The principles of sustainable development require the harmonisation and integration of economic, ecological and societal interests - also against the background of global responsibility and the needs of future generations. Implementing the principles of sustainability in practise means accommodating all of these interests in a balanced way: in each specific case, sustainable development means liasing to determine how "environmentally compatible", "economically profitable" and "socially beneficial" can actually be harmonised. It will not be possible in each case to achieve a solution which completely satisfies all needs.
Economic success is the essential basis for the achievement of environmental and social objectives. The responsible and prudent use of all economic resources is the key question in the implementation of a sustainable economy. It is important to realise here that sustainability is more than a pure environmental issue, and can therefore not be reduced to mere ecological interests. It is vital to put to use the whole spectrum of economic and social development opportunities, and understand sustainability as an overarching concept for optimising all three target dimensions (social, ecological and economic).

Sustainable development is a learning and change process with a long time frame. The concept of what is "sustainable" evolves over time. Solutions are neither universally valid nor final - they have to defined for each specific case reflecting the latest social understanding. The continuous analysis and revision of ideas and concepts on sustainable economics and politics is therefore essential.
The lifeblood of sustainable development is an open and creative innovation process within society, politics and the business community. This is supported by market economic instruments and open debate. This nurtures competitiveness and innovation, jobs and prosperity, resource efficiency and environmental compatibility. Innovations complying with sustainable development come about best in a supportive political and social environment - this not only includes technological innovations, but also economic, political and social innovations. The framework for doing business sustainably must therefore be structured accordingly to support the process of renewal. It would be completely counterproductive to rigidly define the instruments for problem solving and thus effectively stifle creativity.
Disharmony between the three sustainability leitmotifs - economy, ecology and society - is inevitable on the road to achieving sustainable development. These conflicts need to be openly presented and discussed because there is little point in palming off responsibilities and costs to individual players. This also means that sustainability can only move forward if there is a minimum level of mutual acceptance, trust and transparency.
Sustainability is a complex and challenging concept: trade offs have to be found between different needs to harmonise the three sustainability dimensions - business, society and environment. Dialogue between the different stakeholders which clarifies and weighs up the mutual demands is therefore essential for the implementation of sustainable development. Sustainable development is therefore also, and in a special way, a communication issue.

The goals of sustainability are an important factor in business thinking. They support the search for concrete solutions for future-proof corporate actions. Effectively integrating sustainable development within corporate actions, with an appropriate balance between the three parallel goals of sustainable development, can bring about real competitive advantages in national and international markets. Sustainable development is therefore a strategy for boosting competitiveness. And companies achieving success in the markets on the basis of sustainable development set the scene for a better quality of life in future.
One of the key innovation opportunities lies in thinking and acting in networks. Thinking along business lines which transcends the boundaries between sectors is vital for achieving sustainable solutions: bridging the gaps between different sectors and business activities, different management and administrative departments, and different technical disciplines and management levels opens up a large number of opportunities for commercial success.
Sustainability therefore means an attempt to find solutions which allow the multifarious demands of sustainability to be incorporated in corporate strategies. A true "culture of sustainability" within companies can help implement sustainability in concrete ways in daily office routines as well as shaping whole production processes and products. However, more is required than just anchoring the values of sustainable economics in business alone: it is also crucial to convince consumers to buy environmentally and socially compatible products. Business can assist this goal by developing and launching environmentally and socially compatible products, and highlighting their added value in product communications and marketing.

The way business is done does not reflect cycles of political election campaigning. The innovations required by sustainable development have a much more long term agenda. They require reforms at government and societal level to create a stimulative environment for an open process of searching and learning. The political frameworks must support and bolster an innovative business ethos. Politics generates too few conceptional alternatives beyond the narrow horizon of regulations and taxation. This is all the more serious with the 180 degree change in remit: challenges concerning climate problems cannot be solved by emission limits and bans, but only by grasping them as issues involving the optimisation of all three sides of the sustainability triangle. The traditional view of environmental policy as a hindrance and brake on economic policy becomes increasingly questionable. The issue no longer concerns solutions "at any price", but finding the most cost effective and most socially acceptable approaches. These can of course be different for each company, product and even for each member of the public. Instead of the less promising attempt to set up government "microcontrol" of products and consumption, there should by more freedom to enable more efficient solutions to be found for the important problems which arise.
Voluntary agreements between business and policy makers on the basis of mutual undertakings and shared acceptance of companies' needs to act independently and at their own responsibility establish a promising platform for sustainable development. They free up the creative space required for innovative discoveries and inventions, and new business and social approaches. Monitoring is desirable to check on the voluntary obligations and to develop additional co-operative instruments bringing together business and politics to realise sustainable development. Sustainable politics therefore demands conceptional alternatives to the traditional forms of defining political targets, and the old instruments used in their implementation. Policy makers should harness the opportunities presented at a technical, management and organisational level on the basis of existing corporate solution-finding competence - political frameworks should be increasingly oriented to the expertise gained from successful business practice. Businesses, as one of the main stakeholder groups, address the debate on the appropriate framework for sustainable politics from the bottom up, with the aim of strengthening co-operation between policy makers and business.