Abstract

The case provides a detailed account of sustainable development (SD) initiatives taken up by Alcoa Inc (Alcoa), the world’s largest aluminum company. It begins with an explanation of the concept of SD and its evolution and gradual acceptance by the global corporate sector. It also discusses the need and importance of integrating SD into business processes. After taking a brief look at Alcoa’s history and its business operations, the case describes the company’s SD initiatives from the 1950s till late 2003. It also elaborates upon the major benefits and awards the company received due to these initiatives. The case ends with a comment on Alcoa’s future plans regarding SD with respect to its ‘2020 Strategic Framework.’

Learning Objectives

The case is structured to achieve the following Learning Objectives:

• Sustainable development and its importance to business.

Keywords

Sustainable development, SD, Alcoa Inc, Alcoa, largest, aluminum company, SD, evolution, gradual, business processes, business operations, 1950, 2003, future plans, 2020 Strategic Framework