At present, sustainability is a very popular topic in dialogues and agreements between countries and governments; However, few know clearly what its meaning and importance are.

Sustainability is really "a process" that aims to find a balance between the environment and the use of natural resources. Humanity in its passage through the planet has degraded natural resources in such a way that it is currently necessary to conscientiously seek and plan their consumption to guarantee their existence in future generations.

This concept arose in the year of 1987, when the World Commission on Environment and Development of the United Nations published the report "Our common future", which focuses on the idea of sustainable or sustainable development. However, this concept was actually adopted until 1992 by 180 Heads of State, in Rio de Janeiro, during the United Nations Conference on the environment and development. In this conference, 27 principles related to Sustainability are agreed upon, which are embodied in a global program known as Agenda 21.

There are different approaches to defining sustainability, the definition adopted by the World Commission on Environment and Development and formulated in 1987 in the same Brundtland report, "Our Common Future" is as follows:

"Sustainable development refers to the capacity that the human system has developed to meet the needs of current generations without compromising the resources and opportunities for growth and development of future generations."

The most comprehensive Swedish definition in defining a sustainable society is like that in which:

“Economic development, social welfare and integration are linked to a quality environment. This society has the ability to meet their current needs without harming the ability of future generations to meet theirs. ”

From an economic point of view, "Sustainability is the ability to achieve sustained economic prosperity over time while protecting the natural systems of the planet and providing a high quality of life for people."

All these definitions, from their different approaches, have in common environmental well-being to achieve a correct relationship between nature and its resources with the human race and its biological, economic and social needs.

The notion of sustainable development is still under construction, as it has been transcended and enriched, but it has also broken into pieces and has moved away from its roots.

The indiscriminate use of the term "sustainable" has caused the depletion of its original meaning, which has diluted its importance and made a rigorous analysis increasingly difficult.

Sustainability is of great importance since it is the total efficient and rational administration of all resources, so that it is possible to improve the welfare of today's society without compromising the quality of life of future generations.

The link between sustainable development, environmental protection and international trade is very close. The preservation of ecology and scientific advances have become some of the priorities of the members of the international community.