Sustainable Development & CSR: Session 5

• The presentation covers sustainable development and organizational management.
• This is session 5

Agenda

• Return to TP 1
• Intensive production and consumption
• Consumer responsibility
• Corporate social responsibility (CSR)
• Exam 1 information

Intensive Production & Consumption

• Intensive production and consumption can negatively impact the environment.
• Such impacts include pollution by pesticides, climate change, depletion of natural resources, loss of biodiversity, wastage of resources, food waste, and atmospheric pollution.

Climate Change Impacts

• Climate change: A progressive increase in the Earth's average temperature, mainly from human activity emissions and deforestation.
• Consequences include rising temperatures, sea levels, and extreme weather events.
• It causes fluctuations in prices of commodities as well as economic instability and employee insecurity.

Loss of Biodiversity

• Definition: Numerous animal/plant species face extinction mainly due to deforestation, climate change pollution & natural resource exploitation.
• Ecosystems and the services rendered to humanity are disrupted.
• Rise in regulations relating to natural resource utilization.
• Consumers are now better educated about products/goods.

Solutions

• Environment challenges are complex and interlinked
• Potential solutions: Transition to renewable energies, habitat restoration, and agroecology practices.
• Transitioning to wind, solar, hydraulic, and geothermal energy can help.
• Reforestation and habitat reparation as well as agriculture based on diversity and conservation are good solutions

Consumer Responsibility

• A responsible consumer seeks to minimize environmental and social impacts through purchasing habits.
• This involves adhering to principles of sustainability.

Responsible Customer Habits

• Consuming sustainably involves:
  • Buying local and eco-friendly products
  • Reducing plastic consumption
  • Buying durable goods
• Promote reduction, re-use and recycling by:
  • Avoiding waste
  • Giving objects a second life
  • Sorting waste
• Follow responsible diets by:
  • Eating local and seasonal foods
  • Reducing meat consumption
• Support responsible companies by:
  • Picking ethical brands
  • Checking labels and certifications

Greenwashing

• Green washing is a marketing strategy used by companies to appear environmentally responsible, while their practices do not meet environmental standards.
• This involves vague claims, misleading packaging, lack of proof, and false advertising.
• Green washing can damage credibility, lead to penalties, mislead consumers, and slow environmental progress.

Consumer Responsibility: Company Adaptations

• Companies integrate adaptations like transparency, sustainable production and eco-responsible services.
• Environmental certification and circular economy models are also used.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

• CSR entails a business commitment to considering environmental and social impacts in decision-making, aiming to minimize negative effects.
• Firms are duty bound to society that goes further than creating profits.

CSR Objectives

• CSR factors: Includes environment, social factors
• Aim is to allow businesses support the community and boost brand image
• Helps ensure firms manage risks proactively along with potential financial effects

Sustainable Models

• A good approach balances economic, social, and environmental needs without compromising future generations.
• This demonstrates that the business puts into consideration environmental as well as social factors in the operational strategies.
• Ensures today's needs are met without affecting future one.

Circular Economy

• Involves reducing waste, extending product lifespan, and reusing materials to maximize resource use and minimize environmental impact.
• Optimizing use of materials, energy, and water cuts down ecological impacts, and encourages reuse and recycling.
• Repairing products instead of replacing promotes production process innovations.
• Waste is treated to extract value.

Circular Economy Benefits

• Reducing waste alleviates pressure on landfills and pollution from incineration.
• Resource conservation diminishes dependence on non-renewable natural resources leading to cost savings.
• There is less consumption of raw materials and energy intensive processes which lowers greenhouse gas emission.
• This means businesses incur lower expenses related to waste management or raw components.
• Reduced penalties due to law as well as tax related advantages from compliance with norms.
• Supports value creation and stimulates continuous innovation

Examination 1

• Exam is worth 25% of final grade
• It will last 2hrs
• It is on the content covered in lesson 1 to 5
• It will be composed of multiple choice question as well as short answer questions
• Situational application of environement analysis models incluing Internal and External SWOT, as well as External PESTEL is required.

Explore sustainable development, intensive consumption, and corporate social responsibility. Understand environmental impacts like climate change and biodiversity loss from production and consumption. Also covers Exam 1 information.