Sustainability organizations seek to implement sustainability strategies which provide them with economic and cultural benefits attained through environmental responsibility. Recently, the natural environment has become a key strategic issue in both the business and academic communities. Through "implementing sustainability strategies, firms can integrate long-run profitability with their efforts to protect the ecosystem, providing them with opportunities to achieve the traditional competitive advantages of & cost leadership and market differentiation via environmental responsibility".[1] Sustainability strategies have been persistently employed in a number of organizations.
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A sustainable system generally can be defined in environmental terminology as "a living system which operates in a way that it does not use up resources more quickly than they can be naturally replenished; a sustainable economic system operates in a way so that expenditures are either equal or less than the income." Sustainable social systems maintain that all members are allowed to contribute, thereby synthesizing the final product. [2]
Corporate Sustainability refers to "a company’s activities, voluntary by definition, demonstrating the inclusion of social and environmental concerns in business operations and in interactions with stakeholders".[3] Each individual organization should choose its own particular goals and approaches as they pertain to corporate sustainability, matching the organization’s aims and intentions and aligning with the organization’s strategy, as an appropriate response to the conditions in which it functions.
Sustainable agriculture incorporates design and management procedures that coincide with natural processes in order to conserve all resources and minimize waste production and damage to natural systems, while preserving or improving farm profitability. Sustainable agriculture systems are "designed to take the greatest advantage of current soil nutrient and water cycles, energy flows, beneficial soil organisms, and natural pest controls. These systems also seek to produce food that is nutritious yet uncontaminated with products such as synthetically compound fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulators, and livestock feed additives. Sustainable agriculture systems often depend on crop rotations, crop residues, animal manures, legumes, green manures, off-farm organic wastes, appropriate mechanical cultivation or minimal tillage to optimize soil biological and natural pest control activity in order to maintain soil fertility and crop productivity."[4] Also, resistant species varieties, and biological and cultural controls are implemented to control pests, weeds and diseases. [5] Sustainable agriculture organizations aim to educate and encourage farmers to implement sustainable agriculture practices into their productions. Many sponsor research and education outreach projects.
Agricultural sustainability organizations:
* sustainable business network news and information
* offers in-depth publications on production practices, alternative crop and livestock enterprises, innovative marketing, organic certification, and highlights of local, regional, USDA and other federal sustainable agriculture activities.
* helps businesses and organizations impplement sustainable practices that increase revenue, enhance reputation, and reduce risk and uncertainty
* formerly Northwest Environment Watch, a non-profit organization that aims to foster a sustainable economy and way of life in the Pacific Northwest, a bioregion defined by the watersheds of rivers flowing through North America's temperate rainforest zone
* communication and outreach arm of the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program.
* a Portland, Oregon-based organization dedicated to forging a new economy in the Pacific Northwest
* support for sustainable agriculture
"By using more efficient building methods and materials, it is estimated that we could reduce the energy, resource consumption and / or waste production by 50-60% without decreasing value, aesthetics or function."[6] Taking the Earth's finite resources into consideration, along with acknowledging that manufactured products, including all building materials, affect the Earth’s resources, it is becoming very important to make sensible decisions regarding the use of these limited resources to preserve our natural environment along with human civilization. Increased use of resource efficient construction materials and methods will help to induce more sustainable practices throughout the building and construction industry. [7] Green Building Organizations:
* authoritative information on environmentally responsible building design and construction from the publishers of Environmental Building News
* detailed information on sustainable design and construction
* promotes healthy building materials as a means of improving public health and preserving the global environment
* association of building professionals and homeowners interested in ecologically sustainable building
* designed to empower communities as they recover from floods, hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural disasters by providing tools and resources to rebuild homes and business using sustainable principles and technologies
* the council is the nation's foremost coalition of leaders from across the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work
* a U.S. non-profit corporation striving to help countries form national green building councils of their own by providing valuable information and resources to its affiliates and members
Sustainable business organizations participate in environmentally friendly or green practices in order to make certain that all processes, products, and manufacturing activities sufficiently address current environmental concerns while still retaining a profit.[8][9] Concurrently, it is a business that “meets the needs of the present world without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs.[10][11] It is the method of evaluating how to design products that will correspond to current environmental conditions and how well a company’s products perform with renewable resources.[12] There are many organizations and networks currently interacting with businesses in order to integrate sustainability into their central goals and contribute to the environmentally and socially responsible business movement.[13]
Sustainable business organizations:
* the Austin Energy Green Building Program is nationally known for expertise in "green" residential and commercial construction
* Believe communities thrive by having strong local business ownership, economic justice, cultural diversity, and a healthy, natural environment. Follows mission by building networks among local businesses interested in maintaining a local living economy.
