How environmental considerations influence business activity
Any business activity will have an impact upon the The immediate surroundings in which people live, or the natural world such as the land, air or water., either through the Minerals that have been made through the formation of the world that can be used for human benefit. that it uses or the In chemistry, these are by-products in a chemical reaction formed as well as the desired product. They are described as waste products if no use can be found for them. In general terms, they can be unwanted or unusable material, including household rubbish, hazardous materials (eg toxic waste) or bodily materials (eg urine or faeces). that it produces.
A business can carry out a An assessment of a business鈥 activities its impact on the environment. in order to measure the environmental impact of its activities. For example, this may involve measuring its A measure of how much carbon is used through the activities of a person, company or country.. The four main environmental issues that are most likely to influence the activities of a business are climate change, pollution, sustainability and waste reduction.
Climate change
The long-term alteration of weather patterns. refers to long-term changes to weather patterns. Scientists believe that business activity contributes to The rise in the average temperature of the Earth's surface. through the burning of Natural, finite fuel formed from the remains of living organisms, eg oil, coal and natural gas. and the cutting down of trees.
Pollution
Contaminating the air, water or ground with harmful substances. commonly refers to the contamination of air or water with harmful chemicals. Air pollution can cause a number of health-related issues, and animals and plants that live in seas and rivers are affected by water pollution. Business activity may also cause disturbance through noise pollution.
Sustainability
Working in a Meeting the needs of today, while also ensuring future generations can be provided for. way means that business activity does not use up or destroy natural resources. To achieve this, a business may use Power that is generated using natural resources that will not run out, eg wind and wave power., recycle materials such as paper and ink cartridges, or use devices that save energy and water.
Waste reduction
Traditionally, waste has either been Burned, particularly at a high heat. or sent to Places where refuse is buried underground.. However, these are not environmentally friendly ways of dealing with waste.
Instead, businesses can reduce the amount of waste that they produce, which reduces costs and means that there is less waste to dispose of. Many businesses also look for ways in which waste materials can be reused.
The advantages of being environmentally friendly
Being environmentally friendly can bring a number of benefits. For example:
- Money given by the government or organisation to help a business keep the price of a product or service low. and Money given to help a person or company that does not have to be paid back. Governments may give grants to encourage businesses to set up in particular locations. 鈥 The government offers money to businesses willing to To put money into something in order to make a profit. in environmentally friendly production methods. This can help to reduce costs.
- Lower costs 鈥 Changes to business activities that lower a business鈥 impact on the environment can often also lower the business鈥 costs. For example, retailer Marks and Spencer has introduced driver performance software in its delivery vehicles that has reduced the consumption of fuel by 2.3 litres per hour.
- Increased sales 鈥 Concerned customers who are very aware of environmental issues are more likely to buy from businesses that act in an environmentally friendly way.
The disadvantages of being environmentally friendly
For a business, there may also be disadvantages to being environmentally friendly. For example:
- Increased costs 鈥 Producing goods in an environmentally friendly way can often mean spending more money initially, as it can require research and investment in new production methods.
- Time consuming 鈥 Becoming environmentally friendly can take up a lot of time, particularly in large businesses.
- Potential for inaccurate claims 鈥 A business that wants to use claims about its environmental efforts must make sure those claims are accurate. Inaccurate claims can cause significant damage to the reputation of a business.