Integrating Sustainability into Decision-Making

The core of the sustainability field of thinking is a goal to enhance the relationship between economic prosperity, social responsibility, and environmental stewardship. In essence, every decision made using a sustainability-oriented decision-making process strives to achieve a win-win-win for every player involved, including those who may not have a voice in the process.

In order to integrate sustainability into a decision, I propose there are three questions that we must ask before rendering a decision:

Which alternative being considered has the lowest life cycle cost?

Economic sustainability means a person, family, or organization has the ability to achieve as much as possible without depleting their economic resources. But oftentimes we're stuck in the mindset that purchase price is the only price of owning something. We forget about all the long-term costs associated with ownership; things like energy, maintenance, and disposal costs.

Before you make any decision, you should consider all the costs involved. After determining those costs, the best choice is to go with the option that has the lowest life-cycle cost. If you do this, you'll have more fiscal resources to use for other things.

Let's use computer printers as an example. There are a lot of printers on the market. Should you simply buy the lowest priced printer?

Consider this. Printer manufacturers also tend to be ink cartridge manufacturers and they understand the life-cycle cost concept. They lower the price of ink-thirsty printers, knowing they'll make more money off the sale of ink cartridges. In this case, it would probably make sense to pay more up front and pay less for ink down the road, but there are many factors involved and you should consider your own situation in every purchase.

How can this decision enhance the lives of everyone affected by it?

Humankind is becoming much more aware of the concept of social responsibility. We demand it from companies and our neighbors, and we strive to act responsibly ourselves. So then, it only makes sense that every decision we make should incorporate consideration for other people.

According to the American Society for Quality, social responsibility refers to "behaving ethically and with sensitivity toward social, cultural, economic and environmental issues." As such, whenever you're making a decision, consider who might be impacted by that decision and how they might be impacted. Your goal should be to have a positive effect on everyone involved. At the very least, you should strive to avoid any negative effects for the people involved.

And remember, you are also a person affected by your decision. You should consider how your decision may impact your own health and happiness.

How can this decision improve the natural environment?

The natural environment provides us with extremely important resources necessary for life and prosperity. Without plants, we wouldn't have oxygen to breathe. Without safe drinking water, we could not survive.

When you make a decision, consider how that decision will impact the natural environment and the important natural resources we depend upon every day. Water pollution, air pollution, noise pollution, and light pollution; all of these contribute to human illness. Your decision should consider, and minimize, impacts on the natural environment. It's even quite possible to improve the natural environment with a chosen course of action, and that is a marvelous concept to grasp and integrate into your decision-making.

Asking the three questions mentioned above will start the process of sustainable thinking. The key is to not look at each question on its own, but to consider all three at the same time in order to truly find a sustainable balance.

Example of Win-Win-Win

I'd like to close with an example from my own life.

Having recently moved into a new home, I now had a lawn to care for and needed a lawn mower to maintain it. I went through the above questions while making my decision and ultimately chose a reel mower, which does not have an engine. Economically, its lack of an engine allowed me to save money on fuel and maintenance. I also enhanced my neighbors' lives by not introducing one more, noisy lawnmower into the neighborhood. The reel mower even provides me with a little more exercise than a gas-powered mower, enhancing my own fitness. And on the environmental side, a reel mower is nearly carbon neutral and avoids the air pollutants associated with gas-powered mowers. It was a win-win-win decision.

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Sources
American Society for Quality