Sustainability: What exactly is it, anyway? A simple question over dinner tonight sparked an unexpected debate. Ask five people how to define sustainability and you’re sure to get five different answers. Some equate it only to environmental issues. But it really is so much more.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, sustainability is “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Webster’s says sustainability relates to “a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged.”

Sustainability really encompasses environmental, social and economic factors–all equally important, particularly in today’s society. It’s not just about protecting the environment, even though that’s where the concept began. So, what’s your definition?