Introduction
In the present turbulent world, running either an organization or a company in times of distress has become an indispensable skill for managers in all fields, not even for organizations that has to refurbish power after a storm. Each and everyday managers deal with uncertainties and anticipated events within the business perspective, whether it is a minor issue or a major one; they know how to cope, avoid or adjust to the issue.
Moreover, the strength and the incidence of the events over the past times have accelerated in a recent couple of decades, with much emphasis on how companies and organizations are reacting to the issue of conserving the environment. Solid management practices and policies have to be undertaken in order for an organization to remain strong, enthused and productive. Preserving the environment is, therefore, a contentious issue that ought to be embraced by organizations since it becomes beneficial both to the organization and the environment at large. Organizations should therefore find ways and means in which to use in order to incorporate environmental issues within their organizations (Richard & Marcic, 2008).
Therefore, this paper seeks to assess whether Dubai Aluminium Company (Dubal) is ‘environmentally friendly. The paper analyzes the environmental policies of Dubal and what the firm can undertake in order to create a favorable atmosphere, both for the welfare of the business and its customers. The puzzle to be answered is whether the business does it for its own interest or for the good of its customers and the environment.
DUBAL’s Environmental Policies
Protecting the environment is one of the key issues that DUBAL has upheld as its core activities. The company has acknowledged the significance of preserving valuable natural resources both in the interest of the company and the environment. The company has endeavored to act responsibly in order to protect the environment within its vicinity. Some of the core activities which the company mostly centralizes on are minimizing harmful emissions besides adopting policies on reuse and recycling strategies in its operations. The policy that the company is currently using in preserving the environment was updated in the year 2005. The policy was amended to suit the comprehensive environment, which entails the health and safety code of ethics (Dubal, 2011).
Providing the customers with high-quality products and services is one of the major aspects that the company has endeavored to offer to its prospective customers. The company is therefore committed to upholding policies that conserve the environment and the well-being of its workers. Moreover, the policies are focused on providing safety measures to its esteemed customers and the community at large and this is practiced at all times.
In this light, DUBAL provides a favorable working environment that greatly reduces the hazardous effects and any contact with the harmful risks in the environment. Being a developing company, DUBAL has efficiently used and embraced technology in its operations. The technology used in this respect has greatly contributed to the growth of the business. As suggested by Newton and Ford (2000), anything that a company undertakes should be in the best interest of both the company and the customers.
An appropriate technology used by the company will ensure that the customers are protected and this is through environmental conservation all aimed at coming up with excellent results. Besides, ethics in business is an indispensable aspect of the success of a business and should therefore be incorporated within the business strategies (Kerr, 2009). This is an aspect of a policy that DUBAL has looked to embrace to ensure that the ethics used within the business are compatible with whatever the business is offering and also go hand in hand with the customers’ expectations.
Impacts of the Polices on the Environment
The environmental policies implemented have the potential to make a lasting impact on the environment, considering the fact that they are implemented in the best interest of the customers and the company. In endorsing this idea, Dubai Aluminium Company has been a member of UNESCO since the year 2004. UNESCO is a big promoter of environmental education and therefore the policies it sets out for its members cannot be altered at any time but have to adhere to the latter. Such organizations and others, therefore, compel their members to constitute environmental policies that will mainly have a positive impact on the environment.
Some policies may require an organization to re-use or recycle their waste products and this creates employment opportunities for the people living around. However, the policies implemented may also clash with the social-cultural factors of the communities living around, meaning that the two are not compatible and this creates some drawbacks in the organization which can only be put right if either is adjusted to fit into the other (Kerr, 2009).
Business and Environmental Benefits to the Policies
The policies implemented by the company may and may not be beneficial to both the business and the environment considering some factors. Any policies implemented by an organization are first meant for the best interest of its prospective customers and not for foreign investors. The policies that are therefore implemented will be to encourage the customers within a certain region to invest in the business, but the same policies discourage foreign investment within the company because after some time this may spur up the competition.
In addition, the effects that the trade may have on employment and wages and the costs incurred in the trade restrictions can hinder the benefits of environmental policies. Even though the policies may be termed as beneficial to domestic business, some people argue that the interdependence of global financial trade and financial systems may be counterbalanced by the adverse consequences of the policies (Richard & Marcic, 2008). For example, unintentional and unanticipated subvention and tariffs may result in hiking prices to the customers. This may also lead to a lowering in general quality of products produced, and consequently increasing the tax burden to the customers. Although the business may try as much as possible to boost the economy, the trading policies and restrictions may outweigh the economic benefits initiated by those policies and therefore be of no benefit at all.
Competitors’ Environmental Policies
DUBAL’s competitors include Al Abbar Aluminium and Alico. Both companies are engaged in manufacturing aluminum products within the United Arab Emirates. The two competitors apply similar policies as compared to DUBAL. These include minimizing harmful emissions and waste management. However, DUBAL seems to be ahead of the game because it has engaged itself in partnering with several policy-making bodies such as UNESCO and Emirates Environmental Group (Dubal, 2011). This shows that the company is committed to preserving the environment. Trade barriers and restrictions are some of the external factors that hinder the company’s environmental policies. Still, the firm is trying as much as possible to make sure that the competitors are eliminated from the market and thus pave way for the policies within the company
Conclusion
Environmental concern has dramatically accelerated over the past few years and most firms have decided to embrace the aspect since it has both been beneficial to the organization and the community at large. This paper has provided a comprehensive review of whether the environmental policies implemented by DUBAL are always in the best interest of the company alone or even of the community. It is apparent that the firm is environmentally friendly since if policies implemented do not serve the purpose they were meant for; they may cause some adverse effects to the company. A better environmental policy means quality products, affordable prices, and a clean environment at the best interest of consumers and the ecosystem. This is what Dubai Aluminum Company has clinched on.
References
DUBAL: Dubai Aluminium. 2011. Environmental Standards: Quality & Environmental Standards: How We Care. Web.
Kerr, W.A. 2009, Recession, International Trade and the Fallacies of Composition. The Estey Centre Journal of International Law and Trade policy, 96(1), pp.1-11.
Newton, L. H. & Ford, M. 2000, Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Issues in Business Ethics and Society, 6th Ed. Chicago: Dushkin/McGraw-Hill.
Richard, L. & Marcic, D. 2008, Understanding Management, 6th Ed. Cincinnati: Cengage Learning.