Building A Sustainable Organization

This project explores the concept of sustainability and the greenwashing strategies used by corporations to deceive consumers. It also delves into the challenges faced by BP Plc in adopting green practices and the importance of sustainable development in business operations. The report concludes that sustainable development is crucial for long-term business success and attracting employees and consumers who value environmental protection.

Building A Sustainable
Organization

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Part A...........................................................................................................................................1
Part B...........................................................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Organisational sustainability can be understood as creating meaningful values that aids an
organisation in making decisions strategically to build an environment that strengthens desirable
behaviour of employees. Adopting sustainability in organisation effectively can increase
company's chances to increase its profits. Sustainability is desired by organisation in four
differential areas, namely, human beings, social, economic and related to environment. Corporate
greenwashing strategies is a technique used by organisations to deceive their consumers in order
to sell their products by promoting them as eco-friendly goods. In order to better understand
various greenwashing strategies adopted by companies, BP Plc is taken into consideration. BP
Plc is established in 1909 and has its headquarters in London, United Kingdom. Its mission is to
integrate all its activities towards a fundamental equality and strives to become a sustainable
organisation.
This project includes understanding of sustainability and differential greenwashing
strategies used by corporations for deceiving their consumers. This project depicts varied
challenges an establishment has to face to apply green practices. This project also comprises of
reflective document to adopt sustainability ideals in organisation.
MAIN BODY
Part A
Sustainability is a key concept for all organisations in varied industries. It refers to
business approach that assists an organisation in creation of longevity in its operations while
considering various environmental, ecological and social factors (Vázquez-Maguirre, 2018).
Companies can apply sustainability in many ways such as reducing wastage, preventing
pollution, planting trees and many more. This aids an organisation in improving its reputation
and create a new customer base who values sustainability and environment protection
(Rodriguez, Svensson and Otero-Neira, 2019). Greenwashing is a practice of conveying wrong
or misleading information to consumers in order to deceive them by selling normal products as
eco-friendly. This exercise can adversely impact their reputation in market and also lead to
varied criticism that hampers brand image. Greenwashing is a reaction of establishments to rising
demands for products that are sustainable in nature. BP Plc adopts varied greenwashing
strategies in order to flaunt its activities and products as environment-friendly. The scope of
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activities where company can divulge its greenwashing activities are reduce carbon emission and
sustainability in its production processes (Quinlan, 2020). BP Plc implements various
greenwashing tactics to convey a message to its consumers that it is revamping its production
process by launching eco-friendly products and reduce carbon emission. BP Plc have created
potential misleading impression in front of nation that it is forwarding its operations towards
producing renewable products. Managers of BP plc also states that company is working to make
energy cleaner while it invested its most of the resources in producing oil and gas. Company
extracts massive natural resources by avoiding the risk of climate changes. In order to remove
the memories of deep water horizon disaster from the mind of people, it launches a biggest
advertisement campaign to greenwash its activities. It also used various marketing campaign to
pose their products as green. Company is claiming to attain zero emission in its production
process by 2050.
Corporations started following a green business model which refers to inducement of new
environmental ways to perform business operations effectively (Mohapatra and Sahu, 2018).
Transformation of businesses towards green practices is a continuous process that affects many
industries. Greater focus on green business practices in order to ensure that companies are fully
prepared for future happenings. In order to adopt varied green practices in business operations,
BP Plc extracts natural resources without damaging environment in an effective way. It should
also reconsider the production and consumption process in order to be green. BP Plc took several
steps by reforming its culture in order to improve operational efficiency and minimize
environmental damage. Company has also executed a programme for detecting methane gas
leakage. BP Plc faces varied protests by climate campaigners and increasing demands of
investors for reducing the emission of carbon and other toxic gases. In today's world consumers
want to buy products of that brand which engages in maintaining sustainability. Major challenge
that BP Plc is facing in going green with its operations is growing awareness of people about
threat of changing environment. Other challenges faced by BP Plc for applying and maintaining
green business model are as follows: Need huge capital allocations- Companies do not have massive capital to use them in
green initiatives (Mehmood and Rehman, 2018). Because decision-makers forego or do
not give much importance to the implementation of sustainable activities in their
operations. Managers at BP Plc also wants to allocate their capital in their core
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production process of extracting fossil fuels and manufacture oil and gas. This practice
led them to make lower investment in green operations. Mediocre collaboration between financial and sustainability terms- Sustainability in
business activities is difficult to conquer with leveraging financial goals (McCool, 2019).
