BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTAL

RESPONSIBILITIES: THE
SUSTAINABILITY
APPROACH
ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR
BUSINESS. UNDER THE ENVIRONMENTAL
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CORPORATES, IT
IS EXPECTED TO OPERATE IN A MANNER
THAT PROTECTS THE ENVIRONMENT.
GOING BEYOND BUSINESS ACTIVITIES
AND TAKING CARE OF THE
ENVIRONMENT CAN BRING BUSINESS
BENEFITS.
WHAT IS MEANT BY
ENVIRONMENTAL
RESPONSIBILITY?

Environmental responsibility noun [ C, usually

singular ] uk us ENVIRONMENT, SOCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY. the duty that a company has to
operate in a way that protects the environment:
Many institutional investors evaluate a company's
environmental responsibility before investing in its
stock.
WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTALLY
RESPONSIBLE?

Environmentally friendly or environment-friendly,

(also referred to as eco-friendly, nature-friendly, and
green) are sustainability and marketing terms
referring to goods and services, laws, guidelines and
policies that claim reduced, minimal, or no harm
upon ecosystems or the environment.
WHAT CAN BUSINESSES DO
TO HELP THE ENVIRONMENT?
1. Introduction. Acting in an environmentally responsible
way is a legal duty.
2. Being resource efficient. Being resource efficient can
help your business cut costs.
3. Saving energy checklist. Using energy more efficiently
will save your business money by cutting your energy bills.
4. Reducing water use.
5. Reducing packaging waste.
Example 1

IBM

CITIZEN IBM EMBODIES THE COMPANY’S DEDICATION TO CORPORATE

CITIZENSHIP. IBM SUPPORTS A WIDE RANGE OF EFFORTS FOR EDUCATION,
DISASTER RELIEF, DIVERSITY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, GLOBAL HEALTH,
AND MORE. THEIR APPROACH TO CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP ALIGNS WITH
THAT OF THEIR BUSINESS — “APPLIED TECHNOLOGY, CONTINUOUS
TRANSFORMATION, AND SUSTAINABLE CHANGE”.
IN 2016, THE WORLD COMMUNITY GRID COMBINED THE COMPUTING POWER
OF IDLE PCS AND MOBILE DEVICES ACROSS A WORLDWIDE NETWORK FOR
AN EQUIVALENT OF 167,000 YEARS OF COMPUTING TIME TO SUPPORT
PROJECTS SUCH AS CANCER TREATMENT RESEARCH.
Example 2

3M
WITH 90,000 EMPLOYEES, 3M HAS ADOPTED “SCIENCE APPLIED TO
LIFE” AS A TRADEMARK. IT’S 3MGIVESPROGRAM — WITH $67 MILLION
FUNDED IN 2016 — FOCUSES ON COMMUNITY AND THE
ENVIRONMENT, PLUS EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES THAT HELP BOOST
STUDENT INTEREST IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.
ONE PROGRAM, THE DISCOVERY EDUCATION 3M YOUNG SCIENTIST
CHALLENGE, ASKS STUDENTS FROM GRADES 5 TO 8 TO FIND
INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO EVERYDAY PROBLEMS, WITH TEN
FINALISTS OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH A 3M SCIENTIST
DURING A SUMMER MENTORSHIP.
 Example 3

APPLE
AS ONE OF THE WORLD’S LEADING TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES,
APPLE TAKES ITS GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY SERIOUSLY. ONE
ASPECT OF ITS SOCIAL INITIATIVES IS THE ENVIRONMENT,
ADOPTING A MISSION TO “ASK LESS OF THE PLANET”.
GREENPEACE HAS NAMED APPLE THE “GREENEST TECH
COMPANY IN THE WORLD” FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE YEARS.
NOT ONLY DOES THE COMPANY ENCOURAGE ITS IT PARTNERS
TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY, APPLE
PACKAGING IS NOW MANUFACTURED WITH 99 PERCENT
RECYCLED PAPER PRODUCTS.
DEFINITION OF SUSTAINABILITY
-The extent that an organization’s operations and
actions protect, mend, and preserve rather than
harm or destroy the natural environment.
-is the potential for long-term well being- of the
natural environment, including all biological entities,
as well as the interaction among nature and
individuals, organizations, and business strategies.
-includes the assessment and improvement of
business strategies, economic sectors, work
practices, technologies, and lifestyles while
maintaining the natural environment.
EXAMPLE 1
Dell
Dell has implemented the 2020 Legacy of Good Plan
as their commitment to “drive human progress”
through environmental sustainability, addressing
community challenges, global supply chain
responsibility, hiring diversity, and, ultimately, a
dedication to putting more back than they take out.
The Net Positive Project goal is, by 2020, to contribute
10x the good that it takes to create and use their
technology.
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF
ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY?

