Sustainability: Ethical and Social Responsibility Dimensions

Question 1

Defining Sustainability

Answer 1

Sustainability, from a strategic business perspective
 Is the potential for the long-term well-being of the natural environment, including all biological entities

 As well as the mutually beneficial interactions among nature and individuals, organizations, and business strategies Sustainability can have different definitions in different cultures

Question 2

Global Environmental Issues

Answer 2

 Atmospheric
 The most far reaching and controversial issues relate to the air we breathe
 Water
 All businesses must think about water conservation, purification and allocation
 Land
 Businesses have an ethical responsibility to minimize their harmful impact on the land

Question 3

Atmospheric Issues

Answer 3

 Most scientists believe our concentration of
greenhouse gases accelerates global warming, a natural phenomenon
 The Kyoto Protocol was an international treaty to address greenhouse gas emissions
 While it failed, it led to other initiatives, recently the Doha Gateway Agreement
 Some countries have implemented cap-and-trade programs for coal burning, the dirtiest form of energy

Question 4

Facts About Water Pollution

Answer 4

1. Up to 90 % of wastewater in developing countries flow untreated to rivers, lakes and
   coastal zones.
2. Many industries such as leather and chemicals are moving from high-income countries to emerging market economies where pollution laws are not enforced.
3. Every day, 2 million tons of untreated human waste is put into some water source.
4. In developing countries, 70 percent of industrial waste is dumped untreated into water sources.
5. Projected increases in fertilizer use for food production and in wastewater effluents over the
   next three decades suggest there will be a 10 % to 20 % global increase in nitrogen water contamination.
6. Common organic water pollutants include detergents, disinfection by-products, food processing waste, insecticides and herbicides, petroleum hydrocarbons, Volatile organic compounds, chlorinated solvents, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs), trichloroethylene, and perchlorate
7. Common inorganic water pollutants include acidity caused by industrial discharges, ammonia from food processing waste, chemical waste as industrial byproducts, fertilizers containing nutrients, heavy metals from motor vehicles, and acid mine drainage.
8. Macroscopic pollution (large visible items polluting the water) include urban storm water, marine debris, trash or garbage, nurdles (small ubiquitous waterborne plastic pellets), shipwrecks, and large derelict ships.

Question 5

Land Issues

Answer 5

 Land pollution
 Waste management
 Deforestation
 Urban sprawl
 Biodiversity
 Genetically modified organisms

Question 6

Natural Environment Issues

Answer 6

 Responses of Governments in Canada
 Canadian Environmental Protection Act (Federal
government)
 Air Quality Legislation (Provincial governments)
 Water Quality Legislation (Federal government)
 Canada Water Act
 Fisheries Act
 Navigable Waters Protection Act
 Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act
 Canada Shipping Act
 Dominion Water Power Act
 Land-Related Legislation

Question 7

Two Views of Environmentalism

Answer 7

 Standard Environmentalism

 Market Environmentalism

Question 8

Natural Environment Issues

Answer 8

 Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies
 CERES Principles:
 Protection of the biosphere
 Sustainable use of natural resources
 Reduction and disposal of waste
 Energy conservation
 Risk reduction
 Safe products and services
 Environmental restoration
 Informing the public
 Management commitment
 Audits and reports

Question 9

Green Marketing

Answer 9

 Green Marketing is a strategic process involving stakeholder assessment to create long-term relationships with customers, while maintaining, supporting and enhancing the natural environment

 Firms that want to become sustainability leaders should embed sustainability into their values, norms
and beliefs

Question 10

Recycling Initiatives

Answer 10

 Recycling is the reprocessing of materials for reuse
 Especially steel, aluminum, paper, glass, rubber and some plastics
 Some companies and local governments are finding ways to recycle water

Question 11

Risk Analysis

Answer 11

 Risk analysis assesses the environmental
risks associated with business decisions
 Difficult to measure costs/benefits of decisions
 High commitment companies must evaluate the latest information and maintain communication with
stakeholders
 These companies incorporate new information
and insights into the strategic planning
process

Question 12

 Five levels

Answer 12

 Compliance-driven- A minimalist approach
 Profit-driven- a tactical approach
 Caring- an accommodating approach
 Synergetic- collaborative
 Holistic- visionary