A Comprehensive Sustainability Indicator Monitoring System

Running head: SUSTAINABILITY INDICATORS
Sustainability Indicators
Name of the Student-
Name of the University-
Author note-

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Executive Summary
Aiming to develop a comprehensive sustainability indicator monitoring system, this report
strives to delve deeper into the various aspects related to the indicators of sustainability. This
report also delves into an in-depth analysis of the various indicators. This report takes into
consideration the Australian company, Victoria Carpets to determine the myriad areas that need
to be revamped to build a concrete monitoring system. It throws light on the fact that the
economic, environmental as well as social indicators form an integral part and they need to be
conglomerated to keep a check on the sustainability measures and report. This report also
recommends that Victoria Carpets, Australia, needs to amalgamate all the indicators to develop
upon their aspect of sustainability. It is concluded that Victoria Carpets can sustain its place in
the future if it identifies the areas that need to be developed.

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................4
Discussion........................................................................................................................................5
Economic Indicators:...................................................................................................................5
Abundant and accurate supply of goods and services.................................................................5
The indicator of total productivity, cost and sales.......................................................................6
The indicator of net investments as well as capital expenditures:...............................................6
Environmental Indicators:...........................................................................................................7
Materials......................................................................................................................................7
The indicator of Products.............................................................................................................8
Social Indicators..............................................................................................................................8
Human rights development and Business Ethics.........................................................................9
The factor of equal opportunities and low discrimination.........................................................10
The System of Monitoring.........................................................................................................10
Recommendation.......................................................................................................................10
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................11

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Introduction
As the phrase depicts, ‘sustainability’ refers to the idea of sustaining and retaining the
available resources to ensure a bright future for companies and the environment. Recent studies
have projected that business enterprises are chiefly concerned with sustainability management
(Dyllick & Muff, 2016). Aiming to generate a fair and comprehensive view about the indicators
of sustainability in enterprises, this report strives to delve deeper into the development of
sustainability indicators monitoring system. As the phrase depicts, this monitoring system assists
in monitoring the manner in which sustainability is maintained. This process involves the idea of
an integrated approach (Pintér et al., 2018). This report takes into consideration the Australian
carpet manufacturing business, Victoria Carpets. The following paragraphs shall endeavor to
enlist the nuances of the various indicators that help in monitoring the sustainability report of the
business enterprise.
Established in 1895, the company has expanded to Australia in 1954 (Victoria Carpets,
2019). The products offered by Victoria Carpets have been pleasing the consumers since the time
of its inception. This carpet manufacturing business is directed towards the fulfillment of the
needs of the consumers by inculcating product diversification and by maintaining a strong grasp
over the aspect of sustainability (Victoria Carpets, 2019). It is important to generate a concrete
sustainability indicators monitoring system to understand the various areas that need to be
worked upon by the above-mentioned business enterprise. Recent studies have presented that
though companies are aware of the importance of sustainability indicators, they lack knowledge
about incorporation (Nappi & Rozenfeld 2015).

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Discussion
Economic Indicators:
There are certain economic indicators that act as yardsticks for understanding the relation
between economic growth and sustainability. It has to be accepted that progress in economic
aspects is directly related to the concept of sustainable development (Boona et al., 2013).
Economic advancements help in retaining the profits and contribute in sustaining the
development processes. The similar scenario can be seen even in the case of Victoria Carpets.
The economic indicators inculcate the aspect of the production products and delivery to
consumers (Nappi & Rozenfeld 2015). Higher economic output can act as an important factor for
business enterprises to take care of their other aspects related to sustainability. Studies have
presented that the economic indicators are intrinsically linked to the environmental as well as
social indicators and assists in the process of decision-making (Kocmanová & Dočekalová,
2013). In the case of Victoria Carpets, the economic indicators of sustainability is directly
reflective of the other indicators.
The various economic indicators are as follows:
Abundant and accurate supply of goods and services: A closer look at the website of
Victoria Carpets will reveal that they tend to serve the consumer on a regular basis and by
supplying their products to the consumers. This company generally supplies its products to the
domestic market (Sustainability.vic.gov.au, 2019). Proper supply of products can act as an
economic indicator for the company in relation to the other indicators. In addition to this,
Victoria Carpets have also targeted the sustainability of the carpets to ensure greater service life
of the products (Victoria Carpets, 2019).

