Green Business - A Business of Sustainability

Sustainability practices and sustainable development have been in close relation with human beings for a long time. This thesis aims to present historical aspects of sustainable development throughout the time, along with numerous green business ideas and green organizations presentations. From hunter-gatherers to ancient civilizations to fossil fuel era, historical review consists of connections between people from different times and places. Whilst moving from history to the present, the thesis offers insight in terms of green and sustainability-related definitions that help in understanding the idea behind terms such as green businesses, sustainable development, eco-innovations, green products, green consumer, green marketing, greenwashing, green certification, and carbon offsets and carbon credits. For better understanding of the related theoretical approaches, the thesis also offers a wide range of green business ideas such as green building and urban planning, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy sourcing, sustainable forestry, green transportation, green hair salon, green gym, green wedding planning, green cleaning services, recycling and waste management, and sustainable brewing. The benefits, issues and risks that green businesses are dealing with are also described. Green practices nowadays are represented by many individuals and organizations, of which some are also included in the research part of this thesis. 32 organizations have been interviewed and provided valuable data that was used in creating a brand new sustainability model, called ‘Path to sustainability’, which aims to connect vital sustainability fragments together in a wholesome system, along with connections between related fragments. Besides the model, the thesis also provides an overview of issues and restrictions that oppose sustainable development.