What is Sustainability?

During the last three decades, in the literature dozens of different definitions were proposed for sustainability. The most well-adopted definition of sustainability is that of the Brundtland Commission (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987, p. 8): “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.” Ensuring world-w,de food security, understanding the environmental impact of the economic activity and ensuring basic human needs are met with this definition of sustainability. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to apply for organization and this definition provides little guidance how to identify future versus present needs (Carter et. al, 2008 pp.363-364).

Starik and Rands (1995, p.909) define sustainability as ‘the ability of one or more entities, either individually or collectively, to exist and flourish (either unchanged or in evolved terms) for lengthy timeframes, in such a manner that the existence and flourishing of other collectivities of entities is permitted at related levels and in re...