Sustainability

Question 1

Triple Bottom Line

Answer 1

A theory or business concept that suggests businesses and enterprise should commit to measuring their social, environmental and economic impact rather than solely focusing on profit.

An accounting framework with 3 main elements of sustainability - including People (social aspect), Profit (economic aspect), and Planet (environmental aspect) Have overlap intersection with one another - equitable, bearable and viable. When all 3 areas are in balance, in the middle of the diagram = sustainability is achieved.

Question 2

Structure - Intersections

Answer 2

Planet <-> People = Bearable
Planet <-> Profit = Viable
People <-> Profit = Equitable

Question 3

Examples - Community Service: Salvation army

Answer 3

PEOPLE – Focuses on people in need, inclusive community service + offers a range of services including alcohol and drug rehab, family and domestic violence counselling, and aged care.

PLANET – Thru op shop stores where donations of clothing, toys and other items are RECYCLED and sold back to the community at a cheap price. This prevents items that are no longer wanted from being put into landfills.

PROFIT – Rely on donations from the community and have many people who volunteer to allow the service to be sustainable financially. Also, offer employment services to help people gain employment. Recycled items = cheap prices = less fortunate people have the chance to purchase clothing and toys at an affordable price.

Question 4

5 Capitals

Answer 4

Natural
Human
Social
Manufactures
Financial

Question 5

Natural

Question 6

Human

Question 7

Social

Question 8

Manufactured

Question 9

Financial

Question 10

Natural Capital (Curitiba Application)

Answer 10

The natural resources and processes needed by organisation to produce their products and deliver their services.
○ Protect biodiversity and eco-system functions. – Solution of the parks – Large green spaces built into/within the city. Solved the cities problem of floods by turning river banks into parks. Trees were planted. Extra green space due to skyscrapers
○ Eliminate the accumulation of man-made substances in nature; Recyclable waste scheme where residents separate their waste into both organic and inorganic waste. These are then collected by two different types of trucks before being recycled. Plastics are remodelled, and paper and cans are re-produced again using these recycled materials.

Question 11

Human Capital (Curitiba Application)

Answer 11

Human capital incorporates the health, knowledge, skills, intellectual outputs, motivation and capacity for relationships of the individual.
○ Give employees access to training, development and life long learning and capture and sharing knowledge. – Highly educated workforce and community in general – oldest university in Brazil. Library for students to educate themselves made entirely from discarded books
○ Create opportunities for varied and satisfying work; Recycling plants employ those who might not otherwise be able to be employed such as migrant workers or those with a disability

Question 12

Social Capital (Curitiba Application)

Answer 12

Any added value to the activities and economic outputs of an organisation by human relationships, partnerships and co-operation.
○ Minimizing negative social impacts of products and services; Slums are prevented via the “Solution of the Parks” as the riverbanks were turned into parks. The water in these parks prevents squatters from occupying these areas and creating slums.
○ Maximisation of positive social impacts of products and services; “The Green Exchange” – low income earners can collect and bring their sorted recyclable products to the recycle trucks and then they receive food or bus vouchers in return
○ Maximisation of positive social impacts of products and services; Skyscrapers were allowed to build more levels on their building but at a cost. They either provided money (or extra green space in the area surrounding the skyscraper) and this money was used by the city to fund low income housing.

Question 13

Manufactured Capital (Curitiba Application)

Answer 13

Material goods and infrastructure owned, leased or controlled by an organisation that contributes to production or service provision, but do not become apart of output.
○ Infrastructure - integrated and articulated bus transport system. Red Express buses, Orange feeder buses, green linking buses, grey suburb linking buses dedicated bus lanes. Efficient passenger loading/unloading means less idling time for buses thus reduces the emissions from bus.
○ Use infrastructure, technologies and processes in a way that uses resources efficiently; Recycling systems citywide – organic and inorganic waste. “Green” team for recycling. Recycles 2/3 of it’s waste – one of the highest rates on the planet.

Question 14

Financial Capital (Curitiba Application)

Answer 14

Those assets of an organisation that exist in a form of currency that can be owned or traded, including shares, bonds, and banknotes. Reflects the productive power of the other types of capital.
○ Assess wider economic impacts of products and services; “The Green Exchange” – low income earners can collect and bring their sorted recyclable products to the recycle trucks and then they receive food or bus vouchers in return
○ Assign an economic cost to environment; Skyscrapers were allowed to build more levels on their building but at a cost. They either provided money (or extra green space in the area surrounding the skyscraper) and this money was used by the city to fund low income housing.