ABSTRACT
This chapter provides essential background knowledge, introducing the reader to the field of sustainable development. The first step is to build common understanding of what is meant by the term 'sustainable development' through uncovering the history of the term and introducing basic sustainability theory. Many people are unsure what is meant by the phase 'sustainable development'. 'Triple bottom line' is now standard sustainability theory and illustrates that the financial or 'single bottom line' traditionally used by organisations is insufficient for overall sustainability. Long-term economic sustainability is threatened by the burned soil effect. The solution is for organisations, already used to maintaining their economic capital base, to also manage their natural and social capital in order to achieve long-term sustainability. To support a fuller understanding, the background to the term 'sustainability' is provide followed by an introduction to sustainability theory and how it differs from economic theory.
