Environmental Sustainability of Products: Just-in-Time Fabrications - Case Study Example

Environmental Sustainability of Products: Just-in-Time Fabrications (JTF) Case Analysis [Name] [Student No] [Lecturer] [Course] [Date] Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Introduction 3 PART I 3 Factors to help determine environmental sustainability of products 3 Key environmental stakeholders and their Roles in JTF Operations 4 Global and local environmental impacts of inputs, operations and output 5 PART 2 6 JTF is at risk of civil litigation from their operations 6 Relevance of EPA 1990 and the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 to JTF operations 7 Likely regulators of JTF operations/ activities 7 Enforcing relevant environmental legislation 8 Conclusion 8 References 9 Introduction Environmentally sustainable products should be able to integrate suitably into the environmental, economic and social fabric of the society. This report presents a case analysis to survey the environmental sustainability of products and the key environmental stakeholders concerned. It also examines global and local environmental impacts of a sustainable product, civil litigation risks and the relevance of EPA 1990 and the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 to JTF operations. PART I Factors to help determine environmental sustainability of products Environmentally sustainable products are those products that are delivered in a cost-effective, socially acceptable and environmentally efficient way. The products integrate suitably into the environmental, economic and social fabric of the society. Hence the three key factors that JTF should consider in determining the environmental sustainability of its fabricated steel items should relate to the environment, economy and society (Zachrisson & Boks 2010, 2-5). The social and environmental factors fall into three classes. These include value chain social impacts, general social impacts and the competitive force of the new product in the society. The sustainability strategy factors that JTF should consider include ensuring regulatory compliance, completing economic, social and environmental integration and attaining competitive advantage. Corporate culture should also be considered. In which case, JTF should incorporate the culture of environmental sustainability in the company. It is also critical to identify and prioritise the local environmental and social issues such as environmental activism that may affect the way JTF operates (Lidman and Renstrom 2011,15-17). Overall, products should be able to satisfy customer needs and preferences. In addition, the product should have both environmental and social significance (Zachrisson & Boks 2010, 7). It should also be able to tackle social and ecological problems related to its manufacture and distribution. The fabricated steel products should also be competitive, so as to be able to survive competitions in the market in the long-run. Key environmental stakeholders and their Roles in JTF Operations How JTF selects to define its stakeholders is a critical determinant of how its relationship with the stakeholders will is considered in the decisions it makes in ensuring environmental sustainability of its products and how the stakeholders will react to such decisions. With this regard, the key stakeholders are those persons or individuals who influence or will be influenced directly or indirectly by JTF’s decisions on environmental sustainability of its products (Epstein 2008, 2). The key environmental stakeholders include the environmental stakeholders, the communities surrounding JTF site, JTF’s shareholders and investors, suppliers, customers and employees (Epstein 2008, 2). The communities surrounding JTF site play a key role in the decisions the company makes in selecting the disposal criteria of waste products. For instance, the company must not dispose old engine oil in the River (04), as it could harm the nearly communities depending on the water for domestic use. New suppliers must also be determined to supply raw materials capable of being recycled, or which are cost-effective and that ensure production of environmentally sustainable products. The environmental regulators in the area JTF operates will check and issue operating permit on condition that JTF has invested in equipment such as boilers that are in line with the regulatory requirements, and which do not lead to trans-boundary pollution (Epstein 2008. 2-3). Shareholders and investors will need to be informed on whether the environmentally sustainable fabricated metal products can sustain the force and the competition in the market. Customers are the key stakeholders in determining whether the products maintain a competitive edge. JTF must inform the customers that the sustainable product satisfies their economic, social and environmental needs (Epstein 2008, 2-3). Employees are also key players in the company. They will need to be trained on new measures to ensure the products meet the customer needs, in addition to the economic, social and environmental concerns (Epstein 2008, 2-3). Global and local environmental impacts of inputs, operations and output i) Inputs- The company’s procurement of recyclable raw materials form sustainable supply sources which will have minimal environmental impacts on local environment. Looking for suppliers with reduced packaging and who supply recycled raw materials, such as 90-100 percent recyclable iron sheets, will reduce the need to mine iron. Carbon emission will also be kept at minimal when low-carbon fuel is used, hence reducing impact on global environment (Lehtonen 2010,1-3). ii) Operations- through research and development, JTF can identify production processes that use resources efficiently, sparingly through use of waste metals. This reduced depletion of iron ores. JTF’s marketing department must determine the changing customer preferences for fabricated metal products