Sustainability is not a passing fad. That is the message that emerged from a ground-breaking 2009 global survey of 1,500 executives and managers for a Special Report on “The Business of Sustainability” by MIT Sloan Management Review with knowledge partner, Boston Consulting Group.

“If you want an organization to last then everything else has to last as well,” says Michael Hopkins, editor-in-chief of the MIT Sloan Management Review.

In an exclusive podcast interview with RBC, Hopkins talks about the survey results providing further insight to why sustainability matters as well as many other areas including:

• What environmental regulation can we expect?
• Is sustainability a source of competitive advantage?
• Will government be a leader or a follower of business in sustainability?
• Why does the ability to collaborate matter for organizations trying to become more environmentally sustainable?
• Why do your employees matter when it comes to sustainable business strategy?
• What skills does your team need to be successful?

Click on the question below to hear Michael Hopkins responses in an interview with Caroline Nolan, sustainability and communications expert, on behalf of RBC:

How do you define sustainability?

What does a sustainable organization look like?

Every day it seems, more organizations are announcing various sustainability strategies and showing results. Is sustainability accelerating dramatically in business?

What role do commercial businesses have to play towards solving critical long-term global sustainability issues such as climate change?

In terms of actual government regulation, what types of regulation do you anticipate coming down the pipeline?

Your study suggests many executives are still having difficulty defining the business case for their organizations. What is your take on the business case for sustainability?

Your research also highlighted heightened employee interest in sustainability. Why should executives be thinking about when it comes to planning for sustainability?

What impact did the economic downturn have on the way organizations are approaching sustainability issues? Are they doing less, or more with less?

Is sustainability the new business imperative?

What skills or competencies do organizations need to effectively manage environmental and social sustainability issues?

How do you see sustainability issues changing the competitive landscape for the business world?

Do you have any advice for organizations that are just beginning to grapple with social and environmental sustainability issues? What are some of the first steps that they should be thinking about taking?