SUSTAINABILITY: New trends in sustainable development

The awareness of the positive impact induced by sustainability and implementation of environmental protection measures became more visible in the last two years. In early 2013, a number of managers of multinational major industrial groups in the window and related fields - members of the professional social network Linkedin - have tried to define new trends in corporate social responsibility. From the beginning, they asked several pertinent questions about trends and/or significant challenges which the leaders in charge must face about implementing sustainability principles at corporate level. The most obvious problem that all the companies which implement the new strategic plan continue to report refers to the significant decreases in terms of profitability. Thus, experts have identified 22 answers more or less relevant, and the trends have already been configured in the discussion group "Ecosustain". Although the global economic situation does not induce a state of optimism, more pronounced commitments will be observed in various sectors related to: energy optimization of the buildings (save resources through insulating and thermal rehabilitation of buildings, installation of more efficient artificial lighting sources), transport (reducing carbon dioxide emissions, manufacture and purchase a higher level of electric vehicles, alternative fuels - hydrogen, electricity stored in batteries), renewable resources (solar, wind, hydro and biomass), innovative materials (new sources for plastic production, bricks and compound boards for construction), environmental protection (chemical disposal, replacement of traditional technologies with sustainable methods) etc. "The top management of companies now increasingly noted that sustainability represents an objective necessity and therefore it is not limited to the development of guidance documents, but uses the concept of sustainable development as a new "brand" of products and services. We estimate that in 2013 the sustainability concept will exceed the boundaries of a firm and will be seen as a definition of fair business", said representatives of the group Ecosustain. For further information and a detailed analysis of the current Fereastra issue, click here!