Sustainability

Overview

Sustainability requires simultaneous pursuit of economic prosperity, social equity, and environmental integrity. Modern frameworks include the triple bottom line (Elkington), the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) criteria for investors, and circular economy principles that eliminate waste by designing for reuse, repair, and regeneration.

When to Use

• Evaluating whether a business strategy, product, or policy is genuinely sustainable
• Designing circular economy or cradle-to-cradle business models
• Mapping organizational activities to SDGs for reporting or strategy alignment
• Assessing ESG performance and identifying greenwashing risks

When NOT to Use

• When the analysis is purely financial without sustainability dimensions
• When short-term crisis response requires setting aside long-term sustainability
• When the scope is narrowly environmental without social or economic integration