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Environment and business are inextricably linked. Today, the air we breathe and the water we drink are not strictly environmental issues, they are business issues as well. Companies are feeling the heavy pressure to develop environmental policies and objectives. In fact, more and more consumers are now demanding companies to take an active part in protecting the environment. Fortunately, the protection and preservation of the environment is currently a priority for many companies.

Sustainable development

The initiatives of implementing environmental policies are largely based on the concept of sustainable development. The World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) defines sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations to meet their own needs”. At its core, this concept advocates the type of development that occurs in a manner that does not compromise the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. As members of the present generation, we hold the earth in trust for future generations.

Environmental Management System

Once considered as a financial burden, environmental programs are now viewed as providing competitive advantages and business opportunities to industries that implement such strategies. The environmental management system (EMS) is one of the most recognized tool worldwide for managing an industry’s environmental affairs. Basically, It is part of an organization’s overall management system for the development, implementation, review, and maintenance of environmental policies.

A well-designed and effectively implemented EMS can help a business to contribute to a better environmental auditing process, enable directed and effective environmental goal-setting, guarantee balanced views  in every aspect of operations, and come up with a proactive approach to managing the environment.

Eco-efficiency

In 1992, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) stimulated world interest in applying sustainability principles to businesses. The conference came up with Agenda 21, which contained a major chapter on the role of businesses in sustainable development. For its part, the Business Council for Sustainable Development (BCSD) committed itself to help implement Agenda 21 and developed the concept of eco-efficiency. According to BCSD, in order to achieve eco-efficiency, businesses need to:

1. Reduce the material and energy intensity and increase the service intensity of goods and services;

1. Ensure the recyclability of materials;

1. Reduce the dispersion of hazardous materials;

1. Ensure that the products are durable; and

1. Maximize the sustainable use of renewable resources.

Environment-friendly supply chain

There are many ways that businesses can contribute to improve environmental conditions. One way is through an ecologically friendly logistics, the work required to move and position inventory throughout a supply chain. The mounting concerns about climate changes and the impacts of air, ground, and water pollution from business activities have significantly expanded the interaction between environmental management and operations, leading to the area called “reverse logistics”.

The Reverse Logistics Executive Council defines reverse logistics as: “the process of planning, implementing, and controlling the efficient, cost-effective flow of raw materials, in-process inventory, finished goods, and related information from the point of consumption to the point of origin for the purpose of recapturing value or of proper disposal”.

 

© Sciencetips 2008