Social Sustainability

What is Social Sustainability?

Social sustainability is an often overlooked aspect of sustainability, as sustainable development discussions often focus on the environmental or economic aspects of sustainability. All three dimensions of sustainability must be addressed to attain the most sustainable outcome possible.

• Social sustainability occurs when the formal and informal processes; systems; structures; and relationships actively support the capacity of current and future generations to create healthy and livable communities. Socially sustainable communities are equitable, diverse, connected and democratic and provide a good quality of life. WACOSS, Western Australia Council of Social Services
• Social sustainability is a process for creating sustainable successful places that promote wellbeing, by understanding what people need from the places they live and work. Social sustainability combines design of the physical realm with design of the social world – infrastructure to support social and cultural life, social amenities, systems for citizen engagement, and space for people and places to evolve. Social Life, a UK based social enterprise specializing in place based innovation
• The ability of a community to develop processes and structures which not only meet the needs of its current members but also support the ability of future generations to maintain a healthy community. Business Dictionary

Social Sustainability in Business

From a business perspective, social sustainability is about understanding the impacts of corporations on people and society. In the triple bottom line (TBL) model, social sustainability is the least quantifiable part of sustainability. The TBL is an accounting framework of three parts: social, environmental and financial. The TBL framework has been adopted by organizations to evaluate performance. The three aspects interrelate to determine a corporation’s performance.

In corporations, social sustainability performance issues include human rights, fair labor practices, living conditions, health, safety, wellness, diversity, equity, work-life balance, empowerment, community engagement, philanthropy, volunteerism, and more. Though social impact, or social sustainability, issues are not easily quantifiable or measurable, they are easier to identify.

 

Adrian Henriques, Professor of Accountability and CSR at Middlesex University and author of ‘Corporate Impact – Measuring and Managing your Social Footprint,’ states, “Social impact includes anything that affects company-stakeholder relationships: from how much and how reliably suppliers are paid, to how a product affects lives. From how small shareholders may be treated to the impact of alcohol on health and communities.”

 

Social sustainability mitigates risk. Poor social sustainability is a risk to both brand and product quality. Outsourcing to manufacturing sites with unsafe or poor working conditions can hurt a global corporation’s brand if a disaster happened or if word were to reach media and consumers. Similarly, ignoring safety measures to protect public health can cost food manufacturers millions of dollars through government-backed recalls of products from market shelves.

Providing safer working conditions, living wages and job security creates a more secure supply chain.

 

Consumers want socially sustainable products. Consumers are more informed and engaged. They care about the impact (environmental or social) of the products they buy. Companies who are more transparent about their supply chains have reaped the benefits from consumers who are willing to spend more for products that are more ethical.

 

Social sustainability is attainable. Companies are now partnering with social sustainability organizations to become more transparent, make their operations or supply chains more ethical, and understand the human cost of business.