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Sustainability Defined Sustainability Defined Hector R Rodriguez Director of Sustainability at Biogen Idec Adjunct Professor, School of Business at Mount Ida College
Objectives of this Talk – An Overview of… What is Sustainability? What is Sustainability Management? Review of tools that assist in developing and implementing a Sustainability Strategy
Challenges of this Definition Does not address resource consumption issues, nor the distinction between renewable resources and non-renewable resources.  Does not really answer the question of what sustainability means and also leaves it to our imagination to determine which “needs” are legitimate and which ones are not.  2 Part I - What is Sustainability? Traditional Definition Sustainable  development  is development that meets the  needs of the present  without compromising the ability of  future generations  to meet their own needs. 1   Philosophically, Sustainability could be thought of as the goal and Sustainable Development one of the requirements needed to achieve it… 1. “Our Common Future.”  World Commission on Environment and Development . Aug. 1987.  2. “Re-Casting the Triple Bottom Line.”  Center for Sustainable Innovation. Jun. 2007
[object Object],Addresses questions such as:  3 A Better Definition of Sustainability… 3.  Daly H.,  Beyond Growth: The Economics of Sustainable Development . 253 pp. Boston: Beacon Press, 1996. ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],YES…   Freshwater… fisheries… clean soil YES…   e.g. Minerals… Oil… Subsidies required for renewable resources YES…   e.g. Superfund sites… Contaminated rivers… Smog  YES…   Healthcare in Africa… Education in the US… Infrastructure in Mexico…
[object Object],A Better Definition of Sustainability… (cont) In order to be sustainable, we must therefore address the impacts of human activity on the quality and sufficiency of  vital capitals  (renewable, non-renewable and societal) in the world.
[object Object],[object Object],What is Capital? Linking Vital Capitals and Well-Being…
This is the capitals-based theory of sustainability, the foundation for most of what passes for mainstream practice in Sustainability Management. Vital Capitals and Well-Being Economic Capital Social Capital Environmental Capital Available flows of beneficial goods and services Appropriated by individuals and collectives Resulting in levels of individual and collective well-being CAPITAL FLOWS
Environmental Capital ,[object Object]
Social Capital ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
[object Object],[object Object],Economic Capital 4.  Henriques A., Richardson J.  The Triple Bottom Line: Does It All Add Up?  London: Earthscan Publications Ltd.., 2004.
Economic Capital ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],This diagram depicts an outdated model… Economic Capital is not just about profit…
What is then Sustainability? 5.  McElroy, M.  Social Footprints – Measuring the Social Sustainability Performance of Organizations.  Dissertation, 2008 The Sustainability Professional studies and manages the impacts of an organizations’ activities on the quality and sufficiency of vital capitals wherever it operates, as required to ensure human well-being. Sustainability is the subject of a social or management science that  studies and manages  the  impacts of human activity  on the quality and sufficiency of  vital capitals  in the world,  as required to ensure human well-being .  5
Part II - What is Sustainability Management (SM)? Sustainability Management Enterprise Orientation Social Benevolence Eco-efficiency Triple  Bottom-Line Context Based Orientation Life Cycle Orientation Environmental Capital Economic Capital Social Capital LCA’s of Products and Services Environmental Capital Social Capital (Emerging) Refresher: to achieve Sustainability, SM must address all three vital capitals 1 2 3 4 5
Life-Cycle Orientation As here defined, LCA’s form an important  element  of Sustainability Management 1 ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Emerging UNEP-driven initiative
[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Enterprise Orientation – Four Schools of Thought
[object Object],[object Object],Eco-Efficiency 6.  Schmidheiny S.,  Changing Course,  The MIT Press, Boston: Apr. 1992 2
[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Social Benevolence (Corporate Social Responsibility) 3
[object Object],[object Object],Triple Bottom Line 7.  Elkington J.,  Cannibals with Forks,  Capstone Publishing LTD. Sep.1999. 4
Context-Based Sustainability  8 8.  McElroy M., “Sustainability Measurement and Reporting.”  Deloitte . Weston, MA. 2010  5 ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
Here’s the Company X performance with context missing Context-Based vs. Context-Free Example Source: Center for Sustainable Innovation
Sustainability Threshold (performance above threshold is unsustainable) Here’s the Company X performance with context added Context-Based vs. Context-Free Example (cont.) Source: Center for Sustainable Innovation
Another hypothetical scenario Context-Based vs. Context-Free Example (cont.) Source: Center for Sustainable Innovation Sustainability Threshold (performance above threshold is unsustainable)
The Sustainability Quotient Source: Center for Sustainable Innovation The Sustainability Quotient A formula for Measuring and Reporting Corporate Sustainability Performance S = A/N Where: S =  Sustainability Performance* A =  Net Actual Impacts on the Carrying Capacities of Vital Capitals N =  Net Normative Impacts on the Carrying Capacities of Vital Capitals *For Ecological Quotients, S scores of ≤ 1 are sustainable, ≥ 1 unsustainable; for Societal  Quotients, S scores of ≥ 1 are sustainable, <1 are unsustainable Source: Center for Sustainable Innovation
Sample of Context-Based Metrics *Note:  All standards of performance must be grounded  in levels required to ensure human well-being. Areas of Impact Example/Description* Environmental - Water Use A metric that measures an organization’s use of water resources against an allocated and proportionate share of locally renewable supplies. - Solid Waste A metric that measures an organization’s use of local landfill resources against an allocated and proportionate share of available capacity. Social - Work/Life Balance A metric that measures an organization’s impacts on employee work/life balance against standards grounded in employee family well-being. - Community Involvement A metric that measures an organization’s contributions to community well-being against a standard expressed as a percentage of profits. Economic - Livable Wages A metric that measures an organization’s compensation practices against locally-relevant livable wage standards. - Economic Institutions A metric that measures an organization’s contributions to economic institutions (e.g., regulatory bodies) as a percentage of profits.
