Corporate Social Responsibility

Running head: CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Corporate Social Responsibility
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1CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
1. Explain the difference between ‘cradle to grave’ and ‘cradle to cradle’ design, and
describe a process by which a service or product could become circular. In other words,
how can we look at waste differently, or create products that don’t produce negative
externalities? Can you provide examples of companies that have successfully
transitioned to a cradle to cradle process?
- “Cradle to grave” and “Cradle to cradle” are the two most basic terms that are used in the
field of eco-design. They are related to the life cycle of a product from the raw materials to
the disposal ones. The raw materials are known to be cradle and the disposable ones are
called grave. It is to note that the term “Cradle to grave” is basically used in the analysis of
product life cycle for describing the whole life of a product till its point of disposal (Bocken
et al., 2016). On the other hand, the term “Cradle to cradle” is a model of industrial system in
which the materials flow cyclically in proper, technical and continuous biological cycles. All
the waste materials are re-incorporated productively into the new production and make use of
phrases like “waste equal food”. The service can be made circular by means of the three Rs-
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. As per Saravia-Pinilla, Daza-Beltran and Garcia-Acosta (2016),
the reduction, reuse and recycling of the products and services slow down the rate of
depletion and contamination but also do not stop these processes. Recycling is much more
expensive that it is required to be and this is due to the fact that the traditional recycling tries
forcing the materials into the more lifetimes as compared to what they were designed for. It is
to note that much of what has been driving the destruction of the environment in today’s
world has been the global industrial system which is highly dependent on the assumption that
there will always be an infinite natural resources. Design of the products in the traditional
economy fails to take into consideration the “externalities” like the environmental destruction
and the negative affect of the industrial production on the communities and individual people.
The best approach to tackle this is that of cradle to cradle design. It starts before the products

2CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
are made (De souza, Bloemhof-Ruwaard & Borsato, 2019). Each and everything in this
process starts with an intention and at the same time, uses different designs to take into
account the environmental and human impacts of product at every steps of its existence. It
includes the process of recycling of the materials which can be remade into new things and
could incorporate the principles that are found in the nature. This concept has been
implemented in many products in different industries. One of the best example of companies
that have successfully transitioned to a cradle to cradle process is Carlsberg group. It is best
known for namesake pilsner. It move towards cradle to cradle system for its product
packaging. It has also achieved the C2C Bronze certification for its Somersby Cider Cans and
Carlsberg Larger that are sold in the market of U.K.
2. Why does Visser view Walmart as an example of a company worthy of emulation?
What are some of the problems about how sustainable companies have introduced
sustainable products and services into the marketplace, and what does Walmart’s best
practices have to teach us about sustainability? Furthermore, why would Walmart
pursue sustainability, if its primary objective is profit?
- When Harold Lee Scott took over the Walmart as CEO and President of the company, the
company had faced several criticisms and had very low prices for the customers that it was
hard to beat the prices offered by Walmart for the other companies. It was a good opportunity
for the customers. Walmart is highly regarded as a classic example of success in the world of
capitalist. The customers of Walmart want the lowest prices possible on the things that they
use every day and the company also delivers them with reliably rock bottom pricing and
some impressive product variety (Wei, 2016). For affording it, Walmart under-delivers on the
other parts of the retailing experiences like the ambience and sales support. It follows
sustainability, corporate social responsibility, ethics and every good practices that are worth
emulating regardless of the larger context. Right from diverting about 80% of the waste from