Abstract

Nowadays, the word ‘sustainable’ gets almost overstrained and often misused as most people do not entirely know what it exactly means. In general, sustainability is composed of three pillars: environment, economy, and society. The pillar “ecologic sustainability” describes the gentle handling of natural resources in order to maintain our planet for following generations. This includes climate protection, preservation of biodiversity, and the maintenance of the landscape in its original form. “Economic sustainability” claims a sustainable subsistence strategy for a permanent fundament for prosperity while the society lives within its means. The pillar “social sustainability” encompasses issues such as health and safety, personnel policies and codes of business conduct. Every pillar has a regional, national, and global level of consideration.