 |
6 books on Sustainability [PDF]
Updated: April 29, 2024 | 26 |
Books on Sustainability are foundational resources for startups committed to promoting environmentally conscious and sustainable practices across various industries. These references provide a comprehensive understanding of sustainability principles, strategies, and best practices, covering topics such as renewable energy, resource conservation, waste reduction, eco-friendly materials, and ethical business models.
1. Sustainability: What It Is and How to Measure It
2018 by Gilbert S. Hedstrom
In "Sustainability: What It Is and How to Measure It," the author offers a concise and business-oriented overview of approaching sustainability in terms of risks and opportunities. This comprehensive guide introduces the proprietary framework, The Corporate Sustainability ScorecardTM C-suite rating system, featuring more than 140 crucial sustainability indicators used to evaluate an organization's sustainability endeavors. Drawing from global examples, the book provides readers with a comprehensive and impartial comprehension of sustainability in its entirety. Developed and utilized by over 70 corporations over the past two decades, the Scorecard is extensively illustrated by Gilbert S. Hedstrom through numerous real-world cases. The author delves into sustainability transformation, governance, strategy, and execution, emphasizing social responsibility and environmental stewardship. This book is an invaluable contribution to the sustainability discourse, catering to business executives and anyone interested in the intersection of sustainability and business. Explore the author's related article on the NACD blog at the provided link.
Download PDF
2. Sustainability: Key Issues
2015 by Helen Kopnina, Eleanor Shoreman-Ouimet
"Sustainability: Key Issues" is a comprehensive introductory textbook tailored for both undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolled in sustainability-related courses. This highly original text encompasses a wide spectrum of sustainability concepts, ranging from participation, resilience, and growth to ecological modernism, culture, sustainable communities, and sustainable consumption. Each chapter is authored by an expert in the respective field, rendering complex issues accessible. Within each chapter, readers will find a clear definition of the key concept, an exploration of its historical emergence and significance, a discussion of its advantages, drawbacks, major contributions, and associated controversies, as well as real-world case studies illustrating its practical application. The book critically examines conventional sustainability models and why they fall short, while also introducing innovative alternatives like circular economy and cradle to cradle approaches. Whether you're a student or someone keen on grasping the essential facets of sustainability and their interconnections, this book serves as an invaluable resource.
Download PDF
3. Sustainability: A History
2014 by Jeremy L. Caradonna
In "Sustainability: A History," the term "sustainability" has become ubiquitous in our daily lives, influencing our food choices, development strategies, and lifestyles. Jeremy L. Caradonna delves into the historical roots of this pervasive concept, tracing its origins as far back as the 1660s. He explores the evolution of sustainability across various domains in Europe and North America, from early ideas of sustainable forestry in the 17th and 18th centuries to its response to the challenges of the Industrial Revolution, the rise of the environmental movement, and the emergence of concrete efforts toward balanced development in the latter half of the 20th century. Caradonna illuminates how sustainability draws from diverse fields like social justice, ecological economics, and environmental conservation, weaving these ideas into a dynamic philosophy that extends beyond the sum of its parts. This book offers a comprehensive perspective on the historical journey of "sustainability," shedding light on how it has transformed from a niche concept into a guiding principle shaping individual choices, government policies, corporate strategies, and global initiatives. For those interested in understanding the historical context of efforts to improve our world, this book provides an insightful starting point.
Download PDF
4. Sustainability: If It's Everything, Is It Nothing?
2013 by Heather M. Farley, Zachary A. Smith
In "Sustainability: If It's Everything, Is It Nothing?" the book confronts the stark reality of humanity's unsustainable ecological practices, highlighting our alarming overconsumption of Earth's resources. The repercussions of this ecological overuse are already evident, with future generations facing dwindling possibilities as we deplete natural systems, leaving them to rely on innovation and resourcefulness for survival. Paradoxically, while governments, individuals, nonprofits, educational institutions, and corporations champion sustainable development as the savior of our environment while sustaining economic growth, the term "sustainability" has become so all-encompassing and indiscriminately applied that it has lost its inherent meaning. In this thought-provoking work, the authors scrutinize the misconceptions and misapplications of "sustainability," endeavoring to refine and clarify the concept. They introduce a new perspective, termed neo-sustainability, aiming to provide guidance for policies and practices that prioritize the environment's well-being, respect its natural limitations, and acknowledge the intricate interplay between environmental, social, and economic systems.
