Sustainability as a Business Strategy

This chapter discusses the strategy to business leaders and focuses on this important aspect because business leaders know this. The business benefits of sustainability are real and they include the cultural mindset of authenticity and transparency. The best way to demonstrate to employees how the work they are doing is appreciated by their colleagues and important to customers is by showing them how their role fits into the larger picture. A return on investment is critically important to owners and investors but very often the &s;need to satisfy the market&s; is used to justify short-term decisions that yield faster returns even at the expense of long-term viability. A company&s;s suppliers are critical to their success. Anyone who has tried and failed to get a business permit knows the power of local communities. An often overlooked stakeholder group for any company are its competitors, because often the actions of one player can influence the image of an entire industry.