Sustainable development
Responsible action creates an equilibrium for everyone
Almost no other term is used so frequently in talking about the future as “sustainability”.
The Brundtland Report, issued by the United Nations in 1987, offers a first definition. In this document, “sustainability” is defined as a type of development that meets the needs of the current generation without limiting the possibilities of future generations. This is a goal that is in everyone’s interest.
In its essence, the idea of sustainability is not new but rather can be traced back to the 18th century. The roots of the idea are to be found in the practice of forestry. Approximately 300 years ago, Hans-Carl von Carlowitz, the chief mining administrator in the State of Saxony, issued the order that no more wood should be cut than would naturally grow back. In his opinion, it was only on this basis that the ongoing preservation of the forest could be ensured. His work on forestry, entitled “Sylvicultura oeconomica”, stands for this essential principle of sustainable management, which remains just as relevant and valid today as then.
In current discussions, the term sustainability refers to a type of economic activity that brings ecology, economics and social factors into a healthy balance.
