Sustainability In The Private And Public Sectors: A Comparison Of Motivators, Actions, Barriers And Reporting Of Results

Abstract

The concept of sustainability has developed over the past 40 years and continues to advance as organizations implement sustainable practices, quantify sustainability results, and communicate their accomplishments to key stakeholders. Despite these advances, sustainability remains an emerging field in need of clear definitions and goals; development of best practices; and effective tools for measuring, reporting, and benchmarking results. The literature suggests that the private sector is more advanced than the public sector in addressing these challenges. The purpose of this study was to discover if the public sector lags in pursuing sustainability, and if so, to identify some of the reasons for this dynamic. Through an analysis of 375 responses to a survey of both private- and public-sector organizations, there is evidence that the public sector lags behind the private sector, particularly with regard to measuring, reporting, and benchmarking sustainability results. However, this study also revealed that local governments are in a position to lead. They implement more sustainability actions than private corporations, yet they lack the formal framework to effectively connect their actions to sustainability goals. Recommendations to advance the field of sustainability include developing enhanced sustainability reporting tools, increasing stakeholder involvement, and sharing best practices.