Download PDF
5. Introduction to Sustainability: Road to a Better Future
2006 by Nolberto Munier
In 'Introduction to Sustainability: Road to a Better Future,' the concept of sustainability intersects with economics, society, and the environment, with waste generation serving as a common thread. This chapter is bifurcated into two segments: the first segment delves into the current production and treatment of waste, while the second segment focuses on shaping policies for future waste management or, ideally, waste reduction. The initial portion initiates an exploration of fundamental questions surrounding waste, including its definition, constituent components, sources, and treatment methods. The subsequent segment grapples with the underlying causes of waste generation and examines society's efforts to address this issue. From a sustainability perspective, the term 'waste' diverges from its conventional definition, as it is neither useless nor inherently defective; rather, it represents a valuable resource that warrants careful consideration and responsible management, even in situations where it deviates from initial quality standards in manufacturing processes.
Download PDF
6. Sustainability: The corporate challenge of the 21st century
2000 by Andrew Griffiths
In "Sustainability: The Corporate Challenge of the 21st Century," the book addresses two critical challenges confronting organizations in the modern era. Firstly, it examines the effective management of human resources in a time marked by heightened staff turnover, diminishing loyalty, increased stress levels, and emerging concerns surrounding corporate-community relations and social responsibility. Secondly, it delves into the mounting pressure from governments, employees, and the general public for organizations to embrace environmentally responsible practices. This book furnishes leaders and managers with a comprehensive framework to comprehend and implement principles and strategies that foster a renewable and sustainable workforce as well as environmentally responsible operations. Organizations capable of achieving both human and ecological sustainability are poised to thrive as driving forces in the emerging sustainable economy, while those that fail to do so risk obsolescence.
Download PDF
How to download PDF:
1. Install Google Books Downloader
2. Enter Book ID to the search box and press Enter
3. Click "Download Book" icon and select PDF*
* - note that for yellow books only preview pages are downloaded
1. Sustainability: What It Is and How to Measure It
2018 by Gilbert S. Hedstrom
In "Sustainability: What It Is and How to Measure It," the author offers a concise and business-oriented overview of approaching sustainability in terms of risks and opportunities. This comprehensive guide introduces the proprietary framework, The Corporate Sustainability ScorecardTM C-suite rating system, featuring more than 140 crucial sustainability indicators used to evaluate an organization's sustainability endeavors. Drawing from global examples, the book provides readers with a comprehensive and impartial comprehension of sustainability in its entirety. Developed and utilized by over 70 corporations over the past two decades, the Scorecard is extensively illustrated by Gilbert S. Hedstrom through numerous real-world cases. The author delves into sustainability transformation, governance, strategy, and execution, emphasizing social responsibility and environmental stewardship. This book is an invaluable contribution to the sustainability discourse, catering to business executives and anyone interested in the intersection of sustainability and business. Explore the author's related article on the NACD blog at the provided link.
Download PDF
2. Sustainability: Key Issues
2015 by Helen Kopnina, Eleanor Shoreman-Ouimet
"Sustainability: Key Issues" is a comprehensive introductory textbook tailored for both undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolled in sustainability-related courses. This highly original text encompasses a wide spectrum of sustainability concepts, ranging from participation, resilience, and growth to ecological modernism, culture, sustainable communities, and sustainable consumption. Each chapter is authored by an expert in the respective field, rendering complex issues accessible. Within each chapter, readers will find a clear definition of the key concept, an exploration of its historical emergence and significance, a discussion of its advantages, drawbacks, major contributions, and associated controversies, as well as real-world case studies illustrating its practical application. The book critically examines conventional sustainability models and why they fall short, while also introducing innovative alternatives like circular economy and cradle to cradle approaches. Whether you're a student or someone keen on grasping the essential facets of sustainability and their interconnections, this book serves as an invaluable resource.
