Sustainability in Business Operations at the Delhaize Group - Case Study Example

Sustainability in Operations Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Introduction 3 Sustainability Practices 3 Literature Review 3 Methodology 6 Discussion 7 Conclusion 9 References 11 Introduction The management of a business process is one of the prime needs of an organisation operating in the present competitive business scenario. With the changing needs of the present day consumers, the organisations are incorporating different changes within their process. The managing process of a business has been observed to be changing largely (Dijkman & et. al., 2011). With more inclination of the organisations to prevent environment degradation, they are incorporating different regulations that would create less harm to the environment. This change in the consciousness among the organisations has in turn imposed a further limitation in the mode of operation of the business (Melville, 2010). Delhaize Group is a retail food stores that has operating since 1867. The Group was founded in Belgium and since inception, the company has been operating quiet well by enhancing its visibility in the market. The company with its effective sustainability has been catering services to a large number of clients in the prime locations of the world (1Delhaize Group SA, 2014). In this regard, the paper elaborates on the different approaches of the sustainability operations that are prevalent in the global world. A detailed review of the sustainability operation practiced by the Delhaize Group has been conducted. Sustainability Practices Literature Review Bartlett (2012) defines sustainability, as “sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (pp. 2). This suggest that the present day society is majorly concerned about renewable resources and protecting the same. The development of the different means that would help in protecting the non-renewable resources form depletion is a major need for the present day (Bartlett, 2012). In this respect, Kuhlman and Farrington (2010) noted on the “optimal theory of exploitation of non-renewable resources” exclaiming that even after the depletion of the different non-renewable resources, the organisations are hardly inclined towards protecting the same. Maintaining sustainability is a further challenge as humans and nature has an opposite mode of operation. The nature follows a strict rule of adaptation as well as harmony whereas humans are majorly focused on conquering the nature and its resources. Contextually, Ciegis, Ramanauskiene and Martinkus (2009) stated that owing to the diversified nature of the different program and mode of operations of the different communities, it is difficult to develop a unanimous definition about the sustainable development. This diversification in the modes of operation among the masses has imposed a further threat on environmental degradation. This phenomenon has enhanced the need to integrate sustainable development into the business processes, so that an overall sustainable development could be initiated (Strange and Bayley, 2008). To develop a sustainable domain, the organisations need to develop their consumption pattern to reduce environment degradation that they are causing from their operations. Contrary to the above, Drake and Spinler (2013), comments that the rapid fall in the level of the renewable sources and slow development of the alternative sources that may support the consumption of power has been largely affecting the sustainable development of the organisations. As noted by Laing (2010), the business entities have been developing their practices in a sustainable way to enhance their approach and prevent environmental degradation. Spence, Agyemang and Rinaldi (2012) stated that the sustainable practices could hardly be integrated into the business operations of the Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs). This is justified owing to their small mode of operations and very less amount of capital. It could be further stated that 90% of the total business conducted by the SME’s fails in adopting sustainability in operations (ACCA, 2012). Hence, to reduce the degradation of the environment through the operations of the business, the SME’s must be focused majorly. This reflects that to initiate sustainable development, the organisations must be majorly focused on the development of the different approaches that supports their motive of reduction of environment degradation. According to Bonini and Gorner (2011), the different companies irrespective of their mode of operation have been inclined to develop their governance based on their sustainable domain. It has been often noted that the development of sustainable domain has been a very difficult task for the organisations. In this context, different observation has been supporting the fact that by developing the sustainability concept, the organisations can effectively enhance their efficiency. Accordingly, Bekele, Bosona, Nordmark, Gebresenbet and Ljungberg (2012) stated that the development of a sustainable practice has become mandatory for the organisations to develop their performances. Small-scale organisations must be inclined towards the development of the different approaches that should be aligned with the sustainability practices (Rangan, Chase and Karim, 2012). This would even help the organisations to monitor their operations and enhance their credibility. The sustainable practices would even enhance organisational ethics and corporate social responsibility (Asemah, Okpanachi and Edegoh, 2013). Furthermore, the report presented by ACCA (2010), reflected the fact that sustainable reporting helps an organisation to maintain their sustainability and develop their approach towards a sustainable environment. It has been also noted that the SMEs faces severe amount of financial constraints in order to enhance their sustainability programs. This could be effectively managed by proper financing of their operations and enhance the different approaches of the management to support the sustainability development. Correspondingly, Kis, Gal and Veha (2010) have briefed that economic, effectiveness and efficiency have been supporting the sustainable development for the local business. In this regard, Kalubanga (2012) commented that the organisations in order to develop their environmental and social sustainability must monitor their performances. The reduction of the environmental impacts from the operations of the business has been the prime motive of the present day organisation. Organisations irrespective of their mode of operation have been planning to develop their sustainable domain for performing operations with better longevity (Kalubanga, 2012). Zabihi, Habib and Mirsaeedie (2012) stated that the most important challenge to implement sustainable practices is to reduce the environmental impact towards developing the quality life of the organisations. This could be further noted that the development of the sustainability concept has been a very complex task for the organisations (Zabihi, Habib and Mirsaeedie, 2012). Methodology The sustainability practices prevalent within the organisation i.e. Delhaize Group could be analysed with the assistance of data to be collected from the annual reports of the company. Hence, in order to obtain the objectives of the research the different academic sources has been used ro obtain relevant data for the study. Moreover, to enhance the relevance of the research, a qualitative analysis has been conducted on the