Analyzing Green Management: Business Role & Environmental Act

This essay examines the critical relationship between business practices and environmental protection, highlighting the historical impact of industrial activities on the environment and the growing importance of sustainable development. It emphasizes the moral and ethical obligations of businesses to adopt green policies and comply with environmental laws, such as the Clean Water Act. The essay discusses various strategies businesses can employ, including using recyclable products, offering incentives for waste reduction, and promoting environmental awareness to enhance brand image. It further explores the benefits of green energy adoption, such as cost savings, tax deductions, and improved employee morale. The essay concludes by underscoring the importance of employee involvement in sustainability initiatives and continuous training on evolving environmental laws and ecological discoveries, advocating for a holistic approach to green management that benefits both the environment and the business.

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Business and the environment protection act
Since the industrial revolution which occurred approximately 250 years ago, human
beings have been undertaking actions that affect the balance of nature. Before the industrial
revolution, the human being’s actions were local and regional; they were not global (Renwick,
Redman & Maguire, 2013). Today the effect is universal and even though the notion may be
hard to accept, over the years the earth has undergone variations (Clapp, 2014). Businesses
depend on and affect the natural world. However, historians neglect the relationship between
business and environment in light of extraction of raw materials, management of resources and
generation of waste (Morris, 2013). Enterprises use natural resources without limits, and this has
led to environmental changes which include global warming, famines, earthquakes, and
tsunamis.
The changes have affected people's lives, and people have changed their perception of the
environment which has gathered substantial public support. Different environmental movements
have been established and for the current environmentalists, it is not only the natural
environment that is at risk, but human survival in general. Scientists argue that human activities
that negatively affect the environment are unsustainable and this has led to a global notion of the
sustainable development. Businesses are morally and ethically obligated to protect the
environment by undertaking sustainable practices. Many companies have taken this

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responsibility by promoting green and sustainable practices (Planko, 2017). They are also
encouraging customers to follow suit. In the environment protection act, corporations are bound
by the law to abide by environmental laws. For instance, the clean water act sets a limit to the
level of waste that companies can release in water (Hunter & Waterman, 2016). Some companies
must follow these regulations failure to which will cause closure. For example, oil companies
should be approved for new offshore oil wells and coal companies must also give the
government reports about their environmental safety practices (Bateh, 2013). Businesses have
also adopted green energy which is focused on reducing waste and cutting down the usage of
fossil fuels. Examples of green energy include electric cars, wind turbines, and solar power.
Organizations save when they adopt the green policies and some policies based on green may
attract tax deductions. Moreover, when a business adopts green energy policies, it acts as a role
model to other companies and its customers. It increases awareness to the environmental issues.
Prioritizing the environment while conducting business
As mentioned, earlier environmental degradation began after the industrial revolution
because businesses produced huge quantities of waste. The demand for land has also increased,
leading to deforestation, exhaustion of resources and filling up landfills (Silvius & Planko,
2017). Companies should use recyclable products to reduce this negative impact on the
environment. They can also play their role in the environmental protection act by encouraging
customers to reduce waste. For example, they can offer a discount to any customer who uses
reusable bags or they can provide recycling bins at the business (Mason & Winkelman, 2017).
These actions can improve the company’s brand image boosting participation in the
environmental protection movement. Businesses should also offer incentives for waste such as

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charging fees for plastic bags. Enterprises are vigilant with the promotion of their products, and
they can do the same to raise awareness on the environmental issues; not to only boost
environmental safety, but to also promote the business’s brand image (Charles, Schmidheiny &
Watts, 2017). For example, a business can have a weekly promotion giving customers a free or
discounted item for bringing a reusable box or bag. The company could educate people on
environmental issues or sponsor a community garden. Even though the kind of promotion may
depend on the nature of the business customers who are conscious of the environment are likely
to give the business a priority.
Today the world is dealing with issues such as pollution, water contamination and climate
change. Businesses and the public, in general, have to maintain and keep the environment clean.
A green business is a smart business since green policies do not only save on cost, but they give
the business a competitive advantage. The company is proactive addressing the new
environmental demands from their suppliers and customers while also abiding by the new
legislation. When a business has a strong environmental program, it also attracts qualified
employees and highly skilled staff to offer quality customer service (Kiron, Kruschwitz, Reeves
& Goh, 2013). Green enterprises conduct their day to day operations to meet their needs without
undermining the ability of future generations to accomplish their own goals such as
compromising corporate social responsibility to make more profit.
Every year, new laws concerning the environment are passed on federal, state and local
levels since scientists are still uncovering new developments of the Earth’s ecology. Going green
means seeing ahead and the company should cover all aspects since even though some laws are
not yet in the books they will be soon and the companies should be ready. For example, the
environmental protection agency established its 2020 action agency whose primary aim is