* provides free information, assistance and referrals to help Seattle businesses improve their environmental performance
* a business membership organization
* non-partisan research and policy organization that promotes innovative tax and other market-based approaches to achieving a sustainable economy
* the largest coalition of environmental, investor, and advocacy groups working together for sustainable prosperity. These groups form a community of forward-looking companies that have committed to continuous environmental improvement by endorsing the CERES principles, a ten point code of environmental conduct.
* A guide for businesses seeking to cut energy costs and reduce pollution.
* brings together strategically selected companies, NGOs, and opinion leaders to overcome mutual distrust and advance systemic solutions.
* the Global Environmental Management Initiative
* standard reporting for environmental, economic and social activity
* A resource center on business, the environment, and the bottom line
* a market segment focused on health and fitness, the environment, personal development, sustainable living, and social justice.
* researches and initiates projects relating to the relationship between human and living systems, with particular emphasis on natural capital, green business, biomimicry, innovative design, and social justice.” Particular focus on Socially Responsible Investing Project and Database, and Wind Energy Resources Project.
* a network of emerging business leaders committed to using the power of business to create a better world. It is also the most progressive and influential network of MBAs in existence today. Originally founded as Students for Responsible Business in 1993, Net Impact serves to broaden business education, refine leadership skills, and pursue professional goals, while building networks.
Sustainable community organizations often encourage and cultivate collaborative community projects and education programs that improve connections between businesses, institutions and the public with their communities, the natural environment, and each other. For example, the Sustainable Community Initiatives organization:
Sustainable community organizations:
* an international nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide models and support for life sustaining activities that integrate solutions to poverty and the environment while fostering self-reliance
* a not-for-profit organization that promotes the study and imitation of nature’s remarkably efficient designs, bringing together scientists, engineers, architects and innovators who can use those models to create sustainable technologies.
* Doug McKenzie Moore on community-based social marketing
* a growing network of sustainable communities and initiatives that bridge different cultures, countries, and continents. GEN serves as umbrella organization for ecovillages, transition town initiatives, intentional communities, and ecologically-minded individuals worldwide.
* sponsors trainings and workshops to help support The Natural Step framework for businesses and organizations
* energy efficiency and renewable energy - news and events
* for everyone interested in making smart choices about communities—choices that are both economically and ecologically intelligent
* working with business and community leaders working to transform and model an economy built on sustainable practices
* an award winning, volunteer-based civic network and forum located in Seattle with a focus on the metropolitan city/county area
* 1500+ pages on ecovillages and sustainability
* ideas for sustainable communities
Despite the fact that some places may be similar in economic terms, the characteristics of a sustainable business model vary from community to community.[21] Many organizations aim to assist communities in developing economic opportunities for all citizens. Some programs exist that "assist individuals in obtaining employment, that create jobs and that help individuals become economically self-sufficient." [22]
Economic sustainability organizations:
* organization dedicated to advocating a sustainable economy with stabilized population and consumption, such an economy is called a "steady state economy
Environmental sustainability is the "long-term maintenance of ecosystem components and functions for future generations." In addition, environmental sustainability is the process of making sure current processes of interaction with the environment are pursued with the idea of keeping the environment as unspoiled as naturally possible. It maintains that the Earth’s resources must not be depleted faster than they can naturally be replenished. Depletion of our finite resources inevitably tries the ability of human civilizations to persist.[23]
Environmental sustainability organizations:
* working to preserve biological and cultural diversity
* New American Dream helps Americans consume responsibly to protect the environment, enhance quality of life, and promote social justice.
