Environmental Obligations of Business Enterprises - Essay Example

Environmental Obligations of Business Enterprises Name Institution Date Environmental Obligations of Business Enterprises In the operation of every business entity, certain demands are expected from the enterprise from sectors. The business has the sole obligation to provide these demands in order to ensure effective and efficient operation. Among the sectors that present certain obligations to the business entity includes, the government, customers, stakeholders, the society and the environment. Various sectors have different requirements from to offer to the business organization. For example, business activities should at all times provide a healthy atmosphere in their environment of operation. An array of aspects constitutes the business working environment. Firstly, the internal environment of the organization entails the employees of the organization that deserves certain conditions in their operations. However the major environment that the firm should protect and preserve in this dimension is the natural environment. In its operations, organizations should always provide a healthy environment. This basically relates to the production and related activities and processes of the firm. Any activities that results into the pollution of the environment should be avoided. In promoting a healthy environment, operating firms will take into consideration the welfare of the surrounding community. In an effort to prevent environmental pollution, among the areas of major considerations will include aquatic life, air and sound pollution. In bid to ensure adherence to these demands from various sectors, certain enactments have been put in place by the concerned authorities. The laws have played an integral part in achieving these provisions as firms bypassing the laws are taken through legal penalties. This paper will therefore focus on the various environmental obligations that business organizations should offer in their activities Initially, one of the sole responsibilities of the business in their activities is to ensure a healthy environment. Environmental pollution is a common phenomenon in the operation of organizations. Pollution entails various perspectives that includes, water pollution, air pollution and sound pollution (Swanson, 2002, p. 16). Most activities of business organizations often results into the production of gaseous effluents in the air that is harmful to both human and the plantation. Gases such as sulfur dioxide results into chronic respiratory infections when inhaled and therefore their productions should be controlled. In addition when sulfur oxide in the atmospheric environment will result into the production of acid rain. The release of the acidic rain will cause various devastating results on the environment. Weakening of metallic materials will be witnessed as a result of this type of rain. In fact, this is one of the reasons why corrugated roofing sheets in industrial areas wear out faster than in other areas. To protect their premises and the local communities, organizations should ensure that they minimize emissions of acidic gases into the environment. Similarly, the release of carbon dioxide in the environment will result into the depletion of the ozone layer. As a result global warming will be pronounced that has devastating consequences to the environment. Increased sunlight intensity is one of the effects of depletion of the ozone layer. If measures are not ensured, excess sun rays in the long run causes skin cancer that may compromise the lives of individuals. Business enterprises therefore should initiate mechanisms that will prevent the emission of these dangerous gasses to the environment in strive to promote a healthy environment. Construction of gas chimneys with gas absorbers should be implemented in bid to prevent these adverse effects of air pollution (Cragg et al, 1997, p. 97). Firms should not only engage in this when and where the law stipulates so but they should do it as responsible corporate citizens and as moral obligation. These concerns also extend to sound pollution. The activities of producing business enterprises are often characterized by loud noise from the operating machines. This when not prevented will result into discomfort among the company’s employees and the general public in general. Hearing complications is one of the major health concerns that are realized due to the noise pollution from producing industries. In bid to curb these noise problems, business firms can develop sound prove walls that limits the production of noise. Besides, more effective machines that produce less noise can be incorporated into the operations of the firm. Similarly, company activities will affect the aquatic environment in various ways (Schabsky, 2010). Certain effluents released from business enterprise usually contain untreated wastes that are harmful to the aquatic life. The release of these wastes will basically result into the demise of the aquatic life. In adverse situations, the infections can be passed to human life on consumption of the aquatic life. Owing to this devastating possible aftermath of waste release to water bodies, ventures should have proper strategies to eliminate these possibilities. One of the key mechanisms that can be adopted includes treatment of the waste products before release to the aquatic environment. Secondly, the waste products can be recycled and reused in the activities of the organization. This will greatly