While the term can have many meanings depending on context, sustainability as it relates to environmental compliance and stewardship is based on the fundamental principle that everything that humans need for survival and welfare depends, directly or indirectly, on the natural environment. To pursue sustainability is to develop and upkeep the conditions under which humanity and nature can exist in gainful harmony to support current and future generations.

In business terms, sustainability can be described as managing a company’s triple bottom line of people, planet, and prosperity; in other words, sustainability speaks to the social, environmental, and financial obligations and opportunities facing every organization.

When business initiatives are centered on all three of these pillars of sustainability, the advantages and ongoing effects often extend far beyond any single project. Incorporating sustainability into everyday decision-making can greatly improve business opportunities, even if a project does not cross all three pillars. Sustainable thinking positions a business to be more efficient with resources, more resilient to change, and more competitive in the marketplace.