These two terms are difficult to achieve together while performing business operations.
Financial managers at BP Plc showed their unwillingness in allocating business funds to
sustainable development of company. Differential opinions and priorities of various
managers create hindrances in business operations to adopt green practices. Lack of metrics- Organisations do not have proper tools and techniques to measure level
of sustainability in industry (Liu and Zhang, 2018). BP Plc faces challenge with this
concept as it does not use any analytical tool or metrics in measuring its green practices
in varied operational processes. They lack in measuring their cost associated with
operations and also in allocating them to benefit a greener approach. Lack of comprehensive plans- In order to having a green approach towards
manufacturing of products, an organisation need to formulate and execute relevant
strategies (Leicht, Heiss and Byun, 2018). Top management of BP Plc forego to integrate
its varied strategies related to sustainability with other aspects of business which have
probable chances to generate more profitability. Time-consuming- Sustainable development is a time-consuming process and can not be
performed fastly. It requires varied resources and time in getting the level of this
development. BP Plc also requires huge resources in successful implementation of green
practices as it is extra work other than business operations. Involvement and engagement- This process requires involvement and engagement of
differential departments in an organisation. There are many large companies who can not
motivate its workforce due to unclear objectives of organisation. BP Plc faces this
challenge as it goals about adoption of greener practices are not clear enough. It faces
issues in inspiring its employees to embrace changes.
 Hard to turn plans and strategies into reality- Planning for greener activities is not an
easy job. It took lot of resources in formulating and executing them in an efficient
manner. Companies faces challenge into adapting itself towards growing awareness of
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sustainable development in industry. BP Plc also faces issues in executing its plans for
having greener approach in its operations.
In today's world, corporations are interested in implementing greenwashing strategies as
it benefits them to attract more consumers especially who values environmental friendly products
and sustainability (Dolorosa and Suryadi, 2019). Greenwashing is a not a good exercise as it
misleads consumers by offering normal products posing them as eco-friendly. Corporations
adopts sustainability in their operations as it benefits them in numerous ways. Through this,
organisation can increase their productivity and reduce operational cost. For executing business
operations effectively, sustainability aids businesses to comply with regulations. Sustainability in
business operations also attract employees and investors as they are influenced by brand
reputation and awareness (Christodoulou and Fernández, 2021). Applying sustainability in
operations assists in making shareholders happy and satisfied. Sustainability is significant factor
that every organisation want to implement in their operations, they should avoid greenwashing
activities. Because of greenwashing activities, consumers are unwilling to buy the products from
companies which uses these tactics. Corporations should not use greenwashing strategies as it
hampers company's image in a long run. BP Plc also implemented varied greenwashing
strategies which can create hindrances in its operations. It should build its business strategies on
the basis of sustainable development (Almuhrzi and Al-Azri, 2019). There is thoughtful and
rational consumer base who are aware and value environmental problems, so organisations
should adopt practices to go green rather than disguise its position to be sustainable.
