What does environmental sustainability mean in business terms and give an example.

• A. Meeting present needs without compromising the environment for future generations; e.g., energy efficiency and renewable energy use.
• B. Maximizing profits without regard to the environment.
• C. Only recycling programs.
• D. Ignoring energy consumption.

Answer: (A)

Environmental sustainability in business means running operations in a way that preserves natural resources and ecosystems for the long term, so present activities don’t undermine the ability of future generations to meet their needs. In practice, this involves improving efficiency, reducing waste, and adopting renewable energy sources. For example, a company that upgrades equipment to use less energy and installs solar power demonstrates how sustainability balances current operations with a lower environmental impact and long-term cost savings.

This approach is broader than just profits or a single activity like recycling, and it avoids ignoring energy use altogether.