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reducing carbon emissions while boosting sustainability (Ravetz, 2016). This act will enforce
actionable consequences and businesses that will be ahead of the green curve will receive
incentives. This stresses the importance of going green as early as possible.
Customers trust businesses that adopt green policies. Most clients have acclaimed that
they would pay more for sustainable products (Tseng & Hung, 2013). Green enterprises show
customers what the earth means to them fostering a sense of community and a good impression
of the business (Michaels, 2013). This will strengthen the current customer base and extend its
market share. People who may not have heard of the company may be interested due to its eco-
friendly products and practices.
Steps for maintenance of nature
Going green does not only influence customers but also employees since they feel safer
working for a business that adopts green policies. Employees are motivated when they are
involved in green initiatives, and they feel that their health is taken care of and are not just
expendable resources (Clair & Milliman, 2017). This also boosts turnover since employees are
contented and satisfied, they cannot leave a company that makes feel to be part of a community
that cares. By depicting their commitment to the environment, businesses show that they care
about their stakeholders and the world as a whole which makes the employees proud.
Going green is now being used as a trademark and as a status symbol of businesses that
are eco-friendly. Some years back, the Dell Company Initiated a program for recycling that
allows customers to get rid of the products that are difficult to recycle. Honda vehicle
manufacturing company is also known for going green since it optimizes fuel efficiency (Bag,

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Anand & Pandey, 2017). Going green has given these companies a competitive advantage over
other big companies in the categories. Even though going green is expensive, in the long run,
green policies pay back in the long run, in terms of dividends and not only concerning money but
regarding satisfaction knowing that it is supporting the planet.
Nonetheless, it is not only businesses that should be obligated to undertake green
policies, but in their day to day lives, people should participate in the environmental movements.
For example, they should use recycle bags and boxes, plant trees, conserve water and reduce the
usage of chemicals.
Employees are a significant resource for the business and involving them in the
movement to go green nurtures a motivated, dynamic and productive workforce. Moreover, a
company cannot achieve its green movement and sustainability goals without the employees’
support. Hence employees should be involved in the process and a major to do this is by acting
as a role model. Adoption of green practices should start from the senior management since they
act as role models for the employees. Senior managers should be the forts to use recyclable bags.
For a business to engage employees in their quest for sustainability, it should focus on solving
issues that the employees experience in their daily lives. The business should make sustainability
personal by creating the best environment and incentives for employee engagement, by
localizing it, making it voluntary, and illustrating the effect of the action. The business should
also respond to the employees’ ideas and reward employees for success on sustainability,
building a culture of innovation around sustainability goals and objectives.
The company can create a team of volunteers from the employees to focus on building a
green culture and business, coming up with ways of going green. Employees feel valued since

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the industry adopts their ideas and they also feel motivated since they push for positivity in the
company. There is a lot of information on the internet about going green, and as they implement
the ideas, the staff may be overwhelmed. The company should thus come up with written
policies highlighting the expectations which will assist the team in making their decisions. The
corporate values should also capture the environmental and social goals which will guide the
employees.
For employees to easily embrace the environmental policies, they should be incorporated
into the business’ day to day operations. For instance, thermostats can be set closer to the outside
temperature. The company can use less printing to reduce paper usage. Lights and electronics
should be turned off when not in use and the company should also involve consultants and peers
to ensure that they ultimately conserve energy and ultimately employ green practices in their
operations.
As highlighted earlier, every year, new environmental laws are passed, and as time goes
by, scientists are making discoveries of the ecology. Therefore the business should continuously
train employees about the sustainability goals and why they matter. Employees should be
educated on issues that are specifically associated with their jobs such as health and safety,
sustainable procurement and waste management. Employees should also be aware of the new
developments concerning law and the discoveries made since it will influence their ideas on
sustainability. For the staff to be productive and dedicated to sustainability, they have to know
how sustainability affects them (Renwick, Redman & Maguire, 2013). In this light, those
working in the financial sector should be aware of the savings made from investments in energy
efficient equipment. Sales representatives should be aware of how volunteering in a local

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community builds customer loyalty and managers should be aware of how sustainability builds
the brand’s reputation and image.
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