empirical evidences that are present. A qualitative analysis has been conducted on the research, as it helps in providing a scientific approach towards attaining the researches. Correspondingly, evidenced based researches that are available in the qualitative analysis helps in providing a guided step towards attaining the different objectives of the research. The qualitative analysis further provides with a descriptive as well as an interpretive approach towards attaining the research objective. Furthermore, the analysis of the social sciences is observed to be quite dynamic and qualitative research with its wide array of theoretical evidences increases the credibility of the research (Hancock, Ockleford and Windridge, 2009). Correspondingly, the wide array of the literary evidences helps in developing a better understanding towards the research objectives. Owing to the fact that the sustainability practices is highly diversified quantitative approaches would not be able to develop a proper analysis of the research. Additionally, the quantitative approaches will not be able to judge the different changing needs of the sustainability with the changing times. This diversified nature of the component has made it very difficult to judge on as particular trend. Hence, to obtain the desired outcome of the research, a qualitative approach has been most suitable to attain the objective of the research. With the use of a qualitative approach, an integrated research could be conducted that would help in enhancing the credibility of the research. Furthermore, a qualitative analysis would help in exploring new ideas, develop new interpretation of the particular research and enhance the relevance of the same (Yin, 2010). Discussion Delhaize Group has been performing their sustainability programs since 2008. The company has been effectively managing their sustainable domain by enhancing the use of the environment friendly goods. By aligning objectives to meet with the needs of the biodegradable products, the company has been successfully developing sustainability program. In addition, the company has been catering services to different countries with the different needs of sustainability. The diverse mode of operation has been observed to be a huge challenge for the company to develop their image as a social responsible entity. Moreover, the diverse mode of operation has also created a backlog for the company to develop a unanimous program that would cover up the needs of different societies. With the introduction of the eco transport, the company could cut down it greenhouse gas emission to a greater extent. The development of the different healthier products would also facilitate the company in enhancing its sustainability in operations (2Delhaize Group, 2011). Delhaize Group has three basic motto of operation, which revolves around higher level of efficiency, accelerated growth and sustainability. With the notion to become the leader of sustainability in the global world, the company has been enhancing corporate image by efficiently integrating the different sustainable means. By reducing the amount of waste across the group, the retail food supplier has been effectively managing their competitive index successfully. Furthermore, the company has been ensuring that it provides different food products that are harvested in a sustainable way (3Delhaize Group, 2012). This increases the quality of supplies and further develops the company’s image as a responsible entity. Moreover, the company in order to enhance its quality of the food products has been majorly obtaining supplies from the local producers. This ensures that the food products that they are providing to its consumers are fresh and sustainable. By implying this process of collection of supplies, the company has been successfully cutting down its supply cost. Parallel to this, the company has successfully minimised carbon emission by strategically managing supply chain activities (3Delhaize Group, 2012). Delhaize Group has been operating its business with the main motive to develop its business entity as a corporate citizen. Besides generating revenue, the company is majorly focused on catering elite class services to the consumers. By enhancing sustainability reporting technique, the group has strategically developed its image as a social responsible entity. Moreover, by adopting sustainability of the seafood, the company has efficiently enhanced its reflection as a responsible entity. The company has efficiently reduced carbon emission by enhancing its supply chain management and developing strategies to reduce greenhouse emission (2Delhaize Group, 2011). Furthermore, the company is majorly inclined towards reporting sustainability to the target customers, as it would help the company to meet its commitments and develop its consumer base. Correspondingly, the company has been enhancing its sustainability reporting structure to develop its corporate entity and set new goals. This strategic planning of sustainability in operations has enhanced the company’s ability to perform and develop a separate recognition of sustainability practices in the global domain. The sustainability reporting even helps the company to find the major loopholes in the existing system and helps in developing the same (4Delhaize Group, 2013). Conclusion Sustainability practices in operations have been observed to be one of the most important needs of the present day organisations. The organisations in order to enhance their acceptability have been developing their sustainable domain in the global market. Owing to the fact that the rising demand of the different sustainable practices has become prominent in the present day, it has been creating a huge impact on the organisational operations. The organisations in order to develop their competitive advantage have been enhancing their entity as an environment friendly organisation. However, it has been noted that different organisations have been facing constraints of operation owing to the limited access to different operations and inappropriate practices. The organisations in order to enhance their social entity have been reducing carbon emission. Delhaize Group like all other organisation has been developing its image as a socially responsible entity. In order to do so, the company has enhanced its sustainability with respect to quality services and reducing greenhouse gases emission. By strategically managing its supply chain operations, the company has successfully reduced carbon emission. Moreover, by integrating different green or eco-friendly transport for its supply purpose, the company has further developed sustainability in operations. By integrating the local supply system, the company has effectively managed time lapse between the different supply chains and have enhanced the quality of its products. The company has been following different sustainable practices and have enhanced its position as a responsible entity. References ACAA. (2012). Embedding Sustainability in SMEs. Available from: http://www.accaglobal.com/content/dam/acca/global/PDF-technical/small-business/pol-tp-esis-v1.pdf [Accessed 23 November 2014]. ACCA. (2010). Sustainability Reporting Matters. Available from: http://www.accaglobal.com/content/dam/acca/global/PDF-technical/sustainability-reporting/tech-tp-srm.pdf [Accessed 23 November 2014]. Asemah, E. S., Okpanachi, R. A. and Edegoh, L. O. N. (2013). Business advantages of corporate social responsibility practice: A critical review. 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