Market
It is the utility rather than worshipping the market that provides the best approach for achieving desirable social goals, as well as for enhancing dynamism of the economy. Open, competitive, and rightfully owned international markets that function in accordance to legitimate comparative advantages are the ones that enhance sustainable development.
Both efficiency and innovation are encouraged in such markets, and these two are the key elements for human progress that is sustainable. Generally, business and entrepreneurship play a significant role in the creation of wealth for the sake of the entrepreneur and society although in most cases, new ventures do not succeed. Although performance and creation of wealth are not key to entrepreneurship as an area of research, it is a key paradigm in strategic management (Landstrom, 2009, p. 20).
However, there are societal choices that determine whether such wealth will result to poverty alleviation. Frameworks that encourage business enterprise rather than welfare strategies are what results to alleviation of poverty in certain countries. Through these enterprises, people are able to obtain jobs, investment opportunities and pensions that enable them build secure lives (Holliday, Schmidheiny and Watts, 2002, p. 40).
Markets are built by humans based on their values, norms, and laws. It is possible to improve the market. A free and equitable market should emanate from business. Denying market access to the poor people and nations is equivalent to destruction of not only the planet, but also the people. Although business leaders are often chided for not being able to create a global market that is free and fair, the business benefits in such a market are not so conspicuous. Generally, market can enhance sustainable development through ten ways.
- First, it facilitates utilization of resources
- Ensuring that most effective solutions have been delivered
- It encourages people to choose freely
- Through it competition comes about
- It encourages innovation
- Human creativity is enhanced through it
- Through it, flexibility is offered
- It encourages people to share information freely
- It promotes creation of wealth
- Quality of life is improved since markets generate opportunities.
Technological Development
The future of a business is dependent mainly on its innovation. To introduce something new is the actual meaning of innovation. Though it is part of the marketing orbit, all mangers ought to be engaged in it (Harte, 1997, p. 65). Due to its ability to determine the future of a business, a suitable approach can be used by a business to enhance sustainability.
Hence, initiatives of strategic innovation that seems to be the future investment of a company tend to be given priority even in funding than others that are not likely to serve the same purpose (Johnstone and Bate, 2003, p. 94). Thus, organizations have a duty of not only performing past duties in a new way, but also ensuring that consumers have been accorded value.
This situation is prevalent in island destinations where without the price competition among products, differentiation of tourism products can still be done. If the need of consumers is how some products enhance sustainability, then that is an opportunity for innovation. Alternatively, a reduction in the use of physical inputs of products will lead low costs and prices to the customer, which is recommended.
While development in technology is a new approach for promotion of sustainability, the potential that businesses have with regard to it still reveals the possible limitations of the approach at a wider level (Miller and Twining-Ward, 2005, p. 64).
Commoner-Ehrlich equation (I = P X C X T, where I is environmental Impact, P is amount of People, C, the amount they Consume and T, Technology available for managing the impacts) is used by Ekins to show a linear connection between technological development and sustainability. Since the model shows a linear relationship, the impact may be less or greater hence making the equation to be of little value.
Innovation at the market level is far beyond innovation at the product level. Key among the current developments is the carbon emission permits’ market that the which some credible sources reveal that it may form the basis for a global currency or may become the richest industry in coming years (Miller and Twining-Ward, 2005, p. 65).
Public Relations
Most companies often criticize the aspect of corporate responsibility as a merely public exercise devoid of any substance. There is a great difference between the internal actions of a company meant to enhance its improvements, as well as its external actions meant to elevate its profile and increase customers.
According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), what might risk the downplaying of the great work achieved by most companies is the imbalance of communication and actions rather than the absolute level of actions taken. What can effectively address this issue is monitoring since through it companies ca be able to verify the extent of any claims being made. Friedman’s approach to business can be adopted by a company through profit maximization.
However, if they disregard the importance of sustainability, then they should not profess it as suggested by the ABI approach. On the other contrary, a company that does not endeavor to enhance sustainability may feel to be on the right track when displaying its efforts. Research shows that this is dangerous.
After heightening their ethical stance, companies like Body shop have ended up being on the spot by NGOs and investigative journalists. This model has an interesting anomaly. For example, one of the clothing companies in the US that declines trading based on sustainability grounds.
