Business and Society Essay: Evaluating Sustainability as an Objective

This essay delves into the multifaceted relationship between business and society, focusing on the critical question of whether sustainability is a realistic objective. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the three pillars of sustainability: economic, social, and environmental, evaluating their interc...Read More

Running head: BUSINESS AND SOCIETY
Topic: Business and Society
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Name of the University:
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1BUSINESS AND SOCIETY
Introduction
Everything that is required for survival and societal well-beings, directly or indirectly
depends on our natural environment. The conditions that are required for coexistence of human
and nature are fulfilled by sustainability. Schaubroeck et al. (2015) pointed out that sustainability
constructs the biological system, which endures diversity and productive nature. However, in this
21st century, even though nations are trying hard to meet sustainable future, confronting factors
related to economy, policy, awareness and ignorance are acting as hindrance. Therefore, this
essay will discuss whether sustainability is a realistic objective for society through critical
analysis by using the three pillars of sustainability model. The views from different authors will
be discussed and based on that the arguments will be developed.
Evaluation of Sustainability as a Realistic Objective
According to Thwink.org (2018), the three pillars of sustainability are comprised of
economic, social, and environmental factors. Most of the nations try to focus on one particular
pillar at a time, based on the highest magnitude of severity. The actionable authorities have
already set up several programs such as United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for environmental pillar; World Trade Organization
(WTO) and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) for
environmental pillar. However, nations are not able to reach at the significant level of
sustainability.
Achieving economic sustainability is the most challenging for a nation as it depends on
Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which is further completely dependent on land, labor and
capital. According to Aurel Marin et al. (2013), developing nations are trying to revise the tax

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rate so that government is able to restructure industrial infrastructure where India being one of
the best example. On the other hand, Barnett et al. (2015) contradicted that economic
development has resulted in information technology development, which even though helped in
innovation but resulted in reducing job opportunity because of higher rate of cross-border
outsourcing. According to Thwink.org (2018), India and China can never become economically
sustainable because of poor ecological footprint. The average GDP per person is extremely low
for India as compared to other developed countries. Poor infrastructure, low income level, low
standard of living, poor job opportunity, changing government, poor laws, less exposure and
exchange rate are the factors that act as challenges for economic sustainability. Furthermore,
Wagner (2015) argued that people of a developing nation where more than sixty percent of
citizen are under poverty threshold does not agree to pay taxes and even business person try to
ditch taxation rules through policy loopholes. Such a gap in government income has resulted in
poor economic sustainable approach.
According to Fernandez-Feijoo et al. (2015), independent firms and private ownerships
help in developing society by developing new job opportunities and experiences that lead to
innovation. With industrialization more diverse workforce is getting accumulated in different
parts of world, which helps in developing strategic purposes. Employees are getting new job
exposure that helps in global market diversification. Social sustainability is dependent on the
quality of lifestyle that not only indicates basic need mitigation but also comfort and passion.
However, Siltaoja (2014) argued that private firms try to squeeze out the maximum from an
employee out of the total working hours, which often affect work life balance. Due to extreme
work pressure employees have become non-cohesive with their interactive circle. Governments
are failing to fulfill, respect and protect progressive human rights regarding what businesses

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should and can do. On the counterpart, Weingaertner and Moberg (2014) highlighted that firms
are helping in developing GDP of nation, new job openings, cross-border partnerships, nation’s
branding and even poverty mitigation. Therefore, it can be said that society is benefitted to some
extent however, human right violation is the most significant where survival for existence has
become the real challenge.
On the words of Kourula et al. (2017), environmental sustainability approach engages
reengineering of process, products and structures that reduces the adverse effect on environment.
Green engineering and technology development has reduced the emission of carbon and solid
waste disposal through reduce-recycle-reuse process in manufacturing industries. However,
Pierie et al. (2016) argued that the decisions related to environmental sustainability promotion
require traditional trade-offs concerning resource availability, market forces and technology
where Natural World integrity is completely ignored.
According to Lueg et al. (2015), green packaging, utilization of renewable source of
energy and low carbon footprint is significantly implemented by large firms. However, Siltaoja
(2014) opined that there are some organizations, which are polluting the world unlimitedly, but
they have huge business profitability. Long term benefit is something that does not count for
immediate net profit. Government earns huge taxes from such companies. Government does not
want to ban such organizations. Therefore, industries ignore the adverse effect of production
emission on environment. On the other hand, Longoni and Cagliano, (2015) argued that for a
nation where people struggle to meet the daily cost of living, environmental sustainability
presumes to be less important than economic sustainability. This eventually creates an imbalance
between the pillars of sustainability. Furthermore, Fragkias and Boone (2016) pointed out that
adverse climatic changes and extreme weather conditions are the results of ignorance among

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human beings. Global warming, rise of sea level, atmosphere depletion and high toxic gas
emission has resulted in effecting the health of people.
Conclusion
While concluding it can be said that the three pillars of sustainability cannot be focused
separately. It has been found that the government of a nation is playing the most vital role in
developing sustainability. Developing rules, regulations and procedures for maintain source of
income that might be useful for infrastructure development and subsidy provision will definitely
help in sustainable economy. On the other hand, societal sustainability can be enriched in future
if the government tries to realize strengthening human rights. Finally, environmental
sustainability can be achieved through awareness, education and machinery investment. It has
been understood that nations are trying to build sustainable future however developing countries
have to strengthen their policies. Stakeholders need to spread awareness and list strict laws for
sustainability. Therefore, after discussing critically it is evident that sustainability is definitely an
approach however, it has remained as a concept, far from being realistic.

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References
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