Dr Geoffrey Wells from the University of South Australia, has edited a new book entitled ‘Sustainable Business: Theory and Practice of Business Under Sustainability Principles’ [Hardcover]. It’s published by Edward Elgar (February 2013).

‘This is an immensely useful and important book. By applying sustainability theory and practice to all areas of business management for firms of all sizes it has the potential to make a significant difference to the long term viability of businesses and the societies in which they operate.’ – Juliet Roper, The University of Waikato, New Zealand

Recent surveys of international CEOs confirm that companies increasingly see sustainability as critical to their business strategy. The rigorous academic framework for the field of sustainable business required to respond to this need is now emerging.

The book is being marketed as an important new work in the theory of the sustainable firm, in the application of sustainability principles to key management disciplines, in sustainable business in practice, and in the international challenges that are critical to sustainability demands.

Sustainable Business will prove invigorating for both undergraduate and graduate students on business, society and sustainability themed courses. Policymakers and practitioners will find the urgent global sustainability issues and sub-disciplines essential.

The contributions are in five parts:

Introduction:  This places the idea of sustainable business in the historical context, tracing its roots over the past half century, and summarising the contributions of the book from that perspective.

Part 1:  The Sustainable Firm. Three chapters on the idea of the sustainable firm–developing an integrated framework for corporate social and environmental responsibility; the practice of developing social capital in sustainable organisations; and an ethical approach to the sustainable firm as primarily an ethical idea.

Part 2: Sustainable Business Management:  Six chapters on different aspects of management theory and practice viewed from the sustainability perspective–sustainability accounting and reporting; carbon accounting and auditing; sustainable marketing; sustainable HRM; virtue-based leadership; and sustainable risk assessment.

Part 3: Sustainable Business in Practice:  Four chapters on sustainability in different industry sectors–two studies of family business, one general, one a case-study; a close look at small rural retail and services businesses in their approach to sustainability; and a framework for corporate sustainability in the construction industry.

Part 4: International Environment of Sustainable Business: Two chapters on key international topics: the changing face of international law with respect to climate change and associated matters; and an analysis of the Stern (UK) and Garnaut (Australia) reports on the economics of climate change.

Contributors include: J. Benson, N. Chileshe, J. Chia, N. Evans, E.C. Fein, S. Lodhia, S. Pullen, J. Ratnatunga, S. Sandhu, S.R. Sardeshmukh, J. Sawyer, C.M. Scott-Young, M.P. Shanahan, A. Sharpe, J. Shen, A. Tziner, V. Waye, G. Wells, L. Wilson, G. Zillante, J. Zuo