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The indicator of total productivity, cost and sales: Recent statistics have presented
that Victoria Carpets have endeavored to boost the process of production and productivity by
reducing the over-all costs (Sustainability.vic.gov.au, 2019). This is indicative of their capability
and grasp over the economic aspects of the enterprise. They have targeted the issue of
sustainability in their economic aspect. Reduced cost can ensure a sustained stay in the global
market. Reducing the operating costs also points towards their ability to reduce the effect on the
surrounding environment by saving energy (Sustainability.vic.gov.au, 2019).
The indicator of net investments as well as capital expenditures: This idea can be
related to the aspect of socially responsible investments. As the phrase depicts, the socially
responsible investing refers to the investments that consider the aspects of the social and
environmental and helps in the management of funds following the sustainable path (Lean et al.,
2015). This forms one of the chief indicators of sustainable development and production. A
closer look at the business enterprise’s policies will reveal that Victoria Carpets are responsible
towards the environment and investors should be interested in this company.
In order to generate a sustainability indicator monitoring system, it is important to develop a
system that keeps check on the revenue generated and the indicator of investments that are made
with the view of social enterprises. The monitoring system must also incorporate the idea of
monitoring the operation costs that can ensure the safety of resources in an economic manner.
Further, the system must also ensure that the economic indicators are amalgamated to generate a
fair view and monitor over the sustainability of the company.

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Environmental Indicators:
One of the chief indicators that assist in understanding the sustainability level of any
company and is a chief tool for monitoring, the Environmental Indicators form a crucial part.
These indicators help in understanding the extent to which any company strives to take care of
the surrounding environment. As the phrase depicts, environmental indicators try to monitor the
activities by collating the economy with the environmental (Pissourios, 2013). This indicator also
helps in gauging the impact of the products and production on the surrounding ambience
including the human beings. Even these environmental indicators can help in the process of
decision-making and effectively channelize practices towards sustainability (Efroymson et al.,
2013). The Corporate Social Responsibility of business enterprises encompasses the idea of
environmental indicators, where enterprises need to divide attention to the social and
environmental responsibility of the enterprises and integrate the corporate with the
environmental (Epstein, 2018).
Our enterprise is the carpet manufacturing industry whose manufacturing process and
products can influence the environment. It is important to develop upon the environmental
indicators to gauge the sustainability of the enterprise. The system of environmental indicators as
monitors of the sustainability is crucial and needs to develop to check the growth of any
deviation.
The chief environmental indicators are as follows:
Materials: One of the chief areas of environmental indicators is the aspect of materials
with which Victoria Carpets manufacture the carpets. The raw materials that are used and
processed in the manufacture of the carpets can have a direct link to the environmental situation.

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The rampant use of synthetic fiber such as polyester and other harmful materials can affect the
surrounding environment (Akil et al., 2014). A proper check on this factor can add to the
reduction of the impact on environment and help in sustainable development of the business
enterprise of Victoria Carpets. Developing and working upon this indicator will ensure the
development of sustainability of the company.
The indicator of Products: The indicator of the products that are produced are as
important as the materials that are used in the production of these products. In order to ensure the
sustainability and to monitor through the indicators, the system should take into consideration the
nature of the products and the manner in which it affects the environment when the user disposes
them. As depicted by their official website, Victoria Carpets strives to include the environmental
aspect regarding the materials, energy and waste generation (Victoria Carpets, 2019). They strive
to consider the various arenas related to the environment. Nevertheless, it is seen that studies
reveal that Victoria Carpets need to build upon their goals of sustainability to ensure a longer
stay in the future (Sustainability.vic.gov.au, 2019).
After considering the points, it has to be said that to develop a system of sustainability
indicators for monitoring purpose, it is crucial to integrate the aspect of the environmental to
gauge the impact of the business related activities on the surroundings. The indicator of products
and materials used in production can assist in keeping a check over the important areas. This
system can be developed by the inculcation of regular generation of reports and scrutiny of
reports stating facts about the environmental impact.

