This document discusses the environmental constraints on business and arguments for and against adopting environmentally friendly business strategies. It notes that businesses face a dilemma of whether to implement "green" policies that incur costs or maintain low costs. Arguments for going green include gaining promotional advantages, appealing to environmentally conscious consumers, and avoiding penalties for pollution. However, others argue that maintaining low costs through less environmentally friendly practices can provide marketing advantages through lower prices. The document also discusses environmental and social audits businesses conduct to measure their impacts and pressures from groups trying to influence policies.
This document discusses the environmental constraints on business and arguments for and against adopting environmentally friendly business strategies. It notes that businesses face a dilemma of whether to implement "green" policies that incur costs or maintain low costs. Arguments for going green include gaining promotional advantages, appealing to environmentally conscious consumers, and avoiding penalties for pollution. However, others argue that maintaining low costs through less environmentally friendly practices can provide marketing advantages through lower prices. The document also discusses environmental and social audits businesses conduct to measure their impacts and pressures from groups trying to influence policies.
This document discusses the environmental constraints on business and arguments for and against adopting environmentally friendly business strategies. It notes that businesses face a dilemma of whether to implement "green" policies that incur costs or maintain low costs. Arguments for going green include gaining promotional advantages, appealing to environmentally conscious consumers, and avoiding penalties for pollution. However, others argue that maintaining low costs through less environmentally friendly practices can provide marketing advantages through lower prices. The document also discusses environmental and social audits businesses conduct to measure their impacts and pressures from groups trying to influence policies.
This document discusses the environmental constraints on business and arguments for and against adopting environmentally friendly business strategies. It notes that businesses face a dilemma of whether to implement "green" policies that incur costs or maintain low costs. Arguments for going green include gaining promotional advantages, appealing to environmentally conscious consumers, and avoiding penalties for pollution. However, others argue that maintaining low costs through less environmentally friendly practices can provide marketing advantages through lower prices. The document also discusses environmental and social audits businesses conduct to measure their impacts and pressures from groups trying to influence policies.
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BUSINESS STUDIES
PRESENTATION Environmental Constraints on Business Activity
THE ENVIRONMENT AND CSR
When a business accepts its ethical and lawful
obligations to shareholders and stakeholders it accepts CSR (corporate social responsibility). Environmental issues such as air, noise, and water pollution caused by business expansion, transportation, and production mutually in all three cases are of growing worry to the government and public. Firms main dilemma _ should green policies be brought in and their expenses tolerated, or, should they maintain or target lowest possible average cost?
ARGUMENTS FOR ADOPTING ENVIRONMENTALLY
FRIENDLY BUSINESS STRATEGIES
Businesses that use green equipment and recycling
rather than non-renewable resources gain promotional advantage in the form of publicity. Consumers with environmental concerns grow in number and will support such business by purchasing more products and becoming brand-loyal. Strategy must be original, however. If it is found to be plain window-dressing it will suffer negative publicity and possibly huge setbacks in achieving profit or turnover targets. Companies that damage the environment by, for e.g. locating a factory in a populated area with no consideration for possible inconveniences will face the opposite effect. Customers may also boycott products.
Methods causing minimal pollution will prevent
businesses from illegally harming environment and receiving large court penalties. Firms may receive more and better applications from potential workers. Labour force would prefer to be employed by an organisation they will be proud to work for and which epitomizes their standards. Long term financial benefits may be enjoyed by consuming renewable power supplies. Solar power is costly to generate, however if prices for non renewable resources increase, business could gains substantial cost savings. Considering external costs would help firms avoid penalties like pollution permits or health compensations (in these cases they would become private costs).
ARGUMENTS AGAINST ADOPTING
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY BUSINESS STRATEGIES.
Keeping to the lowest possible costs may also include a
marketing advantage as there would be lower prices charged => increased sales and consumers will benefit_ despite the damage to the environment. Using green equipment will lower profits and restrain future investment. In some countries (like ours) environment is not given much regard by the law so legal action against harmful business activity will be unlikely. Additionally other countries favour economic development over environmental protection and say that businesses will give more benefits by producing cheaply rather than if they are coerced into the latter.
ENVIRONMENTAL AUDITS
These judge the effect of a businesss
activities on the environment. It would check 1) pollution levels 2) wastage levels 3) energy use 4) transport use 5) recycling rates And compare these with other businesses, targets and years. These are published for favorable consumer reaction.
SOCIAL AUDITS
These audits are reports of the business effect
on society. They may cover pollution level, source of ethical supplies, customer and employee satisfaction, health and safety record and community contribution, together with targets to be reached to improve firms CSR. These are used to identify anti social behaviour to root it out and for increasing publicity. Evaluation: Audits may not be taken seriously unless it is agreed what they should include and how they are confirmed.
There is accusation of window dressing where the
intent was to hide unethical policies. These practices will be very time consuming and may not give much return on the effort to small businesses.
PRESSURE GROUPS (ENDING)
These are organisations created by people
with a common interest or aim who put pressure on businesses and governments to change policies so that an objective is reached. They want the three parties; governments, businesses and consumers to change legislation, policies and consumption habits to suit their purposes. They would want cooperating businesses to see an increase in sales and vice versa.
They will achieve these goals using the following;
Publicity through media coverage; Through display mediums and press releases, giving details of undesirable business activity and coverage at direct action events such as meetings will keep the campaign familiar to the public. Influencing consumer behaviour: If the pressure group manages to make a difference in the consumer purchasing pattern_ stopping the sales of a certain company for long enough then the commercial case for changing policy will be much more effective. Lobbying of government: This would require putting government ministers under pressure to change legislation. If the government is likely to face negative publicity due to refusal the pressure groups demands may be met.