As for the conceptualization of sustainability, it is usually defined as the satisfaction of current needs without compromising the ability to satisfy the needs of future generations, keeping a balance between economic growth, environmental protection and social development.
The emphasis of this stance lies in the word EquilibriumThe emphasis of this position lies in the word Balance, that is to say, that each action that is established must be proportional and not exceed the use of resources; under this consideration, different global strategies are being developed to safeguard this satisfaction in the future.
One of them and perhaps the best known, due to the involvement of governments, is the Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations, which was a universal call to act to end poverty, protect the planet, improve the lives and prospects of people around the world, in 2015 17 sustainable development goals were established, framed in the 2030 Agenda, a work plan and intervention for 15 years.
As a global initiative, the call extends to all sectors of society worldwide, involving political transitions, institutions, governmental regulatory frameworks, cities and local authorities, and finally at the individual level, which includes civil society, media, private sector, trade unions, academia and others. Undoubtedly, the invitation converges to all; therefore, this movement has given rise to two relevant events at the business level:
First: Recognize that sustainable development is inherent to the cohesion of all actors in society, in which companies play a major role.
Second: To restructure or integrate aspects associated with sustainability into organizational strategies, including the mission ones, considering itself as a change manager.
For this, there are several ways, methodologies and frameworks to start this path, all in favor of an effective implementation that generates the proposed results; companies, according to their nature, identity or economic activity, can define from their strategic planning, those actions that will be the standard in this process. These may start with certification before any representative entity, definition of a sustainability area to lead, follow up and monitor, or sometimes, as the process matures, they improve or adhere to specific activities that leverage the strategy in each of the areas of the organization.
There is no single standard procedure or that implies rigidity in the definition and guidelines to move towards sustainability; however, any change can be generated if, through a first step, we manage to recognize ourselves as a fundamental part of the transformation and sustainable growth. When this happens, and when the company is ready to work for it, it begins to develop strategies to achieve it, finally this ends up being a process that reaches a state of maturity, which achieves stability and fosters the contribution and involvement that is required to add and achieve a more equitable society.
