To implement a sustainable approach to business, the organisation first needs to understand the true definition of 'sustainability'. When translated to terms applicable to local government or private enterprise, 'sustainability' is about an organisation implementing programs that allow it to pursue its traditional financial and business objectives, while at the same time minimising its impacts to the environment, improving staff and community safety, and enhancing relationships with stakeholders such as residents, local business and government. The only way to implement a sustainable approach to operations is to do it strategically... ...by implementing an integrated sustainability management system that allows the organisation to achieve sustainability in a planned, proactive, coordinated way. An effective integrated system is one that merges all existing environment, safety, community and staff programs into a single management framework. This framework is in turn built into the core management systems of the organisation, to form a single management approach to all aspects of its operations. Without an overarching management framework or system in place to implement sustainability, the likelihood of the organisation experiencing long-term financial and other returns from its sustainability programs is remote. The most important thing an organisation can do when developing its integrated system is to first identify what systems it has in place already. Most organisations already have 70-80 percent of required components in place to develop an integrated sustainability management system. The key is to first conduct an effective review to identify these components. Completing a thorough review of the existing frameworks, systems and processes already in place within your organisation will enable you to focus on 'filling the system gaps' and bringing all systems together to form an integrated framework. Careful planning must be balanced by on-the-ground action. Many organisations spend excessive time mapping out in minute detail how they plan to implement a sustainable approach to their operations. While forward planning is good, it needs to be balanced by on-the-ground action so stakeholders can quickly see the benefits sustainability can deliver. The integrated management system is the tool to identify, manage and monitor the actual projects that will deliver triple bottom line performance improvement. The system implementation should therefore commence immediately so appropriate projects can be identified and launched as soon as possible. Implementing a strategic approach to sustainability requires more business expertise, and less expertise in the technical elements of environmental, scientific or social issues. To effectively implement an integrated approach to management, incorporating triple bottom line considerations, the organisation does not need environmental, safety or other issues-specific specialists. Rather, it needs to draw on the services of business specialists who understand how strategic business performance works. This is because a strategic approach to achieving sustainability in an organisation is 90 per cent about business frameworks, and 10 per cent about actual environmental, scientific or social technical detail.