In today’s business environment, “garbage” isn’t simply worthless refuse to be disposed of anymore; it often represents a material with monetary value. The human population is using up about 30 percent more natural resources in one year than the earth can regenerate. Because businesses constitute half of the world’s largest economies, there can be no sustainability without sustainable businesses.

The Business of Sustainability: Trends, Policies, Practices, and Stories of Success is a foundation set that effectively captures and articulates the why, what, who, and how of sustainability and business. Volume I covers the scientific, economic, and social underpinnings of sustainability and identifies the challenges facing business leaders. Volume II explores the global network of designers, producers, suppliers, distributors, and consumers that must be addressed as a unit from a cradle-to-cradle, life-cycle perspective. Volume III presents examples of success across many industries, demonstrating that sustainability is indeed possible.

Each volume analytically addresses the larger issues, such as the challenges of managing a business to the standards of sustainability, measuring progress or success, and creating—and maintaining—sustainable businesses. This monumental work provides a comprehensive treatment of sustainability in the world of businesses, exploring all of its dimensions: obstacles, metrics, opportunities, and pathways to success.

Features

• Contributions from more than 70 authors recognized for their work in sustainability
• Several chapters with systemic frameworks
• Numerous case studies demonstrating successful approaches by industry innovators
• 55 figures with models and steps for analyses
• A bibliography with each chapter