Business Sustainability - Essay Example

Running header: Reflective journal Name; Institution affiliation; Date; Reflective journal on Business sustainability This course has served to broaden my mind about sustainability. Not that I did not know about sustainability before the course. But I had a very narrow view of the subject of sustainability. For instance, I used to think that it is the business of corporates to ensure sustainability. I did not think that I have any role in ensuring sustainability. I now know that sustainability is not just about business. You and I, the government and many other stakeholders have a lot to do in order to contribute to global sustainability. I am now more prepared to do something about global sustainability more than ever before at a personal level. At the business level, I have been informed of the six phase model towards sustainability. My prior knowledge was that any company would be willing to comply with the raid down regulations on sustainability. However, it seems that this is not always the case. While some will reject calls towards sustainability, others will be non-responsive. It is also worth noting that business can do more than just comply. In other words, such regulations as laid down by EPA should be seen as minimal standards for companies owing to the many benefits associated with sustainability. The course has enabled me to see that to business, sustainability is not only beneficial to the environment but also to the business itself. Such benefits may include reduction of business costs, increased productivity by the employees among other benefits. Minimal compliance will also ensure that the business stays on the right side of the law hence avoiding unnecessary charges and interruptions. I now think that businesses have more to gain than loose by doing more than just comply as far as sustainability is concerned. Their profitability are likely to go up owing to the fact that the business will enhance their reputation meaning more and more customers will opt for their products in comparison to those who do just the minimum or even fail to comply. Such actions will also read to increased efficiency and hence reduced costs and hence more profits. To me therefore, business will still have to play a greater role towards attaining global sustainability both for their benefits and also for the benefit of the world. It is important to note that all along, I have been thinking of business capital as the money contributed by the owners to run the business. Furthermore, I didn’t know that it has a lot to do with business sustainability. It is interesting to know that capital incorporates more than cash and those organizations need to maintain and enhance the various forms of capital at their disposal as opposed to depleting them or degrading them for this is what sustainability entails. I am of the view that if these forms of capital are used sustainably, they will outlive us for the benefit of the generations to come and for a better world tomorrow. For instance, using the human capital sustainably means developing it and treating it well which would mean increased productivity and good reputation for such a company that would attract the best resulting in increased profitability. Concerning sustainability of social capital, I have come to understand that organizations ought to think beyond themselves as they do not operate in a vacuum (Jared, 2011). They exist in the society and they influence and are influenced by it. Thus, there is need for this capital to be used sustainably to ensure its health and wellbeing. Apart from the business playing a great role towards sustainability, I have also come to realize that the lifestyle we live also determines to a great extent what we are doing towards ensuring global sustainability. In other words, we can do a lot in ensuring global sustainability. The issue of ecological foot printing though new to me is a fascinating one. It causes me to think beyond myself and realize that the rest of the society including the generations to come also needs this world for survival. If am using a large footprint than I should, then I should look for ways to minimize it so that I can also give the rest a place to thrive in (Jared, 2011). This involves living a more sustainable lifestyle. Some of the important things that I have noted are that some people such as Americans and Australians live lifestyles that contribute to very levels of ecological footprint meaning that they are doing very little towards global sustainability at the expense of other nations whose level of footprint is relatively low. Since we all need this world, I think we all should minimize our ecological footprint. Through this course, I now know some of the actions I can take to change my lifestyle so as to reduce my ecological footprint. I could do this by reducing the amount of resources such as water and food I consume. I can also decide to use more sustainable means of transport. For instance, I could decide to walk or ride rather than use a car to go for short distance places and thus reduce my ecological footprint. This way, I am not only enhancing environmental sustainability but I am also taking good care of my body and hence health. Through this cause, I have actually made a decision that every aspect of my life will incorporate sustainability ranging from the food I eat, my house and even the means of transport I use. I think that if everyone is to embrace such actions and hence reduce their ecological footprint, the world would me a more sustainable place and a hence a better place to live in. In conclusion, it is worth noting that the above courses on business sustainability have gone a long way into opening my mind regarding the role that each and every one of us can do to ensure sustainability. I am now more informed than before those living sustainable lives is not only beneficial to the environment but also to our health and our businesses and also for the generations to come. Thus, I think everyone regardless of whether they are individuals, business, governments or academics should actively play a role towards achieving sustainability. References: Jared, B2011, The sustainable business, London, Rutledge. Read More