Introduction
Global businesses are increasingly incorporating environmental protection in their operations. The increased adoption of environmental protection plans in businesses is credited to stringent environmental laws governing business operations. In addition, workers and consumers are increasingly demanding provision of healthy and clean working environments and safer products from business entities (Berry & Rondinelli par.1). The current paper will focus on environment responsibilities within business settings. The essay supports the notion that businesses have a responsibility to maintain or improve the environment.
List of important points from articles related to the essay topic
- Businesses should create systems that make it simple for their employees to work in an environmentally friendly manner (Fahlquist 12).
- Businesses should conform to environmental laws to boost their corporate image and avoid non-compliance penalties (Berry & Rondinelli par.5).
- Businesses should strive to satisfy the safety concerns of workers through use of sound environmental systems (Berry & Rondinelli par.5).
- People desire optimum returns within the confines of the law (Hoffman 177)
- The use of clean technologies has the potential to cut production cost in businesses as well as meet the expectation of government regulators and other stakeholders.
An opinion as to why businesses should protect the environment
Many businesses are responsible for polluting the environment through discharge of untreated waste. Most of the raw materials used in production are obtained from nature. Unsustainable extraction of such resources results in degradation of our environment. Since businesses are responsible for polluting the environment, they should help in maintaining and protecting it. Many entrepreneurs view environmental management plans as costly ventures that raise their production costs. However, the cost of reducing environmental pollution is cheaper compared to legal costs associated with non-compliance to environmental laws. Adoption of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy may help business increase their profit margin as well as protect the environment. In addition, businesses have a responsibility to ensure that they maintain a pollution-free work environment. The right of workers to a safe and healthy working environment should be upheld.
Businesses should embrace clean technologies that will cut waste and reduce environmental pollution. In addition, business should integrate management principles that lower production costs and reduce waste into their environmental management systems. Finally, businesses should adopt environmental management and quality management systems and integrate them into their business strategy. Businesses should ensure that their environmental management systems are up to international standards. Therefore, they should seek accreditation from global certification organizations such as International Standard Organization (ISO). Businesses with accredited environmental management systems have a competitive advantage where consumers demand eco-labeled commodities (Berry & Rondinelli par.13).
Conclusion
Conclusively, businesses have a responsibility to promote or improve the environment. Businesses pollute the environment through discharge of waste to the environment. Therefore, they should take responsibility for their actions and mitigate the environmental damage. Adoption of clean energy sources such as solar and wind energy can help cut business costs as well as promote a clean environment. In addition, businesses must uphold the right of their workers to a safe and healthy work environment. Finally, businesses should strive to integrate their business strategies with sound environmental management systems. The environmental management systems preferred must be up to internationally recognized standards such as ISO. Businesses should seek accreditation for their environmental management systems from internal standard organizations. Accreditation will boost the competitive ability of businesses especially where consumers demand eco-labeling of commodities.
Works Cited
Berry, Michael and Dennis Rondinelli.n.d. Proactive corporate environmental management: A new industrial revolution. n.d. Web.
Fahlquist, Jessica, “Moral Responsibility for Environmental Problems—Individual or Institutional?” J Agric Environ Ethics. (2008):1-16. Web.
Hoffman, Michael, “Business and Environmental Ethics” Business Ethics Quarterly. 1. 2 (1991): 169-184.Web.