eliminate the pollution as waste will be conveniently reutilized. In the event of environmental pollution either by the enterprise or an existing pollution, the organization has the responsibility to notify the concerned authorities about the pollution. This will significantly prevent the effects of continued pollution. The situations also require that the entity takes a noble role in the adoption of possible strategies to curb the pollution effects. However, when the major cause of the pollution is from\the activities of the business, it is an environmental obligation the firm should adhere to the stipulated environmental penalties. The developments will limit the possibilities of a future pollution (Letcher & Vallero, 2011, p501). In its activities, organizations employ various resources in ensuring the achievement of the intended goals of the organization. Resources therefore form an integral part of the operations of a business organization. This demands that organizations should ensure the conservation of the available resources in order to ensure continuous usage. In the event that the organization is involved in the use of forest resource, measures should be adopted that ensures re plantation so as to prevent depletion of the resource. This also applies to companies in charge with mining activities. There should be concern for future demand for the resources. Owing to this, the operations will be undertaken with temperance in order to allow for the protection of both the renewal and the non-renewable sources. The protection of the environment can also be achieved through various laws the controls actions in the society. Business enterprises can take a noble part in the enacting of these laws besides supporting the implementation procedures. The support in these enactments can be achieved through providing personnel with the desired expertise besides providing financial support for the procedures. Green production entails the indulgence in business activities that are environmentally friendly. Organizations should adopt green productions in order to protect and preserve the environment. The use of green energy in operating machines should be replaced by strategies such as use of the solar energy. In addition, activities that may pose danger to the natural environment inhabitants should be avoided. This will involve shunning activities like trading in various parts of wild and domestic animals. The use of machines like cars that consume large volumes of fuel should be exchanged with those that conserve fuel. In the long run, this will limit the usage of the natural resources hence depletion will have been countered. Environmental concern also assists in positioning the firm above other organizations. Individuals often prefer to be associated by firms that indulge in environmental conservation and protection activities. This is largely witnessed in the United Kingdom where environmentally friendly organizations thrive in the market (Smith & Moore, 2012, p. 250). In such markets therefore, firms can use green production techniques to appeal to specific market niches. Conclusion In conclusion, it therefore becomes manifested that there is need for business organizations to adhere to various demands from diverse sectors. Firstly, effectiveness will be realized in the operations of the organizations if the various demands are provided. Protection of the natural environment will impact on the operations of the firm positively. These natural resources are major raw materials in most production activities, protection of these resources will give confidence for future operations. Recycling of the already used materials has been manifested to essential in reducing the operational costs. Besides, the process helps greatly in protecting the aquatic life. Consequently, owing to health problems associated with environmental pollution, effective mechanisms should be initiated that will counter the possibility of persons being affected by the firms’ productions. Dangerous gaseous are the major cause of depletion of the ozone layer that results into cases of skin cancer that can be devastating in the long run. Gas absorbers should therefore be situated along the chimneys in the production sector so as to prevent emission of the gasses. In order to achieve these various demands, the organizations should therefore adopt proper mechanisms that will ensure the provision of these demands. In the case of environmental concerns, certain aspects can be integrated into the production activities of the firm as opined in the paper. Effective adoption of the mechanisms will result into protection of the environment which is one of the sole responsibilities of business enterprises. References LETCHER, T. M., & VALLERO, D. A. (2011). Waste a handbook for management. Amsterdam, Elsevier/Academic Press. http://public.eblib.com/EBLPublic/PublicView.do?ptiID=667711. MOORE, L., & FREEHILL, H. S. (2012). Environmental risks for major projects: jurisdictional comparisons. Thomson Reuters. SCHABSKY, T. (2010). Environmentalism and International Companies Climate Change and the Principle of Responsibility. München, GRIN Verlag GmbH. http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:101:1-201009163495. SWANSON, T. (2002). An introduction to the law and economics of environmental policy: issues in institutional design. Amsterdam [u.a.], JAI. WELLINGTON, A., GREENBAUM, A. J., & CRAGG, W. (1997). Canadian issues in environmental ethics. Peterborough, Ont, Broadview Press. Read More