This is because under monitoring, their production process results to some pollution and thus they cannot claim to be fully sustainable. Here, it is possible to remove the concept of sustainability from the public knowledge and thus doing away with why many good companies are taking action (Miller and Twining-Ward, 2005, p. 67).
Ecoefficiency
This refers to cost savings. It is an area where important contributions have been made by monitoring programs. Businesses are to focus on three issues here.
First, reducing waste by increasing operations in operations. Information Technology can be utilized through this resource use. Secondly, there should be movement towards a zero waste target through revalorization of products. For instance, waste products can be sold as fertilizers to the farmers though in doing the same, there should be alertness regarding the level of input required to produce this.
This approach is called closing production loops and is derived from the analogy of an ecosystem in which one process’ input forms another process’ output. The third strategy is the least researched on but focuses on the beginning of a production process with an aim of developing products that are not only new, but also ones that do not use much resources (Miller and Twining-Ward, 2005, p. 67).
The Right Framework
Sustainable development cannot be achieved in badly framed markets. Access to information, decision-making, and justice are the three preconditions for sustainable development as was signed by the convention by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe in 1998. The convention was a reflection of the 10th principle of Rio Development and Environment (Smith, 2003, p. 109). They also form the framework conditions for economic development.
These tend to attract investment and nations should not deny their citizens access to these conditions based on sex, religion and ethnicity. Many companies are embracing accountability and transparency and are expecting governments to do the same (Holliday, Schmidheiny and Watts, 2002, p. 59). In their pursuit for delivering sustainability, companies can get constrained by the policies and frameworks that govern the environment of operation.
The core objectives of optimum frameworks would be poverty and inequality reduction and ensuring better living standards within a system of governance that is open and accountable. A sustainable development market framework has various attributes. These are proper pricing, long-term planning strategies, public good delivery, effectiveness of the environment and cost, integration of policy, safety measures, international collaboration, openness, and being accountable.
A nation’s sustainable development strategy should be reflected by its market frame works. Most of the current regulatory and policy frameworks are outdated and do not serve the intended sustainability strategy but instead act as impediments to change.
To ensure that the market mechanism is fully utilized for development that is sustainable, the instruments should seek an establishment of individual security, liberty, democracy, and pricing of commodities. In 1994, de Andraca and McCready urged governments to integrate their sustainable development measures with market-based approaches that are flexible.
The market’s ability to deliver forms of production and consumption that were more environmentally sound was being hampered by persistent framework problems. Thus coming up with the right frameworks for market sustainability requires national governments to operate more efficiently at the local, national, regional, and global levels (Holliday, Schmidheiny and Watts, 2002, p. 60). Although the basic instruments of a sound policy and instrument mix, it enhances the complexity of both dovetailing and streamlining different tools.
A waste Management Plan
Assessment of produced Waste
A West Management Team is to be responsible in coming up with the West management Plan. Prior to coming up with the West management plan, the West management team is supposed to assess all the waste that is generated from the company.
Thus, coordination of such a survey and analysis of the results should fall under the docket of this team (World Health Organization, p. 51). The categorization of the waste should be according to the classification system laid down in the national guidelines. However, if such guidelines are not available, then it should be according to other available handbooks.
The survey should show the daily amount of waste that comes from each department of the company, while measures should be put in place to establish cases where the acceptable limit is exceeded. For example the case of the increase in demand for individual cars and spare parts resulting to further production and hence more waste should be noted. On the other hand, slack periods should also be taken into account.
These are the periods when unusual circumstances might lead to a decrease in the amounts of company waste. The results from the survey should assess the possibility of any future changes in the firm such as growth in the existing departments or establishment of new departments. An appropriate Waste Management Plan should therefore be developed based on the waste production survey (World Health Organization, 1999, p. 51).
The Waste Management Officer (WMO)
His responsibility is to ensure that the waste management system is operated and monitored at an ongoing basis. The WHO should report directly to the head of the organization. He is also supposed to coordinate with other departmental heads within the company to be familiarized with the appropriate methods of waste handling and disposal. With regard to the collection of waste, the WMO’s duties are first to ensure that the waste containers have been collected and taken to the central waste storage facility of the organization.
