Abstract

In today”s fast and dynamic 21st century global business environment, the practical application as opposed
to conceptualisation of engineering, scientific and decision-making technologies is a critical prerequisite for
achieving sustainability and a prosperous human existence through sustainable development initiatives.
While some countries continue to successfully apply practical competencies and dynamic capabilities to
develop their societies in a more sustainable way, the same cannot be said for some countries in Sub-Sahara
Africa and Asia-Pacific regions. This paper first critiques the applicability of technologies by arguing that
‘sustainable development’ is best understood as a multi-faceted concept rooted in ‘sustainability' as a
societal goal of achieving a future desired state of human-ecosystem equilibrium, environmental concerns,
economic and social development. Second, it proposes a holistic framework based on the experiences of
European Food Retailers in the Asia-Pacific countries - which identifies three key areas for sustainable
development: (1) Community regeneration in terms of ‘job creation’, (2) Responsible trading in terms of
‘labour standards’, and (3) Applied technological innovations in ‘waste recycling’. The findings make it
imperative for strategists to critically debate the impact of applied technologies, responsible trading and
community regeneration on corporate profitability, national wealth, and sustainability of a prosperous
human existence.