250 likes | 786 Views
Green Business?. Green Business. April 2011. What we are going to do. Explore the Future Critique business practices in the light of the Future What is a Green Business? Questions & Next Steps. The Future.
E N D
Green Business? Green Business April 2011
What we are going to do • Explore the Future • Critique business practices in the light of the Future • What is a Green Business? • Questions & Next Steps
The Future • Form groups of two - take turn to be an ancestor from the future & ask each other what was it like? what did you do?
What we know • Energy • Environment • Economy • Society • People & Work • Growth in current form is unsustainable, de-growth is unstable • A summary Story of Stuff
Is this anything to do with us? • What the Government thinks? • What consumers think? • Who has responsibility for this • Paul Hawken Commencement Address at University of Portland
Are our business practices fit for purpose? • Business Processes • Stuff that comes in • Stuff that goes out • Waste • Community • Reputation • Industry & Influence Span
Are businesses fit for the future? • What do you think? • What are the risks we face? • Do we need new ways of doing business?
What is a Green Business? • Marketing tool • A big concept • Can be used narrowly e.g. retrofit buildings • Evidence of growing demand for eco-literacy & evidence that students see this as a critical skill in the future • Legislation & frameworks • Evidence that Green/Sustainable Businesses are successful
So what is it! • Business that contributes to society & well-being, recognises that we are part of a finite planet, ethical, socially responsible, real costs are apparent in its environment. • Business that embeds approaches to sustainable development
Values & Principles of Sustainable Development • Brundtland Commission development which "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.“ This would mean: • Inter-connections & systems thinking • Responsibility • Innovation & creative thinking • Flourishing rather than growth-orientated • So a quick overview of Sustainability in an animation
How would you do it? • Natural Step 4 principles Eliminate our contribution Un-sustainability • Look at concentrations of substances from crust of the earth • Look at concentrations of substances produces by society • Look at degradation of nature • Look at undermining of humanity’s capacity to meet needs worldwide • Measure what you do? - Triple Bottom Line • Learn to analyse issues and choices from an environmental, social and economic perspective at the same time rather than separately (Forum of the Future/ Learning & Skills for Sustainable Development)
Who is doing it? • IKEA • Marks & Spencer • Wal-Mart • Unilever • NIKE • Chiqita • GAP
What would this look like in the Marshes? • Over to you.
Next Steps & Questions • What do you think? What are the questions that need to be explored further? • Resources - www.dkit.ie/sustainableliving