* help government, business, and communities adopt sustainability-based thinking, policies, and programs
* promotes a regional approach to global warming solutions
* FOE is a national environmental organization dedicated to preserving the health and diversity of the planet for future generations
* promotes sustainable patterns of world development through collaborative research, policy studies, networking and knowledge dissemination
* seeks to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable
* a pioneer in taking earth-centered education programs to people where they spend their time-in their neighborhoods, workplaces, homes, schools, and centers of faith
* the Northwest's leading resource for promoting a cleaner environment through pollution prevention. PPRC provides high quality, unbiased information, facilitates information exchange, and catalyzes pollution prevention projects
* supports the advancement of renewable energy technology through policy research
* We work extensively with the private sector, as well as with civil society and government, to create abundance by design and to apply the framework of natural capitalism.
* Sightline Institute is an independent, nonprofit research and communications center—a think tank—founded by Alan Durning in 1993.
* A non-profit organization founded in 1996 by the late Donella (Dana) Meadows, the Sustainability Institute applies systems thinking, system dynamics modeling, and organizational learning to economic, environmental and social challenges.
* UCS combines independent scientific research and citizen action to develop innovative, practical solutions and to secure responsible changes in government policy, corporate practices, and consumer choices.
* a global network of creative minds seeking solutions to world challenges. The common vision shared by the members of the ZERI family is to view waste as resource and seek solutions using nature's design principles as inspiration.
* The Zero Waste Alliance is a national leader providing assistance to industry sectors and organizations for development and implementation of standards, tools and practices that lead to a more sustainable future through the reduction and elimination of waste and toxics.
"Regulations, incentives and policies affecting sustainable agriculture are rooted in environmental legislation and laws on the international, Federal, state and local level." [24]
Law and policy sustainability organizations:
* dedicated to building an environmentally sustainable economy; raising awareness to support public response to population growth, rising CO2, loss of species, and other trends that are affecting the Earth
* nonprofit organization that envisions a people-centered globalization that values the rights of workers and the health of the planet; that prioritizes international collaboration as central to ensuring peace; and that aims to create a local, green economy designed to embrace the diversity of our communities.
* a coalition of labor, business, environmental, and community leaders working to catalyze a clean energy revolution that will put millions of Americans to work in a new generation of high-quality, green-collar jobs. Inspired by the Apollo space program, this organization promotes investments in energy efficiency, clean power, mass transit, next-generation vehicles, and emerging technology, as well as in education and training.
* A comprehensive resource for policymakers, organizations and activists looking for innovative public policies enacted around the world that can be used to make communities vibrant and strong!” The site, run by The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR), proposes a “new set of rules” which supports humanly scaled politics and economics.
News sustainability organizations:
* a one-of-a-kind “gateway” site to sustainable development. This site raises public awareness and promotes a societal movement toward more sustainable lifestyles. Helping the public from all walks of life better appreciate the scientific issues that underlie progress on global sustainability is at the heart of this site
* a unique non-profit, non-partisan organization with more than 5,000,000 members worldwide, is committed to educating the global community about the urgency of implementing comprehensive solutions to the climate crisis.
* objective is to make people aware of ways to become greener
* Worldchanging.com is a nonprofit media organization headquartered in Seattle, WA, that comprises a global network of independent journalists, designers and thinkers. We cover the world’s most innovative solutions to the planet’s problems, and inspire readers around the world with stories of new tools, models and ideas for building a bright green future.