Part B
Lifestyle of any person consists of varied beliefs, attitudes one poses. I belief in using
environmental-friendly products of different brands. I want to purchase products of those brands
or companies who has adopted greener approach in their business operations. I am a person who
values environment protection and conversation. I belief in sustainability in high esteem which
refers to create balance between own needs and saving for future generation. As it not only
benefits me but it is for the betterment of societies and communities as a whole. In business
parlance, it is very crucial element as it is based on holistic approach which takes care of every
business processes. Eco-friendly products benefits me in saving energy, for instance, solar panels
can act as an alternative for fossil fuels which are non-renewable natural source. These products
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also helps me in giving my contribution in conversing environment. These products are safe for
consumption as they do not contain any harmful substances. To promote sustainable
development, I firmly believes in recycle and reuse approach. This benefits me and my
surroundings in conserving natural resources. This also benefits in minimizing emission of
greenhouse and other toxic gases which essentially contributes in changing climate globally. I
like to prefer alternatives which does not need paper. As using massive amount of paper is
disadvantageous for environment. I ask for invoice through e-mail from shopkeepers as it
reduces wastage of paper. I usually donate unused items so that they can be used by someone
else who really needed them. I used to grow my own vegetables and fruits as they are free from
any pesticide or harmful substances. It benefits environment and also reduces the amount of
extraction of natural resources as it needed in transportation. I usually prefer to walk or use of
public transport as it benefits me in maintaining my health and also reduces environmental
pollution. Fashion industry uses various resources and as considered as polluting one. I used to
buy sustainable clothes from those brands who follow greener approach in their operations. I do
not waste food by throwing extra stuff. Even I store it to use in other time of day or give to need
people.
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it has been concluded that sustainable development aids an
organisation in ensuring a long-term business. It also assists in acquiring, optimizing and
protecting varied natural resources. Organisational sustainability helps an establishment in
minimizing carbon risk and improve operational efficiency. It attracts and influence employees
as they want to work in a company which have proactive approach about conversing
environmental practices. Consumers are more likely to buy goods from those brands which are
engaged in sustainable development and offer environment-friendly products. Greenwashing is a
marketing technique where companies provides deceptive or misleading information to its
consumers about its green practices. Various environment claims done by corporations helps in
creating positive brand image in front of consumers but it only lasts for a short- time. Green
business model helps in embracing sustainable procedures in business operations. Adoption of
green practices van help every business in several ways. Primary purpose of this model is to
eliminate any obstructive impact on environment. To address sustainable development
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effectively, an experienced management team is needed by organisations. It is not an easy task to
revamp all the activities in an efficient manner, it should be a slow and continuous process.
REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Almuhrzi H. M. and Al-Azri, H. I., 2019. Conference report: second UNWTO/UNESCO world
conference on tourism and culture: fostering sustainable development. International
Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research.
Christodoulou, A. and Fernández, J. E., 2021. Maritime Governance and International Maritime
Organization Instruments Focused on Sustainability in the Light of United Nations’
Sustainable Development Goals. In Sustainability in the Maritime Domain (pp. 415-
461). Springer, Cham.
Dolorosa, E. and Suryadi, U., 2019. Farmers' Organizations Model of Independent Smallholders
in Sustainable Palm Oil Certification. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences &
Humanities. 27(2).
Leicht A. Heiss, J. and Byun, W. J., 2018. Issues and trends in education for sustainable
development (Vol. 5). Unesco Publishing.
Liu, K. and Zhang, S., 2018. Assessment of Sustainable Development Capacity of Prefabricated
Residential Building Supply Chain. In ICCREM 2018: Sustainable Construction and
Prefabrication (pp. 45-58). Reston, VA: American Society of Civil Engineers.
McCool, S. F., 2019. Information needs for building a foundation for enhancing sustainable
tourism as a development goal: An introduction. In A Research Agenda for Sustainable
Tourism. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Mehmood, R. K. and Rehman, H. U., 2018. Capacity building for sustainable human
development: A panel PMG/ARDL analysis of east and South Asia. Paradigms, 12(2),
pp.147-152.
Mohapatra, M. and Sahu, P., 2018. Building a sustainable talent acquisition model in a dynamic
business environment. International Journal of Human Capital and Information
Technology Professionals (IJHCITP), 9(3), pp.42-52.
Quinlan, M., 2020. Postscript: Inequality, Deprivation/Resistance and Building a Sustainable
Society. In The Regulation and Management of Workplace Health and Safety (pp. 161-
174). Routledge.
Rodriguez, R., Svensson, G. and Otero-Neira, C., 2019. Framing sustainable development
through descriptive determinants in private hospitals–Orientation and
organization. Evaluation and program planning, 75, pp.78-88.
Vázquez-Maguirre, M., 2018. Sustainable ecosystems through indigenous social enterprises.
In Entrepreneurial, Innovative and Sustainable Ecosystems (pp. 173-189). Springer,
Cham.
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