21 January 2025 The business world has changed — you need to be sustainable to win

Focusing solely on profit is no longer profitable.

Social pressure, regulations, funding requirements — all of it is pointing towards sustainability. You need to be informed if you’re going to succeed.

“50 years ago many businesses didn’t put a high priority on environmental or social issues. Now it’s a requirement.”

Those are the words of Jeff Heyl, director of the Bachelor of Commerce (Sustainability), a degree dedicated to teaching students the three pillars of sustainability and how to practically implement them.

Each of the pillars — society, environment and economy — are vital to a successful and sustainable business. There are many experts studying these fields individually, but the challenge is implementing all three in a profitable and responsible way.

Students in the Bachelor of Commerce (Sustainability) dive deep into the three areas and take dedicated courses on commercial sustainability. They also analyse commercial practices and how they can be made sustainable.

The programme is the only Bachelor’s degree in New Zealand to target all three of the pillars in unison. Students graduate with the skills to practically implement these ideas in the real world.

It’s a unique set of skills with huge demand in the modern era. Most organisations and businesses list social and environmental responsibility as core values, and as requirements in job descriptions.

Many organisations are even creating dedicated positions for sustainability officers. Opportunities will only grow as the world continues to embrace all three pillars of sustainability.

The benefits are already becoming clear, such as better loan rates for environmentally progressive projects. Stricter regulations and tighter reporting requirements are penalising those that resist the change.

“Businesses that don’t respect the three pillars of sustainability will find it difficult to be competitive,” Dr Heyl said.

“Rules and regulations are going to demand that. Society is going to demand that. Customers are going to demand that.”

Applications for semester 1 domestic students are open until February.

You can read more about the Bachelor of Commerce (Sustainability) here.

You can apply to study at Lincoln University here.