The following examples illustrate that sustainability can be very tedious in day-to-day business. In this respect there is no difference to other parts of economic and social life.

Companies must be economical, otherwise they will not exist for long. But they can generate competitive advantages by making products, supply chains and processes more sustainable.

Social enterprises and NGOs regard themselves as "the good guys". But that is not enough. They also need efficient working structures and processes if they want to be among the winners in the race for donations and grants in the long term.

Regardless of their legal form, water companies are confronted with numerous conflicts of use. Their sustainable services are often not sufficiently understood or valued and therefore hindered.

Administrations often struggle with specifications that are not technically but politically motivated.

Banks, insurance companies and investors lack established standards for decision-making when investing in sustainable projects.

Despite good preparation, many projects fail due to a multitude of everyday problems and unforeseen influences.

The classic sustainability triangle is a good guiding principle. However, there are many emotional, economic, legal, and political barriers between lofty goals and constraints in the real world.