Sustainable Business Development - Essay Example

Sustainable Business Development Contents Introduction 3 Discussion 3 Conclusion 6 References 7 Introduction This study is centred towards choosing a product or service which causes significant environmental implications. These implications are associated with product production and consumption. Environmental impact is a common factor in many manufacturing activities and this result into adoption of sustainable business practices. Fuel as a consumable product is selected for this particular study.

This product causes environmental impact during its production stage and even at the stage of its consumption. Production and consumption sphere would be highlighted separately in this study. Discussion The production of crude oil or bio fuel has significant impact on external environment. Crude oil production has been elaborated further in figure 1.Figure 1: Crude Oil Production(Source: Keesom, Blieszner and Unnasch, 2012)Oil industry is usually denoted as the most profitable business segment.

Refined products in this production procedure is formed after undertaking series of steps such as partial refining, transport, refining, storage and transport, and delivery of final products. The crude oil production is linked with environmental impacts caused at different levels such as water, soil, air and living beings. Pollution is closely knitted with oil production in the form of wastewaters, solid waste, aerosols and gas emissions discharged while refining, transportation, drilling and production procedure.

Water contamination mainly results during oil production due to oil spills or cooling water discharges. Refining or production operations results into certain harmful emissions like sulfur, ammonia, nitrogen oxide, fluorine, acid mist, etc. There is even occasional release of alkaline materials and solvents in oil production stage. Solid waste generated though production tends to contaminate surface water and soil (EPA, 2013). Noise pollution is a major issue in such mechanism. Oil production is likely to cause accidents in terms of explosion or fire.

In overall context increasing demand for crude oil as a major energy source is enhancing its production rate but as a natural resource it is depleting at a faster rate. Crude oil results into wide array of co-products as stated in figure2.Figure 2: By-Products of Crude Oil(Source: Keesom, Blieszner and Unnasch, 2012)In current scenario the percentage of oil consumption has succeeded the rate of oil production as outlined in figure 3.Figure 3: Oil Consumption Vs Production(Source: González, 2008)As per the statistics given in figure3, the rate of oil consumption has increased over the years.

This product do not possessed a long lifecycle and has to be replaced at a rapid rate. Oil drilling results into depletion of natural resource. At the consumption stage huge amount of harmful chemicals and gas is discharged into atmosphere causing air pollution. This even results into global warming along with intensified noise pollution. Living beings are affected to a great extent through discharge of such harmful pollutants.Conclusion In this study environmental impact caused by crude oil production and consumption is appropriately outlined.

There have been figures provided which denotes that oil consumption has increased in recent years resulting into high rate of pollution. Oil production comprises of a series of steps and is supposedly the most essential energy source. This topic can be elaborated further in terms of technological innovation or stakeholder’s role or environmental regulatory standards which are needed for incorporating sustainable business practices. ReferencesEPA. 2013. Clean energy. [Online] Available at: [Accessed 12 February 2015].

González, P. R., 2008. Running Out, 2008: How global shortages change the economic paradigm. USA: Algora Publishing. Keesom, B., Blieszner, J. and Unnasch, S., 2012. EU pathway study: life cycle assessment of crude oils in a European context. [Online] Available at: [Accessed 12 February 2015].