Green business - a business of sustainability

bachelor thesis of Academic study programmes, Organization and management of business and work systems

Žan Kokalj (Author), Marjan Senegačnik (Mentor), Matjaž Maletič (Co-mentor)

Abstract

Sustainability practices and sustainable development have been in close relation with human beings for a long time. This thesis aims to present historical aspects of sustainable development throughout the time, along with numerous green business ideas and green organizations presentations. From hunter-gatherers to ancient civilizations to fossil fuel era, historical review consists of connections between people from different times and places. Whilst moving from history to the present, the thesis offers insight in terms of green and sustainability-related definitions that help in understanding the idea behind terms such as green businesses, sustainable development, eco-innovations, green products, green consumer, green marketing, greenwashing, green certification, and carbon offsets and carbon credits. For better understanding of the related theoretical approaches, the thesis also offers a wide range of green business ideas such as green building and urban planning, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy sourcing, sustainable forestry, green transportation, green hair salon, green gym, green wedding planning, green cleaning services, recycling and waste management, and sustainable brewing. The benefits, issues and risks that green businesses are dealing with are also described. Green practices nowadays are represented by many individuals and organizations, of which some are also included in the research part of this thesis. 32 organizations have been interviewed and provided valuable data that was used in creating a brand new sustainability model, called ‘Path to sustainability’, which aims to connect vital sustainability fragments together in a wholesome system, along with connections between related fragments. Besides the model, the thesis also provides an overview of issues and restrictions that oppose sustainable development.

Keywords

sustainability;sustainable development;green business;green building;renewable energy;

Data

Language:	English
Year of publishing:	2015
Typology:	2.11 - Undergraduate Thesis
Organization:	UM FOV - Faculty of Organizational Sciences
Publisher:	[Ž. Kokalj]
UDC:	502.131.1
COBISS:	7516947
Views:	1178
Downloads:	156
Average score:	0 (0 votes)
Metadata:

Other data

Secondary language:	Slovenian
Secondary title:	Zeleno podjetje - podjetje trajnosti
Secondary abstract:	Trajnostni razvoj in prakse, ki jih ta razvoj zajema, so v tesni povezavi z ljudmi že dolgo časa. Poleg predstavitve številnih zeleno-trajnostnih idej in organizacij je namen tega diplomskega dela predstavitev zgodovinskih vidikov trajnostnega razvoja skozi čas. Zgodovinski pregled sestoji iz povezav med ljudmi iz različnih okolij in časov. Le-ti zajemajo obdobja od časov lovcev-nabiralcev, dobe starodavnih civilizacij do dandanašnje ere fosilnih goriv. Poleg tega diplomsko delo nudi vpogled v definicije, ki so povezane s trajnostnostjo in trajnostnim razvojem ter omogočajo lažje razumevanje izrazov, kot so zeleni produkti, zelene organizacije, eko-inovacije, zeleni potrošniki, zeleni marketing, 'greenwashing', zeleno certificiranje in ogljikovi krediti. Za boljše razumevanje teoretičnih pristopov delo prav tako nudi širok spekter zelenih poslovnih idej, ki zajemajo zeleno gradnjo, trajnostno kmetijstvo, pridobivanje energije iz obnovljivih virov, trajnostno gospodarjenje z gozdovi, zeleni transport, zelene frizerske salone, zelene telovadnice, zelena poročna načrtovanja, zelene čistilne storitve, trajnostno varjenje piva, recikliranje in upravljanje z odpadki. Opisane so tudi koristi, problemi in tveganja, s katerimi se srečujejo zelene organizacije. Zelene prakse so dandanes odražene s strani številnih organizacij, izmed katerih je 32 vključenih v raziskovalni del tega diplomskega dela. Z vsemi vključenimi organizacijami smo opravili intervju, s pomočjo katerega smo pridobili dragocene podatke in informacije, na podlagi katerih smo razvili popolnoma nov trajnostni model, poimenovan 'Pot do trajnostnosti'. Cilj tega trajnostnega modela je povezati ključne fragmente trajnostnosti v celovit sistem. Poleg modela je podan tudi pregled težav in omejitev, ki nasprotujejo trajnostnemu razvoju.
Secondary keywords:	trajnostni razvoj;trajnost;zeleno podjetje;zelena gradnja;
URN:	URN:SI:UM:
Type (COBISS):	Bachelor thesis/paper
Thesis comment:	Univ. v Mariboru, Fak. za organizacijske vede
Pages:	196 str.
ID:	9115486