Book review: Embedded sustainability

Embedded sustainability

Chris Laszlo and Nadya Zhexembayeva / Greenleaf Publishing / Hardback: £30 / ISBN: 978–1–9060–9358–7

The subtitle for this book is The next big competitive advantage and the issue of how to maintain profitability and economic growth in an era of rising ecological and social pressures is at its heart.

The way to achieve such goals is to embed sustainability – defined as social, economic and environmental stewardship – into core business activities, with no trade-off in price or quality.

The authors say that business “reality” is being shaped by three major trends: declining resources, the growing demand for transparency, and increasing expectations from investors, customers and others that businesses adhere to high levels of social and environmental performance.

How to develop and implement a sustainability strategy is covered in depth, with examples from (mainly US) organisations that are already embedding sustainability.

The authors make a compelling case for something that should become the norm for any organisation wanting to succeed in the future.