* dedicated to fostering the evolution of an environmentally sustainable society—one in which human needs are met in ways that do not threaten the health of the natural environment or the prospects of future generations
Nonprofit organizations "play a part in society through their social value creation." [25] Many nonprofit organizations have adopted an organizational sustainability focus in both strategic and operational levels of management. Present nonprofit organizations have been required to adopt strategies aimed at establishing viable, sustainable organizations so that they can maintain to pursue their social mission. [26]
Non-profit sustainability organizations:
* a nonprofit organization founded in 1995 with offices in the United States and Argentina. It runs Idealist.org, an interactive site where people and organizations can exchange resources and ideas, locate opportunities and supporters, and take steps toward building a world where all people can lead free and dignified lives.
* A non-profit organization committed to “holding corporations accountable.” Functions as a resource on corporate globalization research, news stories, and ways to take action. Also, organizes campaigns against political campaign financing, greenwashing, and war-profiteering.
* works to find solutions to environmental problems by developing and supporting projects that promote the conservation, preservation and restoration of the Earth
* Environmental Defense Fund is a leading national nonprofit organization representing more than 700,000 members. Guided by science, Environmental Defense Fund evaluates environmental problems and works to create and advocate solutions that win lasting political, economic and social support because they are nonpartisan, cost-efficient and fair.
* a not-for-profit environmental research organization that uses the power of information to improve public health and protect the environment by reducing pollution in air, water and food. Based in Washington, D.C., and with an office in Oakland, California, EWG conducts groundbreaking, computer-assisted research on a variety of environmental issues.
* non-profit NGO founded by Mikhail Gorbachev with a mission to help create a sustainable future by cultivating harmonious relationships between humans and the environment
* For more than 30 years, IAF has been aiding organizations to more wisely choose and create their preferred futures. In 1982, Clem Bezold created IAF's for-profit subsidiary, Alternative Futures Associates (AFA), to help corporations integrate futures thinking into their strategic planning.
* promotes new models and leadership for socially and environmentally sustainable business in the 21st century.” As a nonprofit network, they do this by championing member initiatives, information services, and community forums.
* Originally developed in Sweden, The Natural Step is a comprehensive model for strategic decision making. It supports the development of sustainable businesses and sustainable communities, large and small. The Natural Step is based on systems thinking
* a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is one of twenty members of Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO), and the only third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in the United States.
Organizations that offer global education resources, products, and services. Many educational organizations offer their own global education programs in the area of environmental sustainability, or resources for the development of sustainability programs.[27]
Sustainability school organizations:
* has Masters and PhD level programs approaching environmental policy and sustainability issues from both a social science and natural science perspective.
* offers both an MBA in Sustainable Business and a Certificate in Sustainable Business. In these programs, students work with distinguished faculty from top business schools to master proven sustainability practices.
* offers a highly interdisciplinary model that sets the stage for successful curricular work in sustainability. Learning communities use whole systems thinking to approach the social and environmental aspects of sustainability. Evergreen offers programs in sustainability and a Masters in Environmental Studies.
* aims to improve the environmental health and ecological sustainability of schools in the U.S.
* on Bainbridge Island has an educational mission to inspire environmental and community stewardship.
* Institute for Sustainable Solutions is PSU's hub for cross-disciplinary research, teaching, and partnerships in sustainability.
* currently offers a minor program in Sustainability Studies.
* has a Program on the Environment, an interdisciplinary, hands-on education at the human-environment nexus.
* has a Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources. Within its College of Engineering and Architecture is the Institute for Sustainable Design.
* offers a Minor Degree in Sustainable Design that is shared between the Engineering Technology Program and Huxley College of the Environment.
* The Business, Environment & Social Responsibility Program (BESR) is housed within the Wisconsin School of Business at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. BESR is home to the only graduate level certificate offered by the WI School of Business.
Many organizations provide an outlet for expanding and cultivating social networks in order to attain the most beneficial responses for various goals among sustainability stakeholders.[28] In other words, "many sustainability networking organizations are a catalyst in bringing about systemic change by giving decision makers a shared, science-based understanding of sustainability and a unifying framework for developing a sustainable society."[29]
Sustainability networking organizations:
* uses non-violent direct action and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and to promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future
* One of US’ oldest, largest environmental organizations for the protection, restoration, and responsible use of earth’s resources; site has extensive resources for information, networking, and action.