Sustainability, Business Ethics and

Business ethics are a fundamental concept of sustainability, and sustainability considerations often lead businesses toward more ethical actions. The modern sustainability movement traces its roots back to the United Nations (UN) World Commission on Economic Development. Defining concepts of sustainability, and its application in the business world, were further developed by John Elkington. Today, investors are increasingly demanding that businesses not only act in an ethical and sustainable manner, but that they disclose their actions to the public. Many large companies today are producing sustainability reports in an effort to be unceasingly transparent and accountable to the public.

At the end of the 20th century, the UN became increasingly aware of global pollution issues, such as pesticide bioaccumulation and ozone depletion. The international community was also ...