[object Object],[object Object],What is then the Right Framework?
Part III – Developing a Sustainability Strategy  9 ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],9.  Hambrick D., Fredrickson J., “Are You Sure You Have a Strategy.”  Academy of Management Executive.  2001. Vol 15, No. 4.  Basic and formulaic in nature; the models used on this and the next slide are just examples of available tools which could help in the development of a sustainability strategy.
Profit Margin Profit Margin Infrastructure Human Resource Management Technology Development Procurement Inbound Logistics Operations Outbound Logistics Marketing & Sales Service Support Activities Primary Activities Education and job training Diversity and discrimination Philanthropy Work-Life Balance Transportation impacts Pricing practices Marketing practices Product Safety Transparency Lobbying Tax Planning Stakeholder Alliances Supply chain practices Utilization of natural resources Trading Practices Commerce Impacts Emissions and waste Energy and water usage Worker safety and labor relations Hazardous materials Packaging use Transportation impacts Customer Assistance Quality of Life Relationships with universities Ethical research practices Conservation of raw materials Recycling Assessing Vital Capital Impacts – Value Chain  10 10.  Porter, M. E., “Strategy & Society.”  Harvard Business Review,  Dec. 2006   SAMPLE
Other Useful Business Frameworks Porter’s Model Hambrick & Fredrickson McKinsey’s 7-S
[object Object],Prioritizing Initiatives - Materiality Assessment  11 11.  Global Reporting Initiative.  Sustainability Reporting Guidelines.  Amsterdam: 2006.  ,[object Object],[object Object]
Summary and Conclusion Sustainability  is defined as that subject of management science that  studies  the  impacts  of human activity on the quality and sufficiency  of vital capitals  in the world  as required to ensure human well-being . The  Sustainability Professional  studies and  manages  the  impacts of corporate activities  on the quality and sufficiency of  vital capitals  wherever it operates. Vital capitals include Social, Environmental and Economic capitals .  The Triple Bottom Line approach, together with Context-Based Sustainability, is the Sustainability Management framework which most appropriately studies and manages those vital capitals Management frameworks such as the “Value Chain,” Hambrick and Fredrickson’s model, “McKinsey’s 7-S,” “Five Forces” and SWOT’s are of help in developing a Sustainability Strategy.
[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],References

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Sustainability Defined

  • 1. Sustainability Defined Sustainability Defined Hector R Rodriguez Director of Sustainability at Biogen Idec Adjunct Professor, School of Business at Mount Ida College
  • 2. Objectives of this Talk – An Overview of… What is Sustainability? What is Sustainability Management? Review of tools that assist in developing and implementing a Sustainability Strategy
  • 3. Challenges of this Definition Does not address resource consumption issues, nor the distinction between renewable resources and non-renewable resources. Does not really answer the question of what sustainability means and also leaves it to our imagination to determine which “needs” are legitimate and which ones are not. 2 Part I - What is Sustainability? Traditional Definition Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. 1 Philosophically, Sustainability could be thought of as the goal and Sustainable Development one of the requirements needed to achieve it… 1. “Our Common Future.” World Commission on Environment and Development . Aug. 1987. 2. “Re-Casting the Triple Bottom Line.” Center for Sustainable Innovation. Jun. 2007
  • 4.
  • 5.
  • 6.
  • 7. This is the capitals-based theory of sustainability, the foundation for most of what passes for mainstream practice in Sustainability Management. Vital Capitals and Well-Being Economic Capital Social Capital Environmental Capital Available flows of beneficial goods and services Appropriated by individuals and collectives Resulting in levels of individual and collective well-being CAPITAL FLOWS
  • 8.
