The Routledge Companion to Business Ethics

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Business, nature, and environmental sustainability

Joseph DesJardins

The relation between business and the natural environment mirrors that of the wider society. It is not surprising, therefore, that this relation has changed dramatically since the early twentieth century. At one time, the environment was understood simply as a collection of natural resources to be used in production, with a value established by market forces. Today, spurred on by the global movement towards sustainable development and a broader ethical approach to the natural world, many businesses have taken on environmental responsibilities as part of their strategic mission and the environment itself as an essential stakeholder. Indeed, in many business contexts, ...