Brief History Of Sustainability

Sustainability has a relatively short history in business and has evolved rapidly in the last few decades.

The idea of sustainability as an economic concept came about in 1713 when chief mining official, Hans Carl von Carlowitz, published a document urging for the conservation of Saxony’s disappearing forests. This was the first time the principle of ‘continuously enduring and sustainable use’ was discussed.

From the mid-20th century, increased consumption put more strain on socio-economic and environmental resources and Carlowitz’s concept gained more popularity again.

At first, sustainability was largely driven by social and environmental science. Towards the end of the 20th century, it was brought to business. Many sustainability frameworks and reporting initiatives have emerged and evolved over the last 30 years.

Sustainability timeline