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  • 12. What is then Sustainability? 5. McElroy, M. Social Footprints – Measuring the Social Sustainability Performance of Organizations. Dissertation, 2008 The Sustainability Professional studies and manages the impacts of an organizations’ activities on the quality and sufficiency of vital capitals wherever it operates, as required to ensure human well-being. Sustainability is the subject of a social or management science that studies and manages the impacts of human activity on the quality and sufficiency of vital capitals in the world, as required to ensure human well-being . 5
  • 13. Part II - What is Sustainability Management (SM)? Sustainability Management Enterprise Orientation Social Benevolence Eco-efficiency Triple Bottom-Line Context Based Orientation Life Cycle Orientation Environmental Capital Economic Capital Social Capital LCA’s of Products and Services Environmental Capital Social Capital (Emerging) Refresher: to achieve Sustainability, SM must address all three vital capitals 1 2 3 4 5
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  • 20. Here’s the Company X performance with context missing Context-Based vs. Context-Free Example Source: Center for Sustainable Innovation
  • 21. Sustainability Threshold (performance above threshold is unsustainable) Here’s the Company X performance with context added Context-Based vs. Context-Free Example (cont.) Source: Center for Sustainable Innovation
  • 22. Another hypothetical scenario Context-Based vs. Context-Free Example (cont.) Source: Center for Sustainable Innovation Sustainability Threshold (performance above threshold is unsustainable)
  • 23. The Sustainability Quotient Source: Center for Sustainable Innovation The Sustainability Quotient A formula for Measuring and Reporting Corporate Sustainability Performance S = A/N Where: S = Sustainability Performance* A = Net Actual Impacts on the Carrying Capacities of Vital Capitals N = Net Normative Impacts on the Carrying Capacities of Vital Capitals *For Ecological Quotients, S scores of ≤ 1 are sustainable, ≥ 1 unsustainable; for Societal Quotients, S scores of ≥ 1 are sustainable, <1 are unsustainable Source: Center for Sustainable Innovation
  • 24. Sample of Context-Based Metrics *Note: All standards of performance must be grounded in levels required to ensure human well-being. Areas of Impact Example/Description* Environmental - Water Use A metric that measures an organization’s use of water resources against an allocated and proportionate share of locally renewable supplies. - Solid Waste A metric that measures an organization’s use of local landfill resources against an allocated and proportionate share of available capacity. Social - Work/Life Balance A metric that measures an organization’s impacts on employee work/life balance against standards grounded in employee family well-being. - Community Involvement A metric that measures an organization’s contributions to community well-being against a standard expressed as a percentage of profits. Economic - Livable Wages A metric that measures an organization’s compensation practices against locally-relevant livable wage standards. - Economic Institutions A metric that measures an organization’s contributions to economic institutions (e.g., regulatory bodies) as a percentage of profits.
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  • 27. Profit Margin Profit Margin Infrastructure Human Resource Management Technology Development Procurement Inbound Logistics Operations Outbound Logistics Marketing & Sales Service Support Activities Primary Activities Education and job training Diversity and discrimination Philanthropy Work-Life Balance Transportation impacts Pricing practices Marketing practices Product Safety Transparency Lobbying Tax Planning Stakeholder Alliances Supply chain practices Utilization of natural resources Trading Practices Commerce Impacts Emissions and waste Energy and water usage Worker safety and labor relations Hazardous materials Packaging use Transportation impacts Customer Assistance Quality of Life Relationships with universities Ethical research practices Conservation of raw materials Recycling Assessing Vital Capital Impacts – Value Chain 10 10. Porter, M. E., “Strategy & Society.” Harvard Business Review, Dec. 2006 SAMPLE
  • 28. Other Useful Business Frameworks Porter’s Model Hambrick & Fredrickson McKinsey’s 7-S
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  • 30. Summary and Conclusion Sustainability is defined as that subject of management science that studies the impacts of human activity on the quality and sufficiency of vital capitals in the world as required to ensure human well-being . The Sustainability Professional studies and manages the impacts of corporate activities on the quality and sufficiency of vital capitals wherever it operates. Vital capitals include Social, Environmental and Economic capitals . The Triple Bottom Line approach, together with Context-Based Sustainability, is the Sustainability Management framework which most appropriately studies and manages those vital capitals Management frameworks such as the “Value Chain,” Hambrick and Fredrickson’s model, “McKinsey’s 7-S,” “Five Forces” and SWOT’s are of help in developing a Sustainability Strategy.
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Editor's Notes

  1. In a sense it is like the story of the blindfolded individuals who were asked to describe a massive object by touch. Each explored a different part, and each described quite accurately his or her own reality. The reality of what is going on in our professions is not defined by the personal experiences of a few, but the combined wisdom of many—collectively taking off the blindfold, so to speak.