Sustainable vs. Viable — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 24, 2024
Sustainable practices ensure long-term ecological balance, focusing on resource preservation; viable strategies are practical and achievable, emphasizing immediate feasibility.
Difference Between Sustainable and Viable
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Sustainable approaches prioritize environmental health and continuity, aiming to meet current needs without compromising future generations. In contrast, viable approaches concentrate on the practicality and feasibility of solutions in the short to medium term.
Sustainability often involves using renewable resources and reducing environmental impact, promoting enduring practices and solutions. On the other hand, viability is primarily concerned with whether a strategy can succeed under existing conditions, often focusing on economic and social factors.
Sustainable methods can require significant initial investments and changes in behavior, targeting long-term benefits and systemic changes. Whereas viable methods are typically more concerned with immediate results and adaptability within current systems and constraints.
Implementing sustainable practices can sometimes face challenges due to higher upfront costs or slower returns on investment. In contrast, viable practices are usually designed to be immediately implementable and financially sound within current market conditions.
While sustainability is a guiding principle in fields like environmental science, urban planning, and product development, aiming for minimal negative impact, viability is often a critical evaluation metric in business, project management, and technology development, ensuring that plans are executable and likely to succeed.
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Comparison Chart
Focus
Long-term ecological balance
Short-term practicality
Resource Use
Renewable, minimal waste
Efficient, effective use
Time Frame
Long-term impact
Immediate to medium-term feasibility
Investment
High initial, for long-term gains
Moderate, for immediate gains
Primary Fields of Application
Environmental science, sustainable development
Business strategy, project management
Compare with Definitions
Sustainable
Pertaining to a method or strategy that maintains ecological balance without depleting resources.
Using solar energy is sustainable because it relies on the sun, an inexhaustible resource.
Viable
Economically or socially acceptable and capable of succeeding.
The project is viable because it balances costs with expected benefits.
Sustainable
Capable of being continued with minimal long-term effect on the environment.
Sustainable agriculture involves rotating crops to avoid depleting the soil.
Viable
Sufficiently attractive or good enough to be considered a possibility.
They considered several options before choosing the most viable one.
Sustainable
Involving the use of natural products and energy in a way that does not harm the ecosystem.
Sustainable packaging solutions include biodegradable materials.
Viable
Having the capability to grow or develop.
The startup proved viable with its rapid adaptation to market changes.
Sustainable
Designed to meet current needs without compromising those of future generations.
Sustainable urban planning incorporates green spaces to benefit both current and future residents.
Viable
Capable of working successfully; feasible.
The proposal is viable as it provides a practical solution to the problem.
Sustainable
Related to supporting sustainability in various sectors and systems.
They adopted sustainable practices in their manufacturing processes to reduce waste.
Viable
Practically applicable or executable within current conditions.
The plan needs to be viable under the current economic climate.
Sustainable
Capable of being sustained.
Viable
Capable of success or continuing effectiveness; practicable
A viable plan.
A viable national economy.
Sustainable
Capable of being continued with minimal long-term effect on the environment
Sustainable agriculture.
Viable
Capable of living, developing, or germinating under favorable conditions
Viable spores.
Sustainable
Able to be sustained.
Viable
Capable of living outside the uterus. Used of a fetus or newborn.
Sustainable
Able to be produced or sustained for an indefinite period without damaging the environment, or without depleting a resource; renewable.
Sustainable economy
Viable
Able to live on its own (as for a newborn).
Sustainable
A renewable energy source.
Viable
Able to be done, possible, practicable, feasible.
A viable option
Sustainable
Capable of being sustained or maintained; as, the action is not sustainable.
Viable
Capable of working successfully
Sustainable
Capable of being sustained
Viable
(biology) Able to live and develop.
Viable
(biology) An organism that is able to live and develop.
Viable
Capable of living; born alive and with such form and development of organs as to be capable of living; - said of a newborn, or a prematurely born, infant.
VIABLE, Vitae habilis, capable of living. This is said of a child who is born alive in such an advanced state of formation as to be capable of living. Unless be is born viable he acquires no rights and cannot transmit them to his heirs, and is considered as if he had never been born.
Viable
Capable of being done with means at hand and circumstances as they are
Viable
Capable of life or normal growth and development;
Viable seeds
A viable fetus
Common Curiosities
Is sustainable always environmentally focused?
Yes, sustainability is typically focused on environmental balance, but it also includes economic and social dimensions to ensure overall long-term viability.
Can a viable business model be unsustainable?
Yes, a business model can be viable in the short-term yet unsustainable if it relies on depleting resources or harming the environment.
Why is viability important in project management?
Viability is crucial in project management to ensure that projects are practical, executable, and likely to succeed within the given constraints and resources.
What is the role of technology in enhancing sustainability?
Technology plays a critical role in enhancing sustainability by providing innovative solutions that minimize waste and energy consumption while maximizing resource efficiency.
How do sustainable practices impact profitability?
Sustainable practices may reduce profitability in the short term due to higher initial costs but can lead to greater long-term savings and benefits.
How do sustainable and viable strategies overlap?
Sustainable and viable strategies overlap when a plan not only meets environmental and social standards for long-term operation but is also immediately executable and economically feasible.
What does sustainable mean in environmental terms?
In environmental terms, sustainable refers to practices and methods that do not deplete resources or harm ecological systems, thus ensuring their availability for future generations.
What are key indicators of sustainability in a project?
Key indicators include the efficient use of resources, minimal environmental impact, and the ability to operate over the long-term without depleting natural resources.
Can viability evolve into sustainability?
Yes, a strategy initially focused solely on viability can evolve into sustainability as it incorporates more long-term environmental and social considerations.
How do regulations affect the viability and sustainability of a project?
Regulations can impact both the viability and sustainability of a project by imposing standards that require sustainable practices, which may also align with making a project economically viable through compliance and market advantage.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
