Sixteenth International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability

Abstract

There is a growing concern about ‘sustainability’ by corporations around the world. Due to this awareness and also from an interest in academia there has been a growth in environmental classes in universities, including those in business schools. Unfortunately, many of the courses in universities and much of the action by corporations has been ‘greenwashing’ or looking at minor changes such as improved recycling. This research looks at how we can teach business students subjects where firms can truly decrease their impact on the environment. Sustainability starts with being, and remaining, profitable so subjects have to include costs, sales and revenue. Topics such as Return on Investment (ROI), efficiency and Internal Rates of Return (IRR) need to be the focus of the class material. I provide examples where true double bottom line exists such that companies can simultaneously cut costs or increase revenues while also decreasing their impact on the environment. Example range from the simple, installing LED lighting to more complex such as using ‘green’ roofs to reduce heating and cooling costs.