Secondly, he/she should coordinate with the supplies department to see to it that all containers that can be used to collect and dispose wastes are available. Thirdly, to ensure that the old bags and containers have been replaced with new ones, this should be done by the organization’s attendants. Fourth, to carry out direct supervision of the hospital attendants to ensure that waste has been collected and transported.
With respect to the waste storage, the waste management officer should ensure that the central storage facility has been used appropriately by locking and only accessed by the authorized members of staff. Additionally, he should ensure that there is no unsupervised dumping of waste products on the company grounds (Raman, 2007, p. 50).
Development of a Waste management Plan
During the development of a waste management plan, each member from the waste management team is supposed to review the existence of a waste management need in his or her respective areas of duties (Raman, 2007, p. 49). Their areas of duty are the different plans within the organization where the waste is generated due to the industrial activities there. The main departments are the design department, assembly department, testing department and the store.
The practices existing should then be assessed in view of the national guidelines on waste management and then the recommendations be passed to the West management Organization regarding how the guidelines are supposed to be implemented in every section.
The Waste management Organization should then come up with a draft discussion plan for the Waste Management Team based on the Waste generation recommendations and the survey that was handed them. Details of the new waste management system should be included in this discussion document as outlined. It should be partitioned into various sections addressing several issues such as:
- Current situation (Waste Management personnel, facilities, and skills available)
- Amount of waste generated by the firm
- Possible ways of minimizing, recycling and reusing company waste
- Segregation of waste
- Transport, storage and handling means present on-site
- Identification and assessment of options for waste treatment and disposal at both on-site and off-site
- Assessment and evaluation of associated costs
- Keeping of records
- Arrangements and need for training
- Actual and proposed estimates of waste management costs
- Plan implementation strategy
All members of the Waste Management Team and their staff should take part in the preparation of the draft discussion document. The discussion document should form the basis of the Waste management Plan and the Waste Management Team should then be given the same for approval.
Amendments can be made by the Waste Management Organization in view of the comments from the West Management Team. The West Management Plan should then be completed with a diagram that shows the structure of line management and paths of liaison, and the names and telephone contacts of personnel World Health Organization are responsible and can be contacted incase of emergency (World Health Organization, 1999, p. 52).
Implementation of the Waste Management Plan
This should be done by the Chief Executive Officer of the firm. First, the Waste management Team in Collaboration with the Waste Management Organization should come up with interim measures as a precursor to complete the actuation of the new waste management system. Secondly, there should be a provision for future enlargement of both the hospital and waste storage equipment.
Thirdly, there should be appointment of new personnel for the duties of waste management. Fourth, a training session for waste management should be arranged for all employees.
The waste management operators should undergo a training that entails three aspects: information regarding the handling of waste from the company, procedures for dealing with any accidents that may occur and guidelines regarding how protective clothing is to be used (Raman, 2007, p. 50). Fifth, after the first four actions have been carried out and the waste management equipment availed, the operations described in the Waste management Plan can now be implemented.
Sixth, a review of the Waste management Plan should be carried out yearly by the Waste Management Team. Necessary system upgrading and interim revisions should then be done where appropriate. Seventh, an annual record should be prepared annually to the national government agency responsible for disposal of industrial wastes with information on waste generation, its disposal, equipment, personnel involved and expenses (World Health Organization, 1999, p. 54).
Reference List
Harte, J.1997. Management Crisis and business revolution. NJ: Transaction publishers
Holliday, C., Schmidheiny, S. and Watts, P., 2002. Walking the Talk: The Business Case for Sustainable Development. San-Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
Johnstone, R. and Bate, D. 2003. The power of strategy innovation: a new way of linking creativity and strategic planning to discover great business opportunities. NY: AMACOM Books.
Landstrom, H., 2009. Pioneers in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Research. NY: Springer.
Miller, G. and Twining-Ward, L. 2005. Monitoring for a sustainable tourism transition: The challenge of developing and using indicators. Warlington, Oxfordshire: CABI Publishing
Raman. 2007. Going Green: A Manual of Waste Management for the Dental Students. New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers medical Publishers
Smith, G., 2003. Deliberative Democracy and the Environment. NY: Routledge.
World Health Organization. 1999. Safe management of wastes from health-care activities. Geneva: WHO