Influence: Environmental sustainability

Question 1

What is environmental sustainability?

Answer 1

Awareness of the negative effects of business operations on the environment has led to a call for businesses to adopt environmentally sustainable practices.
Environmental sustainability means that business operations should be shaped around practices that consume resources today without compromising access to those resources for future generations.

Question 2

What are the two main aspects of environmental sustainability?

Answer 2

There are two main aspects to environmental sustainability (ecological sustainability):
the sustainable use of renewable resources
a reduction in the use of non-renewable resources. The operations management function is significantly affected by the rise in climate change awareness and the need to integrate a long-term sustainable view of resource management into business planning and practice. 
This can be seen in the move by businesses to reduce and minimise waste; recycle water, glass, paper and metals, and reduce their carbon footprint.

Question 3

What is the Messina case study?

Answer 3

Styrofoam tubs - Individual’s can bring their clean Styrofoam tubs into the store for recycling. Crushed to be used in building projects, these vary from 30% up to 100% depending upon use

Ozharvest partnership - the Messina team has promoted the hashtag #mealforameal which turns food pictures into real meals for people in need

Food wastage - If a flavour does not sell out the company will give it ozharvest (prevents landfill)