Basic Information

What is sustainability? | What is EPA doing? | How can I help?

What is sustainability?

The traditional definition of sustainability calls for polices and strategies that meet society’s present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

The 1970 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) formally established as a national goal the creation and maintenance of conditions under which humans and nature “can exist in productive harmony, and fulfill the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations of Americans ” [emphasis added].

The concept of sustainable development was described in a 1981 White House Council on Environmental Quality report: “The key concept here is sustainable development. If economic development is to be successful over the long term, it must proceed in a way that protects the natural resource base of developing countries.”

Over the past 30 years, the concept of sustainability has evolved to reflect perspectives of both the public and private sectors. A public policy perspective would define sustainability as the satisfaction of basic economic, social, and security needs now and in the future without undermining the natural resource base and environmental quality on which life depends. From a business perspective, the goal of sustainability is to increase long-term shareholder and social value, while decreasing industry’s use of materials and reducing negative impacts on the environment.

Common to both the public policy and business perspectives is recognition of the need to support a growing economy while reducing the social and economic costs of economic growth. Sustainable development can foster policies that integrate environmental, economic, and social values in decision making. From a business perspective, sustainable development favors an approach based on capturing system dynamics, building resilient and adaptive systems, anticipating and managing variability and risk, and earning a profit.

Sustainable development reflects not the trade-off between business and the environment but the synergy between them.

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What is EPA doing?

In its early days, EPA acted primarily as the nation's environmental watchdog, striving to ensure that businesses met legal requirements in the area of pollution control. Implementing these pollution control regulations required large investments in time, money, and other resources.

Over time, EPA began to develop ways to move from pollution control to pollution prevention. This effort sparked a new generation of innovative approaches to environmental protection. Market-based economic instruments – such as the Acid Raid and NOx Budget Trading "cap-and-trade" programs to reduce pollutants such as nitrogen oxide and ozone, public-private partnerships, reporting by industry, and voluntary programs – were all implemented to help businesses to not only meet but to exceed environmental requirements.

Today EPA aims to make sustainability the next level of environmental protection by drawing on advances in science and technology, applying government regulations and policies to protect public health and welfare, and promoting green business practices.

Advances in Science and Technology

Advances in scientific understanding and technology provide crucial underpinning for sound environmental policy, management, and regulations. Following principles of its Sustainability Research Strategy (PDF) (2007) EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD) provides scientific and technical support to EPA program and regional offices and to state and local governments. Through external grants and in-house research, ORD is working to develop knowledge, decision tools, and new technologies that can lead to long-term environmental solutions.

Government Regulations and Practices

Executive Order 13423 – Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management (January 24, 2007). This presidential order set policy and specific goals for federal agencies to ”conduct their environmental, transportation, and energy-related activities under the law in support of their respective missions in an environmentally, economically and fiscally sound, integrated, continuously improving, efficient, and sustainable manner.”

The Federal Government Sustainability Web site includes the latest information from federal agencies relevant to developing and maintaining sustainable facilities and to developing and promoting sustainable practices within their environmental programs.

Greening EPA. EPA implements a wide range of programs to reduce the environmental impact of its facilities and operations, from building new, environmentally sustainable structures to improving the energy efficiency of older buildings.

Energy Management and Conservation Program Reports (PDF). EPA’s Sustainable Facilities Practices Branch publishes these annual reports.

Promoting Sustainable Business Practices

Many companies are now pursuing the goal of sustainability, realizing that protecting the environment makes good business sense. Several prominent EPA programs, such as those described below, have anticipated and contributed to advancing sustainability concepts by emphasizing beneficial business practices.

Life Cycle Assessment. ORD ’s National Risk Management Research Laboratory's Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Web site promotes use of LCA to assist users to make more informed decisions through a better understanding of the environmental impacts of products, processes and activities on human health and the environment.

