Introduction
Environmental conservation is the new trend that organizations are taking as their corporate social responsibility. Corporate social responsibility is a method which organizations use to be self regulating to prevent the firm from adversely affecting the environment or the society which they are operating. It ensures that the firm obeys the law, maintains ethical standards and has a positive impact on the society. Many multinational firms have taken up this to ensure that their activities do not harm the environment (Harding, 2012).
Panasonic is the firm I will focus on because of its many initiatives in maintaining the environment. Panasonic is a leading producer of electronic devices around the world having begun its operations in 1918. The firm has branches around the world producing electrical appliances and semiconductors.
Panasonic is placed fifth in terms of production of its electronics. It is ranked ninth in terms of environmental conservation among its rivals around the world. This ranking was done by Green peace guide to greener electronics organization. This is a ranking of electronic manufacturers who have policies and practices that are aimed at reducing impact on climate. It shows the firms which produce green products that make their operations sustainable to the environment.
Panasonic is one of the firms that produce green products. These products have a good life cycle and have a reduced quantity of polyvinyl chloride plastic in them. Its products especially TVs are energy efficient and consume lower than the level of energy conservation needed (Kun-min Zhango 2008).
In their plan to reduce the green house effects of the manufacture of its products Panasonic has come up with various initiatives. These initiatives are presented as corporate social responsibilities by the firm. Panasonic has developed an environmental strategy that will see it achieve the goals it.
The strategies cover ways to reduce Carbon dioxide emissions, recycling resources and proper manufacturing processes. The main policy is recycling oriented manufacturing. This has an impact of making a lasting effect on the environment and is in line with the laws that were developed in the world forums on environment. Many competitors also implement policies that are environmental friendly (Harding, 2012).
Recycling resources and environmental conservation
The firm has ensured production of products that have zero emission levels. These products have an efficient energy performance. These two factors reduce the energy consumed. The firm ensures that there is energy recreation and storage. The products being developed are eco-conscious and offer all ways of conserving energy.
One strategy that Panasonic has adopted is the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions both in its products and when manufacturing the products. This is in line with the world set standard of reducing green house gasses emissions by 50% by the year 2050. This strategy has been set for attainment by 2018. Panasonic will have been able to reduce emission of green house gasses in its manufacturing activities and in the use of its products.
The main way that the firm has adopted is to recycle the resources. Recycling ensures reduction in dumping of electronic waste in many countries. There is increased exploitation of resources around the world in the many manufacturing branches of the firm. The increased exploitation deteriorates the environment. When getting the resources there is a lot of emission of green house gasses.
The aim by Panasonic is to reduce the exploitation by recycling the existing resources. The exploitation of minerals and natural resources will lead to depletion of the resources on the earth. Panasonic began an initiative to recycle these resources to prevent depletion. The firm benefits from the initiatives by reducing costs of materials (Kun-min Zhango 2008).
The strategy is to develop a Recycling oriented manufacturing concept. Under this strategy Panasonic has managed to minimize the amount of resources used and maximize the recycled resources. This is also in line with the zero waste emissions policy that Panasonic has adopted. The firm has been making the products smaller in order to reduce the amount of resources used.
The firm has also adopted the use of modern technologies in order to collect more materials to recycle and effectively use these recycled materials. They have reduced the amount of wastes at the factories by recycling. The waste sent to damps is reduced to almost zero due to this. The firm also offers the recycled materials to the members of the society who engage in manufacture of products that can use these resources.
The main aim of the recycling oriented manufacturing is to ensure reduction of total resources used and promote recycling. The firm recycles iron and other metals, plastic, papers, cardboards and wooden materials. The firm has put measures in place to ensure that their system is effective. They have control mechanisms that establish how effective the recycling and resource reduction process is.
In the year 2012 the firm developed a full factory that manufactures all it products firm recycled parts. The entire Panasonic manufacturing entity is set to make a transition to full recycled resource use. This will help Panasonic attain its zero waste emission policy in line with the global standards (Kun-min Zhango 2008).
Panasonic has taken an initiative to ensure the spread of environmental conservation activities by the stakeholders. This is an initiative that has seen the firm participate in activities that educate the stakeholders on environmental conservation. They educate the stakeholders on their activities that they are doing to conserve the environment in an easy manner.
The main stakeholders who they collaborate with are the suppliers in the supply chain. Panasonic urges its suppliers to provide materials that are environmental friendly. Panasonic also partners with its consumers to ensure they use the products and promote a green environment by using the products efficiently (Cengel & Boles 1994).
Conclusion
The main idea behind environmental conservation is to maintain an environment that will not deplete its resources. Many firms are involved in environmental conservation initiatives. Panasonic is a leader in conserving the environment and it is almost achieving the global standards in reduction of pollution.
They have developed initiatives that will ensure zero greenhouse emissions during manufacture and during the use of their products. The initiatives have seen a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions in line with the world standard of a 50% reduction. They also recycle recourses to reduce damping of waste and reduce overexploitation of resources. The manufacturing of products with recycled resources reduces exploitation of more resources.
The firm also ensures collaboration with stakeholders to ensure that their environmental policies are properly implemented. This is in line with their corporate social responsibility that enables the firm to provide the society with services other than their products. Panasonic has increased these environmental friendly operations in all the manufacturing plants around the world. This initiative has given the firm recognition among the green conservation organizations.
Reference List
Cengel, YA & Boles, MA 1994, Organizational Responsibility, 2nd edn, McGraw Hill, London.
Harding, BV. 2012. “Sustainability in Reduction of Greenhouse Emissions”, Journal on Climate Change, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 39-42. Web.
Kun-min Zhango 2008, “Review and challenges of policies of environmental protection and sustainable development in Japan”. Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 50, no. 2, pp. 49-52.