The Sustainable Enterprise - Profiting from Best Practice (Electronic book text, 1st edition)

Perceptions of a business's sustainability can have a real impact on the bottom-line. The benefits accrued will far outweigh any costs. Drawing on the experience and expertise of leading professionals and practitioners, it reviews the specific challenges that sustainability can involve from energy use to employment rights, from emissions trading to corporate governance, and from environmental technology to stakeholder relationships. Depending on the nature of the business, they might be critical or they might be routine. However, passively complying with rules and regulations is no longer sufficient. Sustainability is starting to permeate every business decision and needs to be managed in an active, integrated way. The rewards for responsibility, accountability and transparency can be high: brand loyalty, high-calibre recruits, strengthened partnerships, easier entry to new markets and better access to capital. Any failure to live up to a commitment to sustainability, however, can fundamentally undermine prospects for future growth. In securing these rewards and minimising the risks, this book is designed as a practical guide to the strategic and operating challenges in becoming a sustainable enterprise.