Download PDF
3. Sustainability: A History
2014 by Jeremy L. Caradonna
In "Sustainability: A History," the term "sustainability" has become ubiquitous in our daily lives, influencing our food choices, development strategies, and lifestyles. Jeremy L. Caradonna delves into the historical roots of this pervasive concept, tracing its origins as far back as the 1660s. He explores the evolution of sustainability across various domains in Europe and North America, from early ideas of sustainable forestry in the 17th and 18th centuries to its response to the challenges of the Industrial Revolution, the rise of the environmental movement, and the emergence of concrete efforts toward balanced development in the latter half of the 20th century. Caradonna illuminates how sustainability draws from diverse fields like social justice, ecological economics, and environmental conservation, weaving these ideas into a dynamic philosophy that extends beyond the sum of its parts. This book offers a comprehensive perspective on the historical journey of "sustainability," shedding light on how it has transformed from a niche concept into a guiding principle shaping individual choices, government policies, corporate strategies, and global initiatives. For those interested in understanding the historical context of efforts to improve our world, this book provides an insightful starting point.
Download PDF
4. Sustainability: If It's Everything, Is It Nothing?
2013 by Heather M. Farley, Zachary A. Smith
In "Sustainability: If It's Everything, Is It Nothing?" the book confronts the stark reality of humanity's unsustainable ecological practices, highlighting our alarming overconsumption of Earth's resources. The repercussions of this ecological overuse are already evident, with future generations facing dwindling possibilities as we deplete natural systems, leaving them to rely on innovation and resourcefulness for survival. Paradoxically, while governments, individuals, nonprofits, educational institutions, and corporations champion sustainable development as the savior of our environment while sustaining economic growth, the term "sustainability" has become so all-encompassing and indiscriminately applied that it has lost its inherent meaning. In this thought-provoking work, the authors scrutinize the misconceptions and misapplications of "sustainability," endeavoring to refine and clarify the concept. They introduce a new perspective, termed neo-sustainability, aiming to provide guidance for policies and practices that prioritize the environment's well-being, respect its natural limitations, and acknowledge the intricate interplay between environmental, social, and economic systems.
Download PDF
5. Introduction to Sustainability: Road to a Better Future
2006 by Nolberto Munier
In 'Introduction to Sustainability: Road to a Better Future,' the concept of sustainability intersects with economics, society, and the environment, with waste generation serving as a common thread. This chapter is bifurcated into two segments: the first segment delves into the current production and treatment of waste, while the second segment focuses on shaping policies for future waste management or, ideally, waste reduction. The initial portion initiates an exploration of fundamental questions surrounding waste, including its definition, constituent components, sources, and treatment methods. The subsequent segment grapples with the underlying causes of waste generation and examines society's efforts to address this issue. From a sustainability perspective, the term 'waste' diverges from its conventional definition, as it is neither useless nor inherently defective; rather, it represents a valuable resource that warrants careful consideration and responsible management, even in situations where it deviates from initial quality standards in manufacturing processes.
Download PDF
6. Sustainability: The corporate challenge of the 21st century
2000 by Andrew Griffiths
In "Sustainability: The Corporate Challenge of the 21st Century," the book addresses two critical challenges confronting organizations in the modern era. Firstly, it examines the effective management of human resources in a time marked by heightened staff turnover, diminishing loyalty, increased stress levels, and emerging concerns surrounding corporate-community relations and social responsibility. Secondly, it delves into the mounting pressure from governments, employees, and the general public for organizations to embrace environmentally responsible practices. This book furnishes leaders and managers with a comprehensive framework to comprehend and implement principles and strategies that foster a renewable and sustainable workforce as well as environmentally responsible operations. Organizations capable of achieving both human and ecological sustainability are poised to thrive as driving forces in the emerging sustainable economy, while those that fail to do so risk obsolescence.
Download PDF
How to download PDF:
1. Install Google Books Downloader
2. Enter Book ID to the search box and press Enter
3. Click "Download Book" icon and select PDF*
* - note that for yellow books only preview pages are downloaded
