Due to the challenges met by companies when facing problems like population growth, climate change and lack of resources, while responding to the economic and market demands, one of the issues required in global sustainability... [ view full abstract ]
Due to the challenges met by companies when facing problems like population growth, climate change and lack of resources, while responding to the economic and market demands, one of the issues required in global sustainability agendas is Corporate Sustainability. As a framework, this document is based on a research project that carried out a systematic search of specific concepts as key words to find the existing relationships and proposals that could associate sustainability aspects with human aspects. The results of the search showed that a conceptual development has taken place from two disciplines: economy and ergonomics. From this approach we refined the search using three concepts: eco-efficiency, eco-productivity and eco-effectiveness obtaining 15 documents which were read and analysed carefully and comparatively. It was found out the three concepts used are tightly related to Corporate Sustainability development. In this context, and considering the Ergoecology approach we may say that Corporate Sustainability needs to reorient its traditionally anthropocentric and economic-based view towards a holistic, integral, and ecospheric approach. To structure this paper we introduce the model proposed by the economists Dyllick and Hockerts (2002). It is based on six criteria for the management of Corporate Sustainability and their work from the concept of Triple Bottom Line (TBL). From there, it is presented the anthropocentric vision of the ergonomists Zink, Steimle, and Fischer (2008). Based on Dyllick and Hockers proposal, these authors involve on a determinant way the Human Factors and Ergonomics approach in the development of Social Sustainability. Then, going back to the economics point of view presenting the Mauerhofer´s approach (2008), which proposes “3D Sustainability” to understand the concepts of three capitals, in order to achieve equity and environmental sufficiency. Finally, with the literature review it was confirmed that there is a different manner to approach forward and understand Sustainability. This new manner is exposed first, in the Ergoecology proposal by G. García-Acosta et al. (1997), and then in Green Ergonomics proposed by Thatcher, (2013). The starting point comes from the systemic approach of ergonomics towards the ecology aspects to become aware of the interdependence between natural systems and human systems, seeking a dynamic balance. Parallel to the development of the research project, other perspectives are recognized from the approach of the economists who move from the classic view of the Financial Economy, through holistic proposals such as the Ecological Economy and Economic Degrowth, among others, but are not directly related to the human aspects and therefore are not included in the theoretical framework. Concluding, it may be said that under Sustainable Development, the eco-efficiency criterion has become the main objective of organizations, which misrepresent the notion of economic growth and neglect environmental and social aspects. Likewise, it is needed to develop other criteria to address issues such as ecological equity with a view to achieving social sustainability. In order to achieve this transition, from Ergoecology approach, routes and strategies are raised allowing to identify actions that organizations should make to achieve true Corporate Sustainability with an ecospheric approach.
5a Corporate sustainability strategies (and sustainable entrepreneurship)
