This report includes broad topics such as how businesses are going greener and why they have chosen to become more environmentally friendly. Also including research about benefits, rewards and incentives that motivate companies to go green and which industry is putting in the most initiative to become eco-friendly and as conclusion we made some recommendations for the future.
In our report, we try to explain that the challenge of a sustainable society is to achieve a competitive and eco-efficient economy, combining increased productivity with less consumption of natural resources. It is all about preventing the over-exploitation of environmental resources, the underutilization of labour resources, and integrating the economy with environmental sustainability criteria. Furthermore our report is going to analyze businesses‘ green initiatives and the reasoning for them doing so.
The key question we try to answer is, how big of an impact are these initiatives actually having on the environment? To answer this question we analyzed articles and graphs related to environmental sustainability, governmental strategies and the impact of green businesses in order to suggest strategies to our businesses, such as tax incentives, trade agreements or export subventions on environmental friendly products.
It was fundamental to make some secondary research in order to answer our key questions. The well-being of our environment is a big issue today. We are on the verge of a climate change and the consequences if we do nothing to try to stop it may be severe. Not only is this an interesting topic but it needs to be more publicized. A lot of businesses are doing their part trying to help the world and they are using many different strategies to do so. This articles show us why and exactly how organizations are going about becoming eco-friendly and if their efforts are actually helping.
At a glance
- Grade: 1.3 (1.0 is the best grade)
- Company examples include Telus, Walmart Canada and Bombardier
- Worked emissions-trading example compares two companies’ allowance and reduction costs
- Examines Walmart’s distribution hub in Balzac, Alberta
- 20 sources in the bibliography
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Why Are Businesses Going Green?
2.1 Marketing Opportunities
2.2 Financial Benefits
2.3 Becoming a Good Global Citizen
2.4 Consumer’s Choice
2.5 Legal
3. How are Businesses Going Green?
3.1 Top Six Green Initiatives Used by Businesses
3.1.1 Energy Saving Training Programs
3.1.2 Reducing Amount of Light Used
3.1.3 Constructing Environmentally Friendly Buildings
3.1.4 Selecting Locations for Sustainable Buildings
3.1.5 Reducing Water Consumption
3.1.6 Promotion of Earth Day
3.2 Leading by Example – Canada’s Largest Companies’ Green Initiatives
3.2.1 Telus
3.2.2 Walmart Canada
3.2.3 Bombardier
4. What Benefits or Rewards are received for Going Green?
5. Green Effort’s Impact on the Environment
5.1 Background information about the environmental issues
5.2 Strategies to Reach the Environmental Goals
5.3 Emissions Trading
6. Conclusion
7. Recommendations Environmental Problems
Objectives and Themes
This report examines why businesses adopt environmentally friendly practices, how they put them into action, and what incentives and rewards encourage them. Its central question asks how much impact these initiatives have on the environment, drawing on secondary research into corporate practices, environmental trends and government strategies.
- Marketing, consumer demand and financial incentives
- Energy, water, waste and sustainable buildings
- Environmental initiatives at three Canadian companies
- Green business awards and benefits
- Climate policy and emissions trading
- Recommendations for consumers and businesses
Excerpt from the Book
Emissions Trading
Companies A and B both emit 100 000 tons of CO2 per year. Let us say their governments give each of them emission allowances for 95 000 tons, leaving them to find ways to cover the shortfall of 5 000 allowances. This gives them a choice between reducing their emissions by 5 000 tons, purchasing 5 000 allowances in the market or taking a position somewhere in between. Before deciding which option to pursue they compare the costs of each.
Let us imagine that the market price of an allowance at that moment is € 20 per ton of CO2. Company A calculates that cutting its emissions will cost it € 10 per ton, so it decides to do this because it is cheaper than buying the necessary allowances. Company A even decides to take the opportunity to reduce its emissions not by 5 000 tons but by 10 000. Company B is in a different situation. Its reduction costs are € 30 per ton, i.e. higher than the market prize, so it decides to buy allowances instead of reducing emissions.
Company A spends € 100 000 on cutting its emissions by 10 000 tons at a cost of € 10 per ton, but then receives € 100 000 from selling the 5 000 allowances it no longer needs at the market price of € 20 each. This means it fully offsets its emission reduction costs by selling allowances, whereas without the emissions trading scheme it would have had a net cost of € 50 000 to bear (assuming that it cut emissions by only the 5 000 tons necessary). Company B spends € 100 000 on buying 5 000 allowances at a price of € 20 each. In the absence of the flexibility provided by the ETS, it would have had to cut its emissions by 5 000 tons at a cost of € 150 000. Emissions trading thus brings a total cost‐saving of € 100 000 for the companies in this example. Since Company A chooses to cut its emissions (because this is the cheaper option in its case), the allowances that Company B buys represent a real emissions reduction even if Company B did not reduce its own emissions.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: Introduces environmental pressures and sets out the report’s questions about corporate motivations, practices, rewards and environmental impact.
Why Are Businesses Going Green?: Discusses marketing, financial incentives, social responsibility, consumer preferences and legal pressures as reasons for adopting greener practices.
How are Businesses Going Green?: Describes six types of business initiative and considers the practices of Telus, Walmart Canada and Bombardier.
What Benefits or Rewards are received for Going Green?: Examines business awards, tax incentives, waste management and the potential financial and reputational benefits of environmental initiatives.
Green Effort’s Impact on the Environment: Reviews climate-related concerns and environmental policy, including the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and an illustrative trading calculation.
Conclusion: Brings together the report’s discussion of corporate motivations, initiatives, incentives and environmental impacts.
Recommendations Environmental Problems: Presents suggestions for individual consumption and a hypothetical example of a business seeking to become greener.
Keywords
green business, environmental sustainability, corporate environmental initiatives, energy efficiency, sustainable buildings, water conservation, green marketing, tax incentives, Canadian companies, climate change, emissions trading, renewable energy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the report about?
It examines environmentally friendly business practices, the reasons companies adopt them and their potential environmental impact.
What are its central themes?
The report covers corporate motivations, practical initiatives, financial and reputational incentives, environmental challenges and climate policy.
What is the primary research question?
The central question is how much impact businesses’ green initiatives have on the environment.
What research method does the report use?
It uses secondary research, drawing on articles, company reports, environmental information and graphs.
What does the main body discuss?
It considers why and how companies go green, examples of Canadian corporate initiatives, awards and benefits, and environmental policies such as emissions trading.
Which keywords characterize the report?
Key terms include green business, sustainability, energy efficiency, green marketing, tax incentives, climate change and emissions trading.
Which companies are used as examples?
The report discusses Telus as a service business, Walmart Canada as a merchandising business and Bombardier as a manufacturing business.
How does the report explain emissions trading?
It uses a hypothetical example in which two companies compare the costs of reducing emissions with the costs of buying or selling allowances.
What practical initiatives does the report describe?
Examples include employee energy-saving training, reduced lighting use, sustainable building design and location, water conservation and Earth Day promotions.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Anonym (Autor:in), 2010, Going Green. Environmentally Friendly Business, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/284878
