The Sustainable Enterprise: Integrating Science and Business Models of

Background ? Secondary lead smelters (SLS) represent an environmentally-challenging industry as they deal with toxic substances posing potential threats to both human and environmental health, consequently, they operate under strict government regulations. Such challenges have resulted in the significant reduction of SLS plants in the last three decades. In addition, the recycling of lead has been on a steep decline in the past ten years although the amount of lead recovered has remained virtually unchanged. Therefore, one may wonder whether sustainable development can be achieved among SLS.

Objectives and Specific Aims ? The primary objective of this study was to determine whether a roadmap for sustainable development can be established for SLS. The following aims were established in support of the study objective: (1) to document the challenges and opportunities for the U.S. secondary lead smelting industry; (2) to conduct a systematic review and a critical appraisal of models of sustainable systems with a particular emphasis on SLS; and (3) to determine the potential for a sustainable development roadmap for SLS.

Methods ? An evidence-based methodology was adopted to achieve the study objective. A comprehensive electronic search was conducted to implement the aforementioned specific aims. Inclusion criteria were established to filter the scientific papers and reports. The relevant articles were closely scrutinized and appraised to extract the required information and data for the possible development of sustainable development roadmap.

Results and Discussion ? The search process yielded a number of research articles which were utilized in the systematic review. Two types of models emerged: management/business and science/mathematical models. Although the management/business models explored actions to achieve sustainable growth in the industrial enterprise, science/mathematical models attempted to explain the sustainable behaviors and properties of simple economic-ecological systems. In few cases, management models examined the behaviors of sustainable systems.

An integrated model has yet to be developed to synthesize the common and unique perspectives of different researchers within the context of the sustainable enterprise with a clear vision and objectives. Also, the mathematical representation of the sustainable enterprise arising from science models has to be established. In this regard, the interaction of models of resource competition (e.g., Tillman model) and predation (e.g., Lotka-Volterra model) should be explored to develop the best strategies for working towards the sustainable enterprise. Furthermore, one should take into account the joint optimization of environmental, economic and social dimensions of sustainability.

Concluding Remarks ? An environmentally-challenging industry such as secondary lead smelters requires a fresh look to chart a path towards sustainable development (i.e., survivability and purposive needs) for all stakeholders (i.e., industrial enterprise, individual stakeholders, and social/ecological systems). Such a path should deal with issues beyond pollution prevention, product stewardship and clean technologies.