It is often thought that business growth and environmental growth cannot go hand in hand. However, this is not true, it is just a topic that has been little explored yet. What background would I need to pursue in college to encourage this?

Great question and so glad to know you're concerned about these types of issues.

Fortunately, this field does exist! Google "Corporate Social Responsibility" and you should get a bunch of hits. It's a growing field with lots of new career paths, one popular one being a CSR Consultant. In this type of position you would work with major corporations to help them think about how their decisions impact their local environment as well as the globe as a whole.

Good luck!

It is often thought that business growth and environmental growth cannot go hand in hand. However, this is not true, it is just a topic that has been little explored yet. What background would I need to pursue in college to encourage this?

I believe that industry has a whole has the power and minds to start the clean revolution. Creating products that not only don't hurt, but are beneficial to the environment is not easy, and requires a lot of different perspectives. If I want to grow up and start businesses that not only don't hurt the environment, but nourish it as well, what background should I consider? I have thought about business, economics, law, environmental policy, environmental engineering, or a mix of a few. What skills will I need to make this dream a reality?

well yes in the new conglomerate space is the new 30 yr old millionaire and billionaires and they have created there own unique global space such as google and intel they have created the "Corporate Social Responsibility" corporations. Alot of the younger coporation business owners are pioneers in this new space age entrepreneurship.

Public-benefit corporations are a specific type of corporation that allow for public benefit to be a charter purpose in addition to the traditional corporate goal of maximizing profit for shareholders.Public-benefit corporations are a specific type of corporation that allow for public benefit to be a charter purpose in addition to the traditional corporate goal of maximizing profit for shareholders.Depending on the country they may also be known as crown corporations, statutory corporations, or government owned corporations having monopoly over a specific service or market.

enabling the formation of a new type of corporation that is hard wired to compete to be the best in America at being the best for America.

These new public benefit corporations will harness the power of private enterprise to create public benefit. In the short term, they will create high quality jobs and improve the quality of life in our communities. In the long term, as many enter the public capital markets, they will help combat the plague of short termism that we have seen over the last five years can undermine a shared and durable prosperity.

Some of the most innovative and fast growing private companies in America — like eco-home care brand Method, organic baby food business Plum Organics, fair trade company Alter Eco, and green paper supplier New Leaf Paper. These businesses, and over 100,000 like them, are profitable, but consider profit to be the means — not the exclusive end goal — of their business. They see profits as a means to fuel growth in social impact as well as to generate attractive returns for stockholders.Many of the businesses considering this new corporate structure — like waste management firm Rubicon Global, e-commerce platform Etsy, and eyewear industry disruptor Warby Parker — feel understandably constrained by existing corporate law that recognizes only one legitimate corporate purpose — to maximize value for stockholders.Benefit Corporations are different. Benefit Corporations are for-profit companies that are obligated to consider the impact of their decisions on society, not only shareholders. Radically, positive impact on society becomes part of a Benefit Corporation’s legally defined goals.

a growing list of forward-thinking organizations — like Kick starter, Patagonia and This American Life — that have taken the big step to become a Benefit Corporation. While only about .01% of all American businesses have done this, there 0.1% believe that it can and will change in the coming years. More and more voices are rejecting business as usual, and the pursuit of profit above all.

will create tools and resources that help people bring their creative projects to life, and that connect people around creative projects and the creative process.

will care for the health of its ecosystem and integrity of its systems.

will never sell user data to third parties. It will zealously defend the privacy rights and personal data of the people who use its service, including in its dealings with government entities.

terms of use and privacy policies will be clear, fair, and transparent. will not cover every possible future contingency, or claim rights and powers just because it can or because doing so is industry standard.

will not lobby or campaign for public policies unless they align with its positive mission and positive values, regardless of possible economic benefits to the company.

will not use loopholes or other esoteric but legal tax management strategies to reduce its tax burden. will be transparent in reporting the percentage of taxes it pays and explaining the many factors that affect its tax calculation.

will seek to limit environmental impact. It will invest in green infrastructure, support green commuting methods, and factor environmental impact when choosing vendors. Additionally, will provide recommendations and resources that help creators make environmentally conscious decisions on tasks, like shipping and packaging, that are common to the use of its services.

will annually donate 5% of its after-tax profit towards arts and music education, and to organizations fighting to end systemic inequality.

will foster a supportive environment for employees to work on their own creative projects, including time off to pursue them.

5% pledge will be devoted to arts and music programs for children and young adults, with a primary focus on underserved communities. Funds will be distributed to 501(c)(3) organizations, public schools, or via programs developed.

will provide opportunities and paid time off for employees to provide professional mentorship and skills training to people from groups underrepresented in the worlds of art, business, or technology.

will report on team and leadership demographics, executive and CEO pay ratios, and programs and strategies employed to build a diverse, inclusive, and equitable organization.

example of the 5% pledge will be devoted to organizations addressing systemic inequality. will primarily focus such contributions on 501(c)(3) organizations fighting to end prejudices against and increase opportunities for people of color,men, women, and LGBTQ individuals.

So If you are interested in helping organizations ensure their practices, processes, products and procedures are ethical, sustainable and environmentally friendly, then you might be interested in a career as a corporate social responsibility consultant.

Corporate social responsibility consultants, also known as corporate social responsibility services programs, oversee the development and implementation of a corporation’s social responsibility objectives. These objectives may include minimizing the effects the corporation has on the environment, promoting human rights, giving back to the community, or others. Corporate social responsibility managers must ensure that their efforts benefit the company and the community it serves.

Aspiring as a change agent and begin this new career in its formality as corporate social responsibility consultant you should have an Associates of Arts Degree in Business Management, a bachelor’s degree in the field of political science. Because of the complexity of the position, having a master’s in public health and a PHD doctoral degree in health / human services of the aforementioned fields is preferred.

corporate social responsibility consultant Duties include:

• Ensure that the organization is open to employees from all different walks of life
• Reinforce the social responsibility policies of the company through internal communication
• Attract new recruits by ensuring a positive public perception of the company
• Ensure that promotion form within is taken seriously by management
• Confer with Internal Compliance personnel to ensure policies and best practices are in place to minimize risk to the public
• Confer with the Marketing department to oversee company branding
• Communicate to the public through marketing and public relations efforts that social responsibility is taken seriously

corporate social responsibility consultants, contractors or on an interim basis. They often work for the following types of organizations:

• Publicly owned corporation
• Private Corporation
• Charitable organization or NGO
• Federal, provincial/state or municipal government agency
• University or college

Public benefit corporations / corporate social responsibility programming are not a replacement for traditional corporations in America. But as the next generation of publicly-traded companies comes into being, benefit corporations will be among them, helping to build public trust in business, and becoming an attractive investment opportunity for the growing number of investors who increasingly want to make money and to make a difference.

And that’s best for business in America.

You are correct, but this is a "topic" not necessarily a field. Many fields address this issue. You could be a spokesperson for an environmental group, a lawyer, a teacher teaching environment science, or an engineer working on an environmentally sound product or process. Look to see how you can promote this concept in a field you are interested in. As an engineering manager for a major chemical company, we like most of the companies I have come in contact with, have an environmental conscience and are looking into more environmentally friendly and sustainable processes and products. Join in and take care of our planet. Good luck