Definition of environmental sustainability. A

state in which the demands placed on the
environment can be met without reducing its
capacity to allow all people to live well, now
and in the future.
EXAMPLE 1
Starbucks
As a company established in the 1970s, Starbucks has always
operated with a sensitivity to social responsibility — committed to
sustainability and strengthening communities.
For example, the company has committed to providing one million
coffee trees to farmers as a partner in Conservation International’s
“Sustainable Coffee Challenge.” In addition, the company plans
to hire 10,000 refugees across 75 countries in the next five years,
plus, hire 25,000 veterans by 2025.
“ ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
• EMPLOYEES, CONSUMERS, GOVERNMENTS, AND SOCIETY ARE
ESPECIALLY RESENTFUL OF FIRMS THAT HARM RATHER THAN

”
PROTECT THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
• CONVERSELY PEOPLE TODAY ARE ESPECIALLY APPRECIATIVE OF
FIRMS THAT CONDUCT OPERATIONS IN A WAY THAT MENDS,
CONSERVES, AND PRESERVES THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY IN BUSINESS?

Environmental Sustainability. A guide to help you

make responsible decisions that will reduce your
business' negative impact on the Environment.
Environmental sustainability involves making
decisions and taking action that are in the interests
of protecting the natural world.
WHAT IS AN ENVIRONMENTALLY
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS?

Sustainable business, or a green business, is an

enterprise that has minimal negative impact on the
global or local environment, community, society, or
economy—a business that strives to meet the triple
bottom line. ... It has made an enduring commitment to
environmental principles in its business operations.
WHAT GREEN BUSINESS
MEANS?

Sustainable business, or a green business, is an

enterprise that has minimal negative impact on the
global or local environment, community, society, or
economy—a business that strives to meet the triple
bottom line. Often, sustainable businesses have
progressive environmental and human rights policies.
HOW CAN I MAKE MY
BUSINESS GREEN?
TRY THESE SIMPLE STEPS TO KICK OFF YOUR SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM.

-Make green thinking a part of your company culture.

-Change light bulbs.
-Eliminate plastic bottles.
-Do business with green vendors.
-Conserve human energy.
-Host a fundraising event.
-Recycle and reuse.
-Use green cleaning products.
 BE PROACTIVE, NOT REACTIVE
A proactive policy views environmental
pressures as opportunities and includes
such actions as developing green
products and packages, conserving
energy, reducing waste, recycling, and
creating a corporate culture that is
environmentally sensitive.
WHAT ARE SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS
PRACTICES?

A BUSINESS PRACTICE THAT IS ECONOMICALLY VIABLE,

SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY
FRIENDLY IS USUALLY REGARDED AS BEING SUSTAINABLE.
CORPORATIONS THAT INCLUDE SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE
AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND POLICIES AS CORE
ELEMENTS IN THEIR GROWTH STRATEGY VERY OFTEN
CREATE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC VALUES.
IMPORTANCE OF
ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY
1. ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION
2. SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
3. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
WHAT ARE EXAMPLES OF
SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES?
8 SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS PRACTICE
EXAMPLES
-Be Intentional About Sustainability.
-Partner with Employees.
-Water Conservation.
-Supply Chains.
-Develop a Recycling Program.
-Chemical Management.
-Purchase Only Energy Efficient Products.
-Develop Sustainability Work Policies.
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

- NATURAL
ENVIRONMENT

- BIODIVERSITY
FIVE PRINCIPLES OF A
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS

-DIVERSITY
-MODULARITY
-OPENNESS
-SLACK RESOURCES
-MATCHING CYCLES
“WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO UNLOCK TRILLIONS
OF DOLLARS THROUGH NEW MARKETS, INVESTMENTS
AND INNOVATION --- BUT TO DO SO, WE MUST
CHALLENGE OUR CURRENT PRACTICES AND ADDRESS
POVERTY, INEQUALITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL
CHALLENGES….”
BY PAUL POLMAN
UNILEVER CHIEF EXECUTIVE
THANK YOU….