Businesses Obligations with Respect to the Environment - Report Example

Businesses’ Obligations with Respect to the Environment Table of Contents Introduction 3 Case Presentation 4 ment 5 Views & Arguments 5 Case Utilization 7 Conclusion 9 References 10 Introduction Environment of any business organization depends upon the environment of the nations. It can be divided into two environment structures i.e. internal environment & external environment. Therefore there will be obligations of the business sectors on the external environment. Advantages and disadvantages are expected to erupt while setting up a business or an organization and maybe that can be related with political, national, international or local matters. Business environment should also look into all the matters that satisfy the needs of the consumers, migrants of that place, people who will be working within the organization with respect to the business values, ethics and etc. 1 In consideration to the business obligation and with respect to the environment, we will discuss the two cases which are the perfect examples to cite it on a broad sense. At the outset, “Save the turtles” case, would be analyzed where fishermen were at stake, as they depend on shrimping but it was harmful for the environment of endangered species that are at extinct. Obligation to shrimping business with respect to environment of the species beneath the water is discussed. In case of “Edible Carpets”, the owner utilized “Sustainable development” theories, where he balances both, the environment as well as his business. Case Presentation Taking into consideration the case, “Save the Turtles”, it would be prudent to state at the outset that in the year of 1973, ‘The Endangered Species Act’ was passed in Unite States, where it says to protect animal species that are threatened to be extinct. In the year of 1978, all the six species of turtles that were found in the sea of US were labeled to be threatened with further extinction. Population of sea turtles in North America declined due to butchering of nesting females, developing of beaches where the turtles bred, oil slicking, and etc. Kemp Ridley, one of the threatened species of sea turtle, declined from 40,000 in 1940 to near about 500 in 1980, due to the shrimp nets. Approximately 48,000 sea turtles are caught on shrimp trawlers each year and about 11,000 turtles die due to drowning. It is estimated that almost 10,000 turtles that die are Loggerheads and other 750 are Kemp Ridleys. The act of shrimping claims that the turtles are mostly dead due to pollution or diseases. The process known as by – catch, has become more of a problem. Shrimping industry provides jobs for people who are based in it in south eastern part of US. TED was formed where it can detect large number of species and through it they could catch. But the problem was that about 20% of catches missed out. Many of them refused to use TED because it was expensive, wasteful, dangerous and unnecessary. Many controversies erupted for the livelihood of those lives that had detailed provision as per the Act. Shrimpers were fighting for their lives for the depressing economy. Countries like China, Ecuador depends on shrimp farming, about 104 million pounds of shrimps are imported, through which it runs aqua culture. Statement The basic fact remains that the business organizations across the globe should have due consideration towards the social obligations. The companies should try to reduce the social cost through the measures like corporate social responsibilities. 2 “Sustainable development” should be introduced in each & every organisation, so as to balance the ecological balance and also the industry, as this is referred in both the cases. According to the Prime Minister Gro Bruntland of Norway sustainability, can be defined as the ability “to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. Views & Arguments People of North America mainly depend on shrimping or aquaculture. In terms of economical environment, about 104 million pounds of shrimps is imported. Politically, life of many people was hardened or made miserable due to laws and regulations enforced by the fisheries department due to unfair means of killing the species, but it also kills the natural environment beneath the water. In terms of cultural environment, many families were depended on such means since ages and they had no other means. Technically, TED ”which are about 3 feet in diameter, are dangerous, wasteful, expensive, and unnecessary” was not in use due to its numerous disadvantages primarily because of which the turtles or other species drown and die. So, taking into all the points, aquaculture should be maintained, along with some measures, which will be safe for the under living species and those people who are dependent on it. Considering the economic factors, very less amount of export was possible with respect to the amount of import. Laws and policies abide people and here TED was said to be used but at first it had technical problems, which was later rectified but due to some controversies regarding TED, shrimpers were depressed as they depended upon it. Technologically, TED devastated the environment of water, so shrimpers were claiming to introduce certain new technology which was not introduced. On the other hand, they were not let to use the