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Social Indicators
In order to develop a sustainability indicators monitoring system, it is essential to take
into consideration the aspect of social indicators. Social indicators refer to those indicators that
help in identifying and monitoring the social impact and connection of organizations with their
society (Hicks et al., 2016). Further, these indicators help in analyzing myriad issues that point
towards the social ideas and well-being (Joung et al., 2013). Studies depict the fact that social
indicators have formed a crucial role in decision-making throughout Europe (Steurer &
Hametner 2013). Integrating and developing social indicators are extremely important because
they ensure the sustenance of the cordial relation between the societal forces and the
organizations. Organizations need to develop the social indicators because of the widespread
social inequalities (Waas et al., 2014).
Considering the enterprise, Victoria Carpets, it can be mentioned that it needs to develop on
this indicator to monitor the activities that help in sustaining the social aspects. In order to ensure
the proper sustainability in the future, it is essential for the above-mentioned organization to
develop their social policies and responsibilities.
The intrinsic parts of social indicators are as follows:
Human rights development and Business Ethics: In order to continue with business
endeavors, it is necessary for organizations to take into consideration the rights of the employees
and the ethical ideas that businesses have to follow. The Australian government had enlisted
certain laws and norms about business ethics that need to be followed by the enterprises
(Business.gov.au, 2019). None of the companies can deviate from these policies. On a similar
note, Victoria Carpets needs to follow the ordained laws. Nevertheless, it needs to develop the

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indicator that can monitor any injustice caused to any employees or to any customer. Injustice
meted to employees can lead to the reduction in the sustainability of the manufacturer (Oladapo
& Banks, 2013). This indicator can be developed by inculcating regular checks on the employee
attrition and their grievances. It is quite important to sustain the ethical practice in business for
the proper realization of goals and objectives.
The factor of equal opportunities and low discrimination: In order to maintain the
sustainability of the business, it is very important to develop the indicator of the provision of
equal opportunities. Developing this indicator will mean the system of monitoring the
sustainability will also focus on the aspect of equal distribution of work and less cases of
discrimination. Inculcation and development of this social indicator will mean that Victoria
Carpets can keep a stringent check on the cases of discrimination and unequal representation of
employees.
The System of Monitoring
After considering the various indicators, it is seen that the monitoring system must
conglomerate the economic, environmental and social indicators to develop a comprehensive
monitoring system that can keep a check on the sustainability factors and deliver timely
reports defining the areas that needs improvement. For example, the indicator of operational
cost can be related to the environmental indictors to understand the impact on environment.
On a similar note, the social indicators can be conglomerated to generate a fair view of the
sustainability of the company in relation to the social factors.

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Recommendation
 It is recommended that Victoria Carpets takes into consideration and develops the
system of sustainable indicators to monitor the issues related to sustainability.
 It is also recommended that the enterprise revamps its concentration on the Social
Indicators related to human rights and others.
 It is also recommended that Victoria Carpets should shift its focus from
expanding product range to focusing on the integration of the indicators to ensure
proper sustenance.
Conclusion
After analyzing the above-discussed ideas, in conclusion it can be mentioned that
sustainability and sustainable growth are important aspects that need to be developed and taken
into consideration by every business organization. It can also be concluded that it is extremely
crucial to develop and implement the various indicators for sustainable development for units
such as Victoria Carpets because it can assist in the recognition of the areas that need to be
developed. It can also assist the enterprise in maintaining a strong grasp over the issue of
sustainable business and ideologies. Along with economic and environmental indicators, the
indicator related to social factors is also crucial in checking any kind of deviation and to maintain
the standards of sustainability. The indicators can be integrated into a system for monitoring the
various aspects related to sustainability.

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