The term “sustainability” has become a widely used word in business, regulatory and academic discourse. However, its meaning varies significantly depending on who uses it and from which professional or disciplinary lens it is approached. In this post, we explore the ambiguous nature of the sustainability concept, its main interpretations, and how it is applied across different sectors — with a special focus on the extractive industry and environmental consulting in Peru.
A polysemic term
Sustainability can mean many different things:
- For a financial expert, it may refer to the long-term economic viability of a business.
- For an environmental engineer, it might be synonymous with the efficient management of natural resources.
- For a community relations specialist, it could imply harmonious and long-term coexistence with local populations.
- For a sustainability manager, it may involve the development and coordination of strategies and reports, following frameworks that ensure that environmental, social, and governance (ESG) information is measurable, verifiable, and relevant to stakeholders.
- For a corporate executive, it is about integrating all these approaches into a long-term, conscious leadership strategy.
The challenge is that all of these meanings are valid and complementary, but their coexistence can create confusion if the perspective is not made explicit.
Why clarifying the perspective enables productive conversations
Before implementing sustainability initiatives, it’s essential to clarify: From what perspective are we speaking?
- Are we referring to operational decarbonization?
- Are we talking about sustainability reporting, like GRI or CSRD frameworks?
- Are we addressing natural resource management or community engagement?
- Or are we focused on regulatory compliance and environmental permitting?
Clearly defining the focus from the beginning helps prioritize actions, avoid misunderstandings, and ensure strategic alignment. Sustainability can encompass all of the above, but each dimension requires specific tools, indicators, and strategies.
A matter of timing: early integration or transformational shift
Integrating sustainability from the early stages of a project allows it to be embedded structurally — in the business model, supplier selection, stakeholder engagement, and governance design.
However, in mature organizations, especially publicly listed companies, sustainability is no longer just a “good practice” — it becomes a matter of governance, oversight, and corporate accountability, often requiring a deep cultural shift, particularly in how strategic decisions are made.
Decarbonization as a central pillar of sustainability
Driven by the Paris Agreement and the growth of international regulations, the measurement and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions has become a cross-cutting priority — especially for the financial sector. Banks, insurers, and investors are transferring these requirements across their entire value chains, accelerating the transition toward cleaner operations.
Historically, environmental management and community engagement have been inherent to the development and operation of projects in the extractive sector. Now, this industry must also integrate decarbonization into its corporate sustainability strategy.
Environmental consulting and the expanding scope of sustainability
Environmental consulting has traditionally focused on environmental permitting and monitoring compliance with socio-environmental commitments. These services are essential to the development of mining, energy, and infrastructure projects under national environmental regulations.
However, in recent years, new demands have emerged, tied to broader sustainability goals, including:
- Circular economy practices
- Emissions inventories and decarbonization strategies
- Design and implementation of corporate sustainability strategies
- Biodiversity and climate adaptation
- Preparation of sustainability reports
Environmental consulting firms are increasingly positioning themselves not just as regulatory partners, but as strategic allies for business transformation toward sustainability.