that support sustainability principles and in return sell products with minimal local and global economic, social and environmental impacts. The production department should engage engineers and maintenance workforce to innovate processes that are less costly, more efficient and which use less resources and energy while at the same time promoting health and wellbeing. These will ensure minimal local and global economic, social and environmental impacts (Aron & Patz 2001, 3). iii) Output- The end products manufactured at JTF site should be recyclable, to reduce depletion of iron ores in the global and local environment (Aron & Patz 2001, 3). The engine oil used should also be reusable for other purposes, to minimise disposal in the local river. PART 2 JTF is at risk of civil litigation from their operations In response to the likely problem raised in the case study, JTF would be at risk of civil litigation from their operations. Complex issues always arise in case involving trans-boundary environmental harm. It is certain that the community surrounding the area, particularly the children from the school (02) are exposed to dangers from the heat oil, in the boiler house, that raises steam (Ladan 2007, 3). The danger emerges since JTF’s fence has holes. Further, noise and smell of paint from JTF sites also causes air pollution. JTF may be accused of “negligence” and “nuisance.” Litigations for environmental pollutions can take many forms, such as public interest litigation, civil actions that are based on tort and breach of fundamental human rights (Ladan 2007, 3-4). Under the common law, actions on civil or environmental litigations can be due to negligence or nuisance as the court held in the case law Rylands v. Fletcher [1868]. The litigation may be applied to mitigate the environmental pollution. In conclusion therefore, JTF is at risk of civil litigation from their operations. Relevance of EPA 1990 and the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 to JTF operations The Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA) specifies the elemental authority and structure for managing waste and controlling emissions to mitigate environmental pollution. Part II of the Act specifies the requirements for licensing and regulating waste disposal, which governs how JTF should control waste on the land within which it operates, as specified under Section 75. JTF has metal swarf for oil recycling and general waste. The Act also imposes general duty of care on JTF to stop harmful or unauthorised waste treatment and disposal as well as to prevent activities that are detrimental to the environment. This is specified in section 33191)(c) of the EPA 1990 (DEFRA n.d, 3-6). On the other hand, Environmental Permitting Regulations 2010 specified the framework for environmental permits for industrial activities and waste disposal operations in England and Wales. It specifies the standards or requirements that JTF must fulfil to show that its activities are not detrimental to the environment so as to be issued with an operating license (Legislation.gov.uk 2010, 14). Likely regulators of JTF operations/ activities Several environmental regulators govern JTF’s activities. Her Majesty's inspectorate of Pollution (HMIP) regulates the organisation’s waste disposal issues (INECE 2010).  HMIP overseas that JTF’s industrial processes do not pollute the environmental as provided for by Environmental Protection Act 1990 (Richardson 1992, 264). Environment Agency (EA) is an agency of Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. It promotes the purpose of attaining sustainable development through regulation of environmental pollution in England. It regulates JTF’s release of air pollutants through its boiler. Hence, it may issue or revoke JTF’s operating licences such as Environmental Permits if the emissions are detriment to the environment. It also overseas that the old engine oil is not disposed in the nearby water from the JTF site in amounts that are detrimental to the river (DEFRA n.d, 3-6). Enforcing relevant environmental legislation Environmental Agency is mandated through the Environment Act 1995, to oversee the operations of industrial plants and to either issue or revoke permits depending on whether a business or manufacturer disposes waste safely. It enforces the regulation through local authorities and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that emissions from JTF comply with the regulatory standards, and hence cannot lead to trans-boundary air or water pollution. On the other hand, HMIP will regulate JTF’s equipment and machinery directly or through local authorities to ensure that they are installed in compliance with the local environmental conditions. Conclusion Overall, JTF’s fabricated metal products should be able to satisfy customer needs and preferences in addition to environmental and social significance (Zachrisson & Boks 2010, 7). They should also be able to tackle social and ecological problems related to its manufacture and distribution. The products should as well be competitive enough to survive competitions in the market in the long-run. The key environmental stakeholders include the environmental stakeholders, the communities surrounding JTF site, JTF’s shareholders and investors, suppliers, customers and employees. The Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA) specifies the elemental authority and structure for managing waste and controlling emissions to mitigate environmental pollution. In response to the likely problem raised in the case study, JTF would be at risk of civil litigation from their operations. JTF may be accused of “negligence” and “nuisance. References Aron, J & Patz, J 2001, Ecosystem Change and Public Health: A Global Perspective, JHU Press, Baltimore Epstein, M 2008, Making Sustainability Work, Daedalus Strategic Advising, Daedalus DEFRA n.d, Waste Management the Duty of Care; a Code Of Practice, viewed 29 Jan 2014, Read More