Sustainability and Business: Friends or Foes?

At a superficial glance, it may appear to some that there is no greater threat to the planet than the world of business.  It is, after all, the relentless short-term pursuit of the almighty dollar that can prevent us from seeing the long-term consequences of our greed. We're too busy trying to turn a buck to see the sky falling right on top of us. This, anyway, is a common perception many people hold in regards to business. But upon closer examination, this opinion does not hold water. Business is not the arch-enemy to sustainability.  In fact, it might just be one of the environment’s best hopes.  Business is simply an efficient means of moving and exchanging good and services. However, any level of consciousness can run a business, so business is not just "one thing" with a consistent and monolithic value system throughout. It is driven by an entire spectrum of human motivation!  Every level of development has its own motivation for doing business. In this discussion, Ken offers a synopsis of the aspects of what an integral level of development needs to consider in business. Which altitudes are decisions being made from?  Which altitudes are products being created from?  Which altitudes are the products being sold to?  And which level of development will help business executives think in terms of long-term consequences? How does this change or modify your definition of business?