Going Green(ish)

A Few Bits of Trivia to Help You Sound Smarter at Parties

nce upon a time in Germany, Hans Carl von Carlowitz, a mining administrator and tax accountant with a possible penchant for tree-hugging (though history remains silent on this), made a groundbreaking contribution. In 1713, he penned “Sylvicultura Oeconomica,” a book tackling the then pressing issues of deforestation and timber shortages that were jeopardizing local industries.

His pioneering work introduced the concept of “nachhaltende nutzung,” or “sustainable use,” championing the idea that forests should be managed in such a way that trees are harvested no faster than they can regenerate. Not rocket science, you’d think, and you’d be correct, but keep in mind that in the early 18th Century, practicing rocket science would have likely gotten you burned at the stake. Obvious though the concept may seem (the harvesting thing, not rocket science) it was only then that the notion of sustainability made it in the lexicon of the so-called developed world. It’s important to note that this was a revelation only for the “developed world,” as indigenous communities across the globe had figured this one out for time immemorial. Sometimes the obvious is elusive.

Fast forward a few centuries to the late 1980s when the global community, AKA our world leaders, finally acknowledged the unsustainable pace of human consumption in relation to the planet’s ability to replenish its resources. This awakening was crystallized in the acclaimed Brundtland report, which popularized the term “Sustainable Development,” defining it as a form of development that satisfies our current needs without compromising future generations’ ability to meet their own. To grossly oversimplify, the idea emphasizes the importance of not being a selfish asshole; Other people, notably, future generations will need resources too, so save some for them. Puff, puff, pass, as it were.

Feeling overwhelmed yet? Don’t worry; there won’t be a quiz. No one is judging you besides Karen, and Karen judges everyone. 

Take a deep breath as you absorb the knowledge shared, and ponder the wise words of Maya Angelou: “You can’t really know where you’re going until you know where you have been.” So where were we?

An Introduction to Corporate Social Responsibility

Once upon a time (as in, the mid-20th Century) walked this earth the almost famous Howard R. Bowen, an American economist and educator who made it into our history books, as well as Wikipedia as the father of Corporate Social Responsibility, AKA CSR—because who doesn’t love acronyms? While no teenager has never had a poster of Bowen hanging on their bedroom wall, the man’s contribution to making the world a better place cannot be overlooked—plus, the knowledge of his existence can be the difference between winning or losing at Trivial Pursuit, so . . . you’re welcome.

Bowen posited that business leaders have responsibilities to society that extend beyond making profits for shareholders. Bowen’s ideas were revolutionary at the time because they challenged the traditional view that a business’s sole purpose was to generate profit for its owners or shareholders. Instead, he introduced the notion that companies are integral parts of the larger social system and, as such, should act in ways that benefit society. This concept has since been expanded upon and incorporated into various business practices, leading to initiatives focused on environmental sustainability, ethical labor practices, and community engagement, among others.

But I am just a small business owner; I don’t have shareholders, you might think. Well, there is no such thing as too small to make a difference. Think of Sam Gamgee. Very likely, you are sponsoring your local youth baseball team, or maybe supporting your staff to volunteer in your community soup kitchen. Or maybe you care enough to recycle and offer reusable bags to your customers? Congratulations, you are already a proud member of Team CSR.