Systems Thinking

I hope you have enjoyed the videos and are finding the links and book recommendations worthwhile. This is the second video in our series on Introduction to Corporate Responsibility and we will be looking at systems. In the video, I pose a lot of questions to get you thinking about the current consumer based model of our economy. This is an important topic, especially in the Intro series, because we know that our global economy is essentially measured by consumer spending. This metric is a good tool for tracking economic growth, but the linear consumption system we have in place is a cause for concern.

We really need to redesign our system in a way that is conscious of natural resources and accounts for the growing population and increased consumption. Examples have shown that there is real business value to changing current systems and incorporating cradle to cradle design. Organizations like Interface, CertainTeed and Unilever have not only seen reduced impacts, but have increased profits by developing new solutions to this problem.

As we continue through the Intro series, we will identify tools and practices that will help us move toward this goal. Along with the video, I recommend checking out a few of the links provided below. 


 – Tad Radzinski, PE, LEED AP, SFP

Links:

Unsustainable Economics
Resource Depletion: Opportunity or Looming Catastrophe?

Green Waste Recycling Statistics