Government and Business on the Global Context (Term Paper Sample)

HOW CORPORATIONS ARE TAKING ACTION TO ADRESS ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES AND THE DIFFICULTIES THEY CONFRONT IN DOING SO
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Abstract
The report is bout actions taken by the corporate organization to address environmental challenges and the difficulties they encounter in doing so. The report begins by giving a brief preview of common environmental problems experienced across the globe. The report then highlights the efforts made by corporate organizations in tackling the challenges. The report explains how the efforts pursued by the corporate organizations have given positive outcomes in addressing environmental challenges such as poor waste disposal. The report then identifies the major challenges organizations face while addressing environmental challenges. The challenges identified range from resource constraint to poor legislation. The report further acknowledges how incorporating technology in organization solutions has made it easier to address environmental concerns. The report then concludes by giving recommendations on how best corporate organizations can tackle the challenges facing them to deal with environmental concerns efficiently
Table of Contents
Introduction……………………………………………………………………..4
Actions taken to address environmental challenges…………………………..4
Reducing consumption of natural resources…………………………..4
Minimize the use of non-renewable or scarce resources……………...5
Use of renewable resources and available resources…………………..5
Minimize hazardous substances…………………………………………6
Use environmentally friendly packaging……………………………….7
Responsible waste management process………………………………...7
Research and Development of new eco-efficient technologies………….7
Diffusion of new eco-efficient technologies in the market………………8
Protecting Biodiversity…………………………………………………….8
Protecting wellbeing……………………………………………………….9
Supply chain management and green purchasing………………………..9
Reducing exposure to toxic chemicals…………………………………….10
Difficulties they confront while addressing the issues……………………………11
Reduction in profit margin………………………………………………..11
Lack of proper legislation………………………………………………….11
Lack of cooperation on the global scale…………………………………..12
Logistical challenges………………………………………………………..12
High prices of final products………………………………………………13
Financial Crisis……………………………………………………………..13
Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………...13
Introduction
There are many environmental issues surrounding business operations in the world. It is the corporate social responsibility of corporate organizations to ensure the environment they operate in is safe. For the business to succeed it must improve on its relationship with the society and hence corporate organizations have no choice but take initiatives to tackle environmental issues. Many of the challenges affecting the environment today are directly related to industrial activities of many organizations (Dudek 2013). For example water pollution is an environmental concern related to careless waste disposal in rivers. On the other hand climate change is an environmental concern resulting from pressure exerted on natural resources by business organizations in search of raw materials. Corporate organizations have taken many initiatives to address environmental challenges. The initiatives undertaken are both technological and organizational solutions to promote improvements in environmental performance by targeting operations related to resource transformation (Sarkar 2010). The actions undertaken are discussed below.
Actions taken to address environmental challenges
Reducing consumption of natural resource
First organizations reduce the consumption of natural resources. Excessive consumption of natural resources as raw materials exposes the environment to the danger of pollution. Water is a perfect example of a natural resource many organizations rely on to facilitate their daily operations (Jothi 2010). Water can act as a solvent in production or rather be used for cleaning purposes in a manufacturing plant. Furthermore, water is used to cool machines after long hours of operation. The same resource is relied on by farmers for irrigation and the same time expected to support aquatic life (Chien & HO 2011). Corporate organizations recognize the scarcity of water and hence adopt innovation that uses less water in operating the machines. For instance, many producers initially relied on water to cool their machines but they are adopting alternative ways to reduce water consumption by their organizations. That helps reduce pressure on water and leads to the sustainable environment.
Minimize the use of non-renewable or scarce resources
Organizations are also reducing the consumption of scarce raw materials to avoid depletion that can cause harm to the environment. For instance paper, milling firms have reduced the consumption of trees in producing papers and instead resorted to the production of tree-free paper (Fei, Guliang & Young 2012). The paper and card products are made without using wood fibers and are based on vegetable residues. Seaweed, the residues from processing corn, orange, lemons, wheat and sugar beets are converted into flours for the paper without using chemical products and without the formation of residuals (Harlajtis 2014). For example, with surpluses of sugar beet Safini created the Sugar Paper. Furthermore, with the residues of the squashing citrus fruits Favini has created the Orange Paper and Integral Mais Paper with corn-cob and bran flour. That has helped to address the effects caused to the environment by overconsumption of trees by paper millers.
Use of renewable resources and available resources
Corporate organizations have adopted the use of renewable resources that are readily accessible to sustain the environment. For instance Most power generating firms are increasing electricity from the wind and solar to ease pressure on water resources (Kolk, Lindeque & Buuse 2014). Power generated from water sources interferes with aquatic life and hence the efforts to harness more power from solar and the wind will result in environmental sustainability (Silagadze 2013). Most corporate organization are also adopting the use of electricity instead of oil products in their as their source of energy. Petroleum products cannot be renewed and furthermore, the consumption of petroleum has adverse effects right away from the drilling process, transportation to consumption.
The drilling of petroleum products interferes with the normal landscape and exposes land to possible effects of earthquakes. The transportation of the product experiences spillages over the sea water leading to the death of aquatic life and eventually its consumption in vehicle exposes a man to breathing problems through harmful emissions. The breathing complications in return affect the human capital and hence interfere with the production process (Vance, Chow, Paik & Shin 2013). For that reason, corporate organizations charged with the responsibility of generating energy have continually increased generation of clean and renewable energy in efforts to reduce consumption of petroleum products to save the environment from further degradation.
Minimize hazardous substances
Most corporate organization are also adopting the use of electricity instead of oil products in their as their source of energy. Petroleum products cannot be renewed and furthermore, the consumption of its products has adverse effects on the environment (Babin, Briggs & Nicholson 2011). Diesel and petrol, for instance,...