nets. Population of turtles and other species were declining due to the unfair means, where there should be breeding those species who are threatened to be extinct. Henceforth, shrimpers should be abided by certain legal proceedings but it should not be such that they die of hunger and aquaculture would get ceased. People who are living on Shrimping are the main stakeholders as they are deprived of their work, due to the negligence of the fisheries board. Shrimpers had no other way as they are abided by law or they would be punished. Trawlers fisherman are also at stake but they are utilizing TED device. Shrimpers should attempt for collective bargaining for spending their livelihood. The fisheries department should also look into the welfare of the shrimpers, as they are depandant on it with some measures for the water environment so that the species donot get extinct. Case Utilization Business environments also dealt with “ecology” along with obligations. The Georgia based carpet manufacturing business known as Interface Corporation, believes in industrial ecology, for the standards of sustainable economy. It aims at having unconditional respect, dignity and helps to learn and develop more among the stake holders. It maximizes profit, maintaining a relationship with the people working within the organization, shareholders and others. Interface develops modern carpet tiles that can be replaced in modular sections. It produces a quality product and also fulfills the social responsibility by completing the consumer demands according to the trends in the market and the legal framework. Interface developed a carpet which is formed of petroleum based product and this carpet waste is toxic and non-bio-degradable, which results to environment’s disaster after a period of 20 years. Then looking into the ecological side, Anderson introduced sustainable business through sustainable development, taking into consideration the three sides of sustainability i.e. economically, ecologically & socially. This is done for profit maximization over the long period of years. The three major factors that are the major criteria of sustainable business to be connected are the poverty, inequality, uneven economical standards. It is the increase in population in undeveloped countries that results to poverty and unemployment. Moreover, the environment’s resources capacity of earth for manufacturing the products is also a vital consideration. Seven steps were introduced by Interface namely removal of waste, elimination of emitted particles, renewation of energy, close the cycle of material inflows, good communication, and etc. They manufacture easily recyclable carpets so as to balance ecologically. The company had plants in shanghai that does not erupt smoke, no danger to the environment, results to double savings in efficiency, creates huge employment and therefore maximizes profits. As per the company policies, no landfills will be there while recycling the carpets. Hence, forth the company is cleaning the world and not degrading the mother earth. In that case, taking “Save the turtles” case into consideration, Shrimpers as well as the Fisheries department should develop sustainable business by developing ecological balance with the shrimping as their business i.e. by developing relationship with the department. Some measures are to be taken so that the species who are going to be extinct shall also be safeguarded and not brutally killed. Like wise new advanced technology, cheap, & not harmful to the environment, type of equipments are needed to be invented for the benefit of the Shrimpers as well as the environment. Conclusion Before setting up an organization, one should always look into the external and internal environment, because this may be advantage or disadvantage for the organizations especially mainly the external factors. In case, the saving of environment becomes obligation for the organization, the question arises, if industrialization will not be carried forward. There has to be some measures to be initiated to keep the environment healthy, and also look into the serious concerns like increasing poverty and unemployment experienced in the developing countries due to huge population. So, sustainable developments should be initiated as one considers it, i.e. economically, ecologically & socially that will balance the economic standards of the people and the nations. The organization should also look into its profits, customer’s satisfaction, demand trends, but it should also emphasize into the ecological degradation, which affects the environment like that of global warming. If every organization looks into their own concern only, then it will take no less time to destroy, but on the other hand, if we can save same of our natural resources which are going to be extinct, or utilize it very less, then we can eliminate the toxicity emissions which are unhealthy for everyone. Industrialization is the essence but not at the cost of the society. References Friedman, Milton. “The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase its Profits”. University of Colorado. 1970. http://www.colorado.edu/studentgroups/libertarians/issues/friedman-soc-resp-business.html University of Miami. “Corporate Social Responsibility”. Ethics. No Date. http://www6.miami.edu/ethics/pdf_files/csr_guide.pdf Read More