argue that in the context of Bangladesh, an accurate notion of sustainability rests more on social and political considerations than on economic ones. Fundamental tensions exist between social/political and economic considerations, and paradoxically, the relentless pursuit of one may undermine efforts to establish the other. The article therefore seeks to subject the logic and validity of efforts to promote sustainability among nongovernmental organizations in Bangladesh to theoretical and empirical scrutiny.

The “environmental sustainability” problem

Abstract: While the concept of “sustainability” traditionally has emphasized the environment, the University of Florida (UF) has learned that integrating all three “legs of the sustainability stool” is a prerequisite to effecting the comprehensive institutional change sustainability proponents seek. By assessing its own degree of sustainability using guidelines established by the Global Reporting Initiative, UF united the interests of the administration with those of campus greening and social progressive constituents and, in the process, established a baseline with which to compare future metrics. Universities,are poised to gain from lessons learned outside of academia and, as at UF, are beginning to reach out not only to environmental interests, but also to social and economic constituencies. The objectives of this paper are to identify and address the major obstacles facing institutionalization of sustainability in the university as evidenced by UF's own experiences and to provide solutions for boosting the university's status as leaders in the sustainability arena.

The Strategy of Sustainability: A Systems Perspective on Environmental Initiatives

Abstract: How can a firm most effectively pursue environmental sustainability? This article employs a systems dynamics approach to analyze two strategic environmental sustainability initiatives implemented by Norm Thompson Outfitters. Such an analysis provides a way to identify the key variables and their relationships, the roles of key stakeholders, and the leverage points used to support the sustainability initiatives. The experience of Norm Thompson demonstrates how using systems dynamics can assist a company in identifying and implementing environmental sustainability initiatives.