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Monday, April 11, 2011

Different Types of Sustainable Business

The different types of sustainable business protect resources while simultaneously meeting the goals and objectives of business interests. According to the International Institution for Sustainable Development (IISA), different types of sustainable businesses require business strategies that define, implement, change, design and enhance aspects of business that affect sustainability.

Attributes of sustainable businesses include profitability and compliance with both environmental regulations and credible scientific knowledge regarding the impact of business practice on the environment. The IISA also states protecting, sustaining and enhancing human resources while not degrading those resources is a characteristic of business sustainability. This is interpreted to mean, keeping the work force alive and healthy, but not too wealthy to ensure ongoing or sustainable labor.

• Agriculture

Agricultural businesses necessitate sustainability as without it, crops simply fail. Without renewable resources such as the sun, rain and fertilizer agriculture would not exist. Since these types of businesses rely so heavily on sustainable resources it follows that proper management of those resources helps ensure sustainability of the business. Organic farmers nationwide have embraced sustainable business models that are health for the environment and people. What's more, according to a report from Inc. com's, businesses such as Frog's Leap Winery, the upfront cost of becoming a sustainable business are indeed profitable.

• Green energy

The green energy movement has been gaining momentum for some time now. Green energy businesses are in the business of sustainability. Businesses that create, build and install equipment that harness, store and distribute renewable energy are as sustainable as the resources that fuel these types of businesses are. Green energy businesses that utilize renewable parts and equipment that are environmentally safe naturally follow suit with the green energy sustainability they help promote.

• Waste management

Recycling, reuse, and re-integration are methods used by green waste management companies such as Waste Management Inc. This is one of largest waste management companies in the United States and has begun reusing the garbage it collects to fuel its trucks in addition to running and enhancing its traditionally earth friendly recycling programs. This type of sustainable business demonstrates how costs can actually be reduced by going green.

• Construction materials

Companies that recognize environmental and financial pitfalls of harvesting and wasting construction materials are green friendly and thus sustainable at some level. According to Inc. Magazine, a business called Hycrete has found a way to waterproof concrete with earth friendly chemicals that make it more efficient to reuse old concrete than costly to recondition. Green friendly businesses such as lumber supply companies that rotate crops to ensure a constant supply of wood without having to acquire additional land have also grasped the concept of sustainable business.

• Automotive

Auto manufacturers are on the sustainable business wagon as well. Increasingly energy efficient vehicle models are being designed, tested and marketed in an effort to meet earth friendly standards that test business models sustainability. Renewable energy news reports design concepts that support automotive business sustainability include fold up cars, self-repairing cars,  plastic cars and even plastic roads.

Different types of sustainable businesses span multiple industries among which there may also be unsustainable businesses. However, some industries are more apt to sustainability than others. To identify what the different types of sustainable business are it is helpful to understand what makes a business sustainable, and then match those attributes of sustainability with businesses and business models that have them. Business.gov provides an outline of qualities that business on the road to sustainability or that are already sustainable possess. These factors can be referred to as a qualitative measure of business sustainability.

Sources:

1. http://bit.ly/hobX28 (IISD)
2. http://bit.ly/3OaCy2 (Inc. Magazine)
3. http://bit.ly/8muj1    (Business.gov)
4. http://bit.ly/U0Xd8  (Green Energy News)

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