Fundamentals Of Sustainable Business: A Guide For The Next 100 Years

by Mattew W Tueth

Overview

Fundamentals of Sustainable Business begins by briefly describing the legacy of environmental and social problems that have arisen as a result of conventional business practices, and then details the coalescence of a broad-based contemporary movement that has been called “The Next Industrial Revolution”. Combining the long-term interests of business, community, and the natural world, the resulting sustainable business reformation is unlike any previous human endeavor.The book deftly synthesizes a diverse collection of movement components, including some original concepts, and provides a single comprehensive and definitive source for understanding the emerging and complex phenomenon of sustainable business. This work challenges many long-held conventional assumptions involving the relationship of the natural world and humankind as well as our fundamental approaches to industrial production. It critiques the various emerging brands of sustainable business activities, and provides the reader with a clear understanding of the essential design components of a movement that provides a conceptual infrastructure for a prosperous and healthy world for all generations of all species for all time.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789812839329
Publisher:	World Scientific Publishing Company, Incorporated
Publication date:	08/25/2009
Series:	World Scientific Series On 21st Century Business , #4
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	228
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.90(d)

Table of Contents

Preface vii

Acknowledgements xvii

1 Houston, We Have a Problem 1

1.1 Our Early Approach to Mounting Problems 2

1.2 Our Problems Continue 4

1.3 Early Visionaries and the Resistance to Change 7

1.4 Do Current Free-Market Mechanisms Help? 8

1.5 An Intelligent Beginning 11

1.6 Are the Results Worth the Effort? 13

2 Selecting a Design Consultant 19

2.1 The Problem with Stewardship 19

2.2 Naturally Our Best Foot Forward 22

2.3 Pernicious Material Processes 24

2.4 Nature's Path of Production 25

2.5 Two Closed-Loops into One 29

2.6 Nature's Energy Path 32

2.7 Following Nature's Energy Path 34

2.8 Other Sun-Powered Opportunities 35

2.9 Envision a Sun-Powered Human Society 36

2.10 Cutting Our Nuclear Power Losses 38

2.11 The Advantages of Local Energy Production 39

2.12 Changing Energy Trends 40

2.13 Innovations Solving Multiple Problems 43

3 The Bull's Eye 45

3.1 The Triple Top-line 45

3.2 The Short Post on the Three-Legged Stool 47

3.3 The Nature of the Movement 48

3.4 High Stakes and New Takes 49

3.5 How Do We Begin? 51

3.6 No Silver Bullet 53

3.7 The Better Part of Valor 54

3.8 The Toyota Way 58

3.9 Approaching the Bull's Eye 59

3.10 Intelligent Building Design 61

3.11 Urgent Challenges, Appropriate Remedies 63

3.12 Early Organizational Change 66

3.13 The Score Card 67

3.14 A Helping Hand 70

3.15 Staff Roles in the Transition 71

4 Businesses Taking Care of Business 77

4.1 United States For-profit Companies 78

4.2 European For-Profit Companies 94

4.3 Caribbean and South American For-Profit Companies 100

4.4 Australian For-Profit Companies 102

4.5 Asian For-Profit Companies 102

4.6 Non-Profit Organizations106

4.7 Sustainable Business Forums 108

4.8 Other U.S. Non-Profit Organizations 112

4.9 Laying the Foundation 115

5 Greasing the Cognitive Sldds 119

5.1 Connected on All Levels 121

5.2 Field-Based Education 122

5.3 Re-educate the Educators 125

5.4 Obstacles for Education Reform 127

5.5 The Operations Side of Education 130

5.6 An Academic Prototype 131

5.7 Research and the Movement 136

5.8 The Interdisciplinary Aspect 137

5.9 The Academic Program and Curricula 138

5.10 Current Undergraduate Programs 139

5.11 Graduate Programs 141

6 Government Finally Gets It Right 145

6.1 Not Repeating Mistakes 146

6.2 Crafting Sustainable Business Policy 148

6.3 Reforming the Corporate Rules 151

6.4 Operational Advances for Government 153

7 Healthy, Beautiful, Diverse, and Durable 159

7.1 Your Home 160

7.2 Transportation 163

7.3 Your Retail Experience 164

7.4 Formal Education 170

7.5 Out on the Farm 172

7.6 Your Workplace 175

8 Falling Off the Log 183

8.1 Recognizing the Threats 183

8.2 Opportunistic or Altruistic 184

8.3 An Aversion to Risk 186

8.4 The Overwhelming Cost 187

8.5 Indecent Exposure 188

8.6 Pretenders and Emasculators 192

8.7 Six Essential Characteristics 193

8.8 International Implications 195

8.9 Back to the Front 198

Bibliography 201

Index 203