Within the business world, “sustainability” has become a highly publicized goal of many leading corporations.  The triple bottom line provides a focus on (1) ecological, (2) social goals, and (3) financial objectives.  With (1) in mind, a company might examine the following:

• lifecycle impacts of products and services,
• environmental impact of relationships with suppliers,
• investments in sustainable technologies and processes,
• energy and resource efficiency,
• environmental management systems,
• ecological transportation and distribution strategies, and
• fair use of resources with respect to all species.

        
Beyond sustainable practices, SII believes that a company must address its core business model.  For example, a product or service line that either contributes to the degradation of ecosystems or to the manufacture or distribution of superfluous or unhealthy products is not sustainable.  Moreover, a sustainable business model must recognize and manage the impacts of continuous growth on all stakeholders: employees, shareholders, and the community.