We already know that talking about sustainability is easier than putting it into practice, right? However, searching for information is the first step to understanding the ways of sustainable development and beginning to adopt changes.
Did you know that there are different types of sustainability? Each of them can be applied to different areas and contexts. Read on to understand more about it!
What is sustainability?
The term comes from sustentare, a Latin word that means to sustain, support, conserve, care for.
Sustainability seeks to ensure a balance between environmental preservation, economic viability, and social justice. Therefore, these are its three fundamental aspects:
- social: everything that involves people, like education, health, entertainment, etc;
- environmental: everything that refers to the environment;
- Economic: everything that relates to the means of production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.
Sustainable practices are about meeting needs in the present without compromising the future. In other words, the search for a better balance between economic growth and social welfare.
It is common for people to relate this idea thinking only about the preservation of nature, since we know that natural resources are used by man without much awareness and are at risk, which generates impacts for life on planet Earth. But sustainability can be much broader than we imagine.
What are the types of sustainability?
Now it is time to discover the particularities of the main spheres of this concept.
Environmental sustainability
Environmental sustainability refers to the preservation and conservation of natural resources such as water, air, soil, flora, and fauna. The idea is to use these resources in a more conscious and responsible way, avoiding the depletion and degradation of the environment.
Economic sustainability
Economic sustainability aims to ensure the financial viability of economic activities without compromising the quality of life of people and the preservation of the environment. It is about seeking an economic model that is fair, inclusive, and that generates wealth in a sustainable way.
Social sustainability
Social sustainability is concerned with social inclusion and equity. It seeks to ensure that all people have access to the resources necessary to live with dignity, such as education, health, housing, and security, among others. It is a concept that is closely linked to social justice and human rights.
Cultural sustainability
The cultural sphere refers to the preservation and appreciation of the traditions, customs, and cultural identities of a people. Its purpose is to guarantee cultural diversity and the plurality of ways of living and expressing oneself, avoiding cultural homogenization and the loss of cultural heritage.
Corporate Sustainability
Corporate sustainability is the application of sustainable principles in company activities and processes. It is about seeking to maximize financial results in a more balanced way, respecting the environment, valuing people, and contributing to the social and economic development of the community.
It is important to note that these types of sustainability are not independent of each other, and are often interlinked. For example, economic sustainability is only possible in the long term if it is coupled with environmental and social sustainability. Similarly, cultural sustainability can contribute to social inclusion and economic development in a region. The SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) were defined by the UN considering the balance of all these dimensions, and are part of the major goals of the 2030 Agenda.
Therefore, being sustainable means adopting practices that involve all types of sustainability. Not sure how to do your part? Here are some examples of how to include this concept in your day to day life:
- save water and energy;
- eliminate waste;
- reduce the use of plastic;
- invest in renewable energy;
- separate the garbage and favor waste recycling;
- use public transportation;
- offset carbon emissions by planting trees.
The solution offered by Abundance Brasil takes into account the importance of the three pillars of sustainability (social, environmental, and economic), allowing people and companies to become restorers of the environment in a practical, safe, and innovative way.
Want to know exactly how this happens and be part of our community? Check out the details on our website or contact us for further questions. Let's create together a more sustainable world!
