Comments for CitizenPolity http://citizenpolity.com Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:00:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ Comment on The “Pain” of Sustainability by James Epstein-Reeves http://citizenpolity.com/2012/01/18/the-pain-of-sustainability/#comment-241 Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:00:21 +0000 http://citizenpolity.com/?p=866#comment-241 Hi David, I actually think we are in agreement. My post was purposely meant to be a broad-brushed, concise list of many of the problems that are preventing sustainability from becoming mainstream. There are so many heroes of sustainability, big and small companies, but I just didn’t have the room to mention it! Still, unfortunately, I might argue that these companies that TRULY “get it” are the exception rather than the rule. Once it becomes more of the norm of business operations for most companies, then I would feel comfortable not referring to sustainability as an “industry.” You have a very valid point that if it’s done right, it’s more about how you do business, not a project in a business. Unfortunately, I just think we’re not there yet. Instead, sustainability is left to a number of practitioners (corporate side, and NGO side), strategy consultants (yours truly), report writers (too many to mention), and trade associations/NGOs (e.g. BSR). The biggest compliment to our collective work? That we all have to find a new job. :-)

]]> Comment on The “Pain” of Sustainability by James Epstein-Reeves http://citizenpolity.com/2012/01/18/the-pain-of-sustainability/#comment-240 Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:55:15 +0000 http://citizenpolity.com/?p=866#comment-240 Thanks GreenHearted! I agree, if sustainability is done right as a strategic approach to business, it can sidestep many of the issues I mentioned. Thanks for the comment and the link to the book, look forward to reading it!

]]> Comment on The “Pain” of Sustainability by James Epstein-Reeves http://citizenpolity.com/2012/01/18/the-pain-of-sustainability/#comment-239 Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:53:50 +0000 http://citizenpolity.com/?p=866#comment-239 George, I totally agree. In order for sustainability to be a success, everyone should be aware of how their decisions influence the ability of a company to meet business, social, and environmental needs (all of which are linked).

]]> Comment on The “Pain” of Sustainability by James Epstein-Reeves http://citizenpolity.com/2012/01/18/the-pain-of-sustainability/#comment-238 Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:52:29 +0000 http://citizenpolity.com/?p=866#comment-238 Benedict, thanks for the comment, I appreciate it. I agree, so much about the opportunity of sustainability/CSR/CR/citizenship should be about creating such “shared value” as Professors Porter and Kramer put it. Thanks!

]]> Comment on The “Pain” of Sustainability by David Schatsky http://citizenpolity.com/2012/01/18/the-pain-of-sustainability/#comment-235 Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:58:43 +0000 http://citizenpolity.com/?p=866#comment-235 You have described real problems that some companies face when confronting the challenges and opportunities of sustainability. But there are also plenty of companies that have excellent sustainability strategies and sound management practices and resources dedicated to executing those strategies. Lots of companies are regularly reporting impressive gains in all kinds of sustainability metrics, ranging from greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency, water efficiency, waste diversion, etc.

It is a challenge for any company to integrate a new set of strategic considerations into its approach to doing business. But that doesn’t mean it’s not happening. It just needs to happen more, more broadly, and faster.

Sustainability, by the way, ought not to be termed as an “industry.” Done right, it influences nearly ever facet of doing business, no matter what industry a business is in.

]]>