Sustainable Futures. The goal of the Sustainable Futures Initiative is to make new chemicals safer, available faster, and at a lower cost. The initiative works by giving chemical firms access to the risk-screening models that EPA uses to evaluate new chemicals before they enter the market.

EPA’s Supply Chain and Manufacturing Programs include Clean Processing, Design for the Environment, Green Suppliers Network, Green Chemistry Program, Lean Manufacturing, and National Partnership for Environmental Priorities Program, and preferential purchasing programs such as EnergyStar and WaterSense. These programs aim to shape new manufacturing and business practices that go well beyond controlling pollution to actually changing the strategic thinking of companies. These EPA programs together demonstrate that the next level of environmental protection will be created not just by disincentives to pollute, but also by the positive vision of sustainability that is acceptable to business operations.

How can I help?

Taking care of our environment for ourselves and future generations is a responsibility for all of us. Here are some EPA sites with suggestions and tips on how you can contribute to sustainability in your roles as a consumer and citizen – and as a steward of the environment:

Adopt Your Watershed. To encourage stewardship of the nation's water resources, EPA is leading an "Adopt Your Watershed" campaign. Through this effort, EPA challenges citizens and organizations to join us and others who are working to protect and restore our valuable rivers, streams, wetlands, lakes, ground water, and estuaries.

Concerned Citizens Resources. Become familiar with environmental issues and potential environmental and human health risks caused by pollution. Learn how you, your family, and your community can protect the environment.

Donating and Recycling Old Computers and Other Electronic Products. This site provides links to information about donation and recycling programs for computers, cell phones, and other electronic products.

Drive Wise. Driving releases harmful chemicals into the air. When, where, how, why, and what we drive all affect air pollution. These suggestions tell you how to be more environmentally friendly when you need to get somewhere.

Energy Star. "Ask for the Energy Star!" Certified products in more than 40 categories can help you to use less energy, save money, and help protect the environment.

EPA's Green Vehicle Guide. Use this guide to choose the cleanest and most fuel-efficient vehicle that meets your needs.

Green Communities. The Green Communities Assistance Kit is a five-step process that can help communities achieve their economic, social, and environmental goals in a comprehensive way.

Green Meetings. This site provides information that can assist you to plan your meetings with minimal negative impacts on the environment.

Greenacres. This site provides descriptions and links to several resources on green landscaping.

Healthy Lawn, Healthy Environment (PDF). (19pp, 5.37MB, About PDF). You can print out this 19-page brochure on caring for your lawn in an environmentally friendly way.

How to Conserve Water and Use It Effectively. This site offers advice on sustainable practices for residential water users, including plumbing, landscaping, and behavioral practices. It also outlines conservation practices for industrial/commercial and agricultural water users.

Reduce Waste by Practicing the 3 Rs. Reduce the amount and toxicity of trash you discard. Reuse containers and products, including repairing what is broken or giving it to someone who can repair it. Recycle as much as possible, including buying products with recycled content.

Students and Sustainability. This page is designed for teachers planning to introduce the concept of sustainability into their classrooms and for students seeking assistance and guidance in their sustainable research projects.

Sustainable Landscaping (PDF). (62 pp, 8.12MB, About PDF) This slide presentation describes landscaping techniques that minimize negative environmental impacts and maximize ecological function.

Tips for the Public . This site provides more suggestions from EPA on steps individuals can use at home and at work to protect the environment and themselves.

Tips for Pollution Prevention. This site explains how consumers can help to prevent pollution in their communities.

Water Efficiency. EPA’s Water Sense partnership program makes it easy for Americans to save water and protect the environment.

What You Can Do to Clean the Air. Children are at greater risk from air pollution because their lungs are still developing and they are more active outdoors. Many elderly are also especially vulnerable because they often have heart or lung disease.

What You Can Do to Prevent Urban Stormwater Pollution. Bulleted lists on this site suggest how individuals and organizations can help prevent urban stormwater and other kinds of non-point source pollution.