Environmental Sustainability has become an important aspect of business today. But many businesses aren't sure what to make of it. This is an introductory lecture about sustainability and how it can be practically related to business.

1. Introduction to Sustainability
Dr Mehdi Shahbazpour
Mechanical Engineering

2. Learning Objectives
• Understand the complexities of sustainability
• Become aware of a range of attitudes and
perspectives on sustainability
• Understand the key stakeholders in the
sustainability landscape
• Become aware of a number of tools to
incorporate sustainability as a business
requirement
Mehdi Shahbazpour, 2012

3. Definition
Sustainability is about meeting the needs of
today, without adversely impacting on the needs
of the future generation.
Economic system
Social system
Ecosystem
Mehdi Shahbazpour, 2012

4. Sustainability is Complex
• Uncertainty
• Time-delay
• Distant Problem
• Conflicting interests
• Different motivations
• Social phenomenon
Mehdi Shahbazpour, 2012

5. Sustainability Stakeholders
• Public (current and
future generations)
• National government
• Local government
• Tax payers
• Rate payers
• Businesses
• Customers
• Investors
• Consultants
• Certifying bodies
• Accreditation bodies
• International Organisations
• Lobby Groups
Mehdi Shahbazpour, 2012

6. Spectrum of Attitudes
• It’ all a load of …
• Got more important issues to deal with
• It’s important and I am doing what I can
• “It’s how we do things around here” and we
encourage others to do the same
• Nothing is as important than this
• Oh my God, the world is coming to an end!
Mehdi Shahbazpour, 2012

7. New Zealand Context
Mehdi Shahbazpour, 2012

8. New Zealand Business Context
Mehdi Shahbazpour, 2012

9. Sustainability in Practice
• Treat sustainability as an important business
requirement
• Assess its importance based on the attitude of
your stakeholders
• Whether the stakeholder is technically right or
wrong makes little difference
• Be specific about what sustainability means in
the context of your business
• Link you sustainability objectives with business
objectives
Mehdi Shahbazpour, 2012

10. Sustainability in Practice
• Treat sustainability as an important business
requirement
• Assess its importance based on the attitude of
your stakeholders
• Whether the stakeholder is technically right
or wrong makes little difference
• Be specific about what sustainability means in
the context of your business
• Link you sustainability objectives with business
objectives
Mehdi Shahbazpour, 2012

11. Sustainability in your Business
• Decide on your strategy towards incorporating
sustainability in your Business
– Defensive: Legal compliance
– Managed: Reduce impact
– Integrated: Proactive and Advocate
– Inspiring: Rethink, Innovate
Mehdi Shahbazpour, 2012

12. Practical Sustainability
• Aspects and Impacts
• Life Cycle Thinking
• Triple Bottom Line
• Creating Shared Value
• Legal Compliance
• No Greenwash
Mehdi Shahbazpour, 2012

13. Aspects and Impacts
The starting point of any sustainability assessment
is the identification of Aspects and Impacts
Aspects : activity or aspect of an activity that has
an impact on society or the environment
Impact : positive/negative, direct/indirect impact of
an activity on society or the environment
Mehdi Shahbazpour, 2012

14. Aspects and Impacts
Example Activity: This Lecture
Sustainability Aspects: Transport, Power, Advocacy
Sustainability Impacts: Air pollution, GHG, Traffic,
Increased sustainability awareness, etc.
Mehdi Shahbazpour, 2012

15. Aspects and Impacts
• Identifying Aspects:
– Define the scope
– List all activities
– Brainstorm all the different aspects of each
activity that may impact the society and the
environment
– Apply Life Cycle thinking
– Group activities by Aspects
Mehdi Shahbazpour, 2012

16. Aspects and Impacts
• Identifying Impacts:
– Scarce Resources: Water, Energy, Forest, Plantations,
Other Natural resources
– Impact on Environment: Bio-diversity, Air, Water, Soil,
Wastes (solid, chemical, hazardous), Public health
– Impact on Society: Communities, Tangata Whenua,
Heritage, Public perception, Noise, Aesthetics
– Legal and other requirements
Mehdi Shahbazpour, 2012

17. Aspects and Impacts
• Rating Significance of Aspects:
– Severity
– Spills/Accidents
– Frequency or Likelihood
– Control
– Financial Implications
– Legal requirements
– Etc.
Mehdi Shahbazpour, 2012

18. Aspects and Impacts
• Managing Aspects to reduce/eliminate
Impact:
– Eliminate Aspect
– Minimise Aspect
– Eliminate Impact
– Minimise Impact
Mehdi Shahbazpour, 2012

19. Mehdi Shahbazpour, 2012
Life Cycle
Thinking
Source: UNEP

20. Triple Bottom Line
Mehdi Shahbazpour, 2012
• Expanded criteria for
organisational performance
management
• People, Profit, Planet
• Corporate Social
Responsibility

21. Creating Shared Value

22. Legal Compliance

23. “Greenwash”
www.sinsofgreenwashing.org

24. Summary
• Sustainability is complex and involves many stakeholders
• There is a spectrum of attitudes towards sustainability
• Treat sustainability as a very important requirement in
your business
• Systematically analyse sustainability aspects and impacts
• Apply lifecycle thinking
• Link you sustainability objectives with business objectives
• Avoid Greenwash
24
Mehdi Shahbazpour, 2012

25. Reading
Mehdi Shahbazpour, 2012
• Greening NZ’s Growth: http://www.med.govt.nz/sectors-industries/environment/pdf-docs-
library/Greening%20New%20Zealands%20Growth.pdf
• NZ’s Position on the Green Race:
http://www.pureadvantage.org/PUA0018_GREEN_RACE_REPORT.pdf
• Introduction to RMA:
http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/rma/everyday/overview/getting-in-on-the-act.pdf
• Life Cycle Thinking: http://www.unep.fr/shared/publications/pdf/DTIx0594xPA-Road.pdf
• Sustainability interventions - for managers of projects and programmes:
http://www.dashdot.co.uk/sustainability-interventions-1-1-download-2.pdf
• Environmental Awareness for Civil Construction Projects:
http://www.transport.sa.gov.au/pdfs/education/env_awareness.pdf
• Business Guide to Sustainable Development Reporting:
http://www.sbc.org.nz/sdr/SDR_Guide.pdf