Discussion Question & Participation Questions - Essay Example

1. An EMS planning system enables a firm to diminish the impact its operation have on the environment. There are many environmental factors that mustbe considered to optimize the effectiveness of an EMS. Four factors are CO2 emissions, energy consumption, water usage, and raw material usage. CO2 emissions create air pollution. Lowering the release of the gases is the only way to solve the greenhouse effect problem. Companies can lower their CO2 emissions by lowering its usage of petroleum based products. Energy consumption can be lowered by purchasing energy saving equipment. Recycled materials can help preserve valuable natural resources such as aluminum and crude oil. Due to the water scarcity problem in the world companies should not waste water. A way to lower water consumption is to recycle water in manufacturing processes. 2. An environmental aspect matrix is a table that is prepared in order to analyze the impact a company initiative can have on the environment. Each entry in the matrix starts by determining the department in the company that is implementing the changes. An environmental practice can have either an actual or potential impact. The precise environmental benefit must be indicated in the matrix. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of practice the matrix provides qualitative and quantitative information of the impact of the environmental practice. The matrix must state which media was affected. For example reducing CO2 emissions positively affects the quality of the air and protects our atmosphere. Each environmental initiative must be evaluated on a 1-4 rating scale. Other business concerns discussed in the matrix include regulation and legal exposure, cost of changing impact, and effect on public image. 3. Companies have to determine which environmental factors are affecting them the most prior to implementing any changes associated with EMS planning. Spending money and resources on an environmental practice must be justified by the return on investment. For example a company that consumes about the same water as a normal household does should not invest any time or resources to reduce its water consumption. On the other a company that is consuming $100,000 a month on electricity bills should include energy savings initiatives within its EMS. The degree of difficulty in changing the impact is an important business concern because a company must evaluate how complex is the implementation of any environmental practice. If the solution is too complex then the firm must find other simpler alternative solutions. 4. The effect on the public image of a corporation is an important business consideration in EMS planning. If a company is facing pressures from social groups because its business practices are somehow negatively impacting the community and its environment a firm must immediately react to the public’s demands. The impact of the environmental change can help the company because once the changes are made the public will once again support the company. EMS initiatives can be utilized by corporate publicist to increase the popularity of a company in a region which helps increase the revenues of the company. 5. The Clean Cities program is an excellent governmental EMS initiative. The program is so effective because it mobilizes local stakeholders in both the public and private sectors. It is also an excellent educational tool that brings awareness about the technologies available that can help our environment. The initiatives has potential environmental impact because the benefits of the efforts realized through the program are going to be seen in the future as people begin to invest as a consequence of the information they received from Clean Cities in alternatives to eliminate our dependence on crude oil. The program helps original equipment manufacturers, trade associations and other federal agencies coordinate strategies and resources (Energy, 2009). The impact of the program in the long run will help businesses and individual change their buying behavior. Energy.gov (2009). Clean Cities. Retrieved October 16, 2009 from http://www1.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/pdfs/44929.pdf 6. Ventilation is an environmental factor I had not thought of before. It is a simple solution that can bring positive changes for an organization. You mentioned thermal comfort as an environmental factor. During the late 1990’s Nike Corporation got involved in sweetshop practices. Thermal comfort was a factor which created issues in these establishments. I once worked a summer working agriculture. Thermal conform for the employees was an issue. The company provided the workers with special suits to protect them from the sunlight. The equipment investment helped lower the excessive heat the worker were exposes too. Such environmental friendly practices can help improve the public image of a corporation. Waste management is an important environmental consideration. 7. Resource consumption is a critical environmental factor. There are lots of companies that are acting irresponsible in their management of natural resources. In Brazil construction companies are cutting down trees at an accelerated rate which is causing deforestation issues. Deforestation is one of the causes for global warming. In Australia a company that is contributing to reducing the usage of trees for paper consumption is Papyrus Australia. This company developed a paper called banana ply paper whose raw material is banana truck trees. The banana plant is a renewable source. One of the biggest natural resources depletion issues the world is facing is the management of crude oil. Each year we are wasting million of barrels of crude oil to supply gas for automobiles worldwide. Governments have to be more aggressive at adapting alternative fuel technologies based on renewable sources. 8. Land degradation is a major world problem because as humans keep contaminating land the planet is losing the capacity to produce enough food to feed the people. It is estimated the world is currently producing enough food to feed 80% of the population. We need to protect our lands because if we don’t world hunger is going to continue spreading and the cost of food items will rise to higher levels. Food inflation is already a major economical issue worldwide. It is affecting people’s ability to feed their families. The prices of food are directly correlated with the food production capability of farmers worldwide. If land degradation continues there is not going to be enough arable land to feed the future generation of humans. Read More