The planet’s resources don’t add up if we deplete them every year. This imbalance, highlighted by science, is a shared concern. We are called to adopt sustainability as a guiding principle and to change the way we manage social, economic, and environmental matters—to live within the rhythms and limits of our planet. Sustainability cannot be just another trendy term.
It is time to rethink how we live, move, and dress, but above all, how we produce and consume. Our current model is based on a linear economy of acquiring, using, and discarding. Finally, it is essential that this transition is measured by transparent criteria to prevent it from being used for “greenwashing.”
What Does Sustainability Mean?
Sustainability is based on the principle of meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs, always maintaining a balance between environmental protection, economic growth, and social development.
One of the key moments in elevating sustainability and firmly placing it on the public agenda was the Climate Summit (COP27). The summit extended an invitation to institutions, governments, and businesses, many of which used the opportunity to align their positions or publicly share their progress. A major topic in the COP27 negotiations was the support developed nations provide to emerging economies.
Another major catalyst for sustainability has been the growing discontent with the linear system of use-and-dispose, largely driven by a youth-led social movement demanding change. The face of this revolution is Greta Thunberg. “We will be remembered as the generation that did nothing while the Earth burned. We must reach carbon neutrality by 2025,” stated António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations. And while science now makes this urgency undeniable, the need for change has been pressing for a long time.
At this point, there are no more excuses—at least not since the approval of the European Green Deal and, following its lead, the legislative framework developed by Spain’s Ministry for Ecological Transition, including laws on the circular economy (España Circular 2030) and climate change (PLCCTE).
Regulation is the key. Without it, trust cannot exist. That is why standards are being established and sector-specific goals are being set, with targets for 2050 and annual reviews, notes Joaquín Garralda, Dean of Academic Affairs at IE Business School and an expert in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
