2.2b Business and the Environment
Environmental Impacts of Business
Businesses can have a very harmful impact on the environment, including:
Creating waste
Rubbish from processing, or discarded by customers, can harm the environment
Traffic
Lorries delivering goods, staff getting to work, and customers create traffic congestion
Noise
Machinery, staff, customers, and logistics increase noise
Pollution
Harmful chemicals may be emitted into the air, water-courses, and soil
Sustainability
There is increasing concern about the damage we are doing to the environment.
Sustainability means not damaging the Earth for future generations, but still managing to provide for our needs environmentally and economically.
Reducing Environmental Impacts
To reduce their impact on the environment, businesses can:
- Reduce packaging used in their products, and insist suppliers use less too
- Use less materials in their products
- Recycle unwanted items, rather than just throwing them away.
- Properly dispose of hazardous waste
- Provide car-sharing and cycle-to-work schemes for staff
- Buy more efficient machinery to reduce energy costs and noise
- Insulate buildings against noise and temperature
- Filter waste gasses and liquids so they do not harm the environment
Being Environmentally Friendly
As customers become more aware of environmental impacts, they are increasingly choosing "green" companies
- Powerful marketing tool
- Attracts new customers
- Increases sales
- Customers may be willing to pay more
However, changing to environmentally-friendly working can be expensive and difficult to implement.
- New equipment is expensive
- Old equipment must be recycled
- New processes must be developed, which can be time-consuming and expensive
Test Yourself
Look at each of the following scenarios. How could the business be more environmentally-friendly? What are the pros and cons of your solutions?
A warehouse is using diesel-powered forklift trucks.
Answer
A factory is using electricity from coal-fired power stations.
Answer
A self-assembly furniture manufacturer photocopies product instruction manuals for its customers.
Answer
2.2a Ethics
2.3a The Economic Climate
