Pollution prevention by corporates
Previously, corporates ignored the importance of the environment to their business. In the past decade, a lot of companies adopted the concept of pollution prevention in pursuit of a friendly business environment. Before, most companies viewed pollution prevention as a waste of resources and therefore ignored the idea. They assumed that a lot of costs were being incurred with minimal results achieved.Most of them have now shifted from reactive positions to proactive positions of environmental conservation. in the present competitive environment, the ecosystem gives a business a competitive advantage. The current view of corporates is that pollution prevention pays. Corporates are now striving to achieve both economic and eco-efficiency environment. Pollution prevention is known to reduce costs by minimizing the cost of waste disposal. The various pollution prevention techniques are essential in reducing costs yet achieving desired results. Companies are now striving to improve both environmental and economic performances. Through pollution prevention, they can maximize their profits and remain competitive in the market(de Bruijn & Hofman, 2000).
Some of the companies that have emulated pollution prevention concepts include international business machines corporations (IBM) and Xerox Corporation. IBM is an American based company that deals with the production and selling of computers. They sell products ranging from hardware, software, and middleware. Some of their inventions include the automated teller machine (ATM), hard disks, dynamic random access memory (DRAM), and the SQL programming language. Over the years, the corporation has employed pollution prevention as one of the most critical aspects of environmental conservation. The corporation has used several programs to promote ecological efficiency. In past years IBM reported decreased cases of hazardous and nonhazardous wastes. Apart from IBM, Xerox, an America based, corporation has also embraced the pollution prevention concept. Xerox Corporation is the primary manufacturer of copying machines and office pieces of equipment. Previously, the corporation was known to collect used products from its customers and help them dispose of them. That was their old method of waste disposal. It has now opted for recycling used equipments as a way of maximizing material use and reducing wastage.
Pollution prevention is a way of reducing toxic substances from getting into the environment before methods of disposing of them are employed. According to corporations, pollution prevention is economically advantageous to them as they protect the environment and themselves from factors such as unnecessary costs and legal liabilities. Pollution prevention improves companies’ public image, profits, saves on costs, and also gives them a competitive advantage. According to the corporation’s pollution prevention pays. Since most of the companies are responsible for environmental pollution, they should also be willing to clean their acts. Their philosophy is that they strive to minimize environmental pollution by recycling the used products. Their main aim is to prevent pollution by reducing the amount of waste(Phipps, 1995).
When the concept of pollution prevention is applied well, the results are always commendable. As a company, you can be able to protect the environment, reduce waste, and ensure employee safety—pollution prevention programs aimed at lowering wastes from the source. The program, therefore, focuses on the manufacturing sector of the corporation to ensure that efficient energy and recycling is done so that the final product has less hazardous wastes. Substituting dangerous chemicals with nonhazardous ones is one of the ways of ensuring employee safety. Also, minimizing the amount of wastes that must be handled to be disposed of is another way of promoting a safe occupational environment. When a company uses pollution prevention, it reduces the amount of hazardous waste released hence protecting the environment. It should be noted that pollution prevention is not the prevention of pollution. Pollution prevention entails cutting on the wastes released to the environment while the prevention of pollution involves managing the wastes that have already been released to the environment(Phipps, 1995).
IBM has always put effort into environmental conservation. It believes that a healthy /pleasant environment is suitable for their business. Despite the many transformations that have occurred in the corporation, their commitment to pollution prevention has always remained constant. The corporation has put effort into ensuring that they have a pleasant environment that is safe for its workers. Their global environment conservation team ensures that they are set standards for environmental conservation in every country where they do business. Since the initiation of the IBMs pollution prevention program in 1971, its philosophy has always been minimizing pollution by reducing the generation of wastes at the source. The corporation has always made an effort to ensure that they reduce the amount of hazardous wastes being released to the environment.
To ensure environmental safety, the corporation has adapted various pollution prevention programs. These programs ensure the chemicals used in their processes are managed from the time they are purchased, stored, used, and finally being disposed. The corporation used a comprehensive, proactive management program of pollution prevention. This program ensures that environmental problems are dealt with at the source instead of responding to them after the wastes have been produced. This then results in reduced hazardous wastes hence ensuring employee safety and also protecting the environment. Also, the application of such programs saves on cost by reducing the cost of disposing of the wastes(Terefe, Gashaw & Warkineh, 2015).
The second corporation is Xerox, which is known for its copying machine and office equipment manufacturing. Before adopting the pollution prevention program, the corporation was known for collecting used items from their customers. The corporation would then incur another cost in either disposing or recycling the used items. In 1990, Xerox initiated the recycling program with the aim of maximizing material use and reducing wastages. With the asset recycling program, the company decreased about 50% on costs, especially that of raw materials. The corporation also reduced the number of wastes being disposed of (Phipps, 1995).
The corporate philosophy of Xerox is to produce a waste free materials in a waste-free facility to enable the customers to reduce wastes. Their main aim is to create materials using efficient resources that minimize wastages and can be reused. In cases where reusing is not applicable they can be recycled. In this case, Xerox has ensured that of their materials at least 0-5% is waste. The asset recycling program has helped the corporation in minimizing hazardous wastes in the environment. It has, therefore been successful in saving costs and protecting the environment. Also, minimal hazardous wastes and reducing the amount of wastes to be handle in order to be disposed creates a safe occupational environment for its employees(Phipps, 1995).
In conclusion, corporations are the leading causes of environmental pollution. Their production, manufacturing, and waste disposal activities are the key sources of pollution. It should, however, be noted that corporations are not the only causes, some sectors like transport can also pollute the environment. Corporations, ,yet have a major influence on the environment.they are responsible for most wastages, and they should, therefore, be responsible for cleaning the mess. Most corporations have since realized the importance of a safe environment to their business. This is a positive step for the conservation of the ecosystem. It is, therefore, necessary that every corporation comes up with an effective pollution prevention plan. The plan should aim at reducing the amount of waste and saving on costs. When wastes are reduce, the environment will be safe and protected. Consequently, a safe working environment guarantees employees safety.
References
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Bruijn, T., & Hofman, P. (2000). Pollution prevention and industrial transformation Evoking structural changes within companies. Journal Of Cleaner Production, 8(3), 215-223. doi: 10.1016/s0959-6526(00)00005-6
Phipps, E. (1995). Pollution Prevention Concepts and Principles. Retrieved 13 May 2020, from http://www.umich.edu/~nppcpub/resources/GENp2.pdf
Pollution prevention. (2015). Retrieved 13 May 2020, from https://www.ibm.com/ibm/responsibility/2015/environment/pollution_prevention.
Terefe, H., Gashaw, T., & Warkineh, B. (2015). Evolution of waste management strategies in industries: from passive to proactive. Journal Of Environment And Waste Management, 2(3)(1936-8798), 1-8