Achieving a balance between the environment, society and the economy is considered essential to meet
the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
Sustainable development as a goal is achieved by balancing the three pillars of sustainability.
Societal expectations for sustainable development, transparency and accountability have evolved with
increasingly stringent legislation, growing pressures on the environment from pollution, inefficient
use of resources, improper waste management, climate change, degradation of ecosystems and loss of
biodiversity.
This has led organizations to adopt a systematic approach to environmental management by
implementing environmental management systems with the aim of contributing to the environmental
pillar of sustainability.