Business and corporations must update their practices constantly in light of advances in technology and new understandings in health and environmental science in ways that accommodate environmental realities. Companies must make consistent, measurable progress in implementing environmental improvements and apply them to all aspects of their operations throughout the world.
Companies must reduce and make continual progress toward eliminating the release of any substance that may cause environmental damage to the air, water, or the earth or its inhabitants. They must safeguard all habitats affected by their operations and protect open spaces and wilderness, while preserving biodiversity.
In the future, business will need to achieve and demonstrate continuous improvement. Business must recognize that there is growing stakeholder awareness that business decisions are skewed when environmental performance, costs, and liabilities are not integrated into the strategic decision-making of companies. Increasingly, business will be required to demonstrate management of environmental and social issues along with traditional financial performance to secure the social license to operate.
Economic, social and environmental impact form a "triple bottom line" which could provide the benchmark of a company's performance and an opportunity for companies to engage more fully with stakeholders. Global consumers have already demonstrated that they will penalize companies that abuse them.