Continuous Global and Climate Risks Due to Industrial Activities - Essay Example

Problem Solving Research Paper

Research Question :

TOPIC: Corporate Social Responsibility & Environmental Problems

Our world is facing continuous global and climate risks due to industrial activities. The reality is harsh because the environment is changing due to economic activity. Most of the companies in the world are ignoring environmental aspects by limitedly addressing these risks through their decision making. Today, corporate social responsibility for business is developed to address climate concerns, and a consistent approach is positioned to get long-term success for the sustainability of the environment (Mobil, 2019). The corporate leadership focuses on specific actions in the climate favor and to address shareholders' interests.

Climate change results are linked to business operations. Research studies underscore that there is a long term association between corporate performance and sustainability (Beggs & Zhang, 2018). The performance of the company demonstrates that they embrace sustainability through their strategies. A number of scholars argue that climate change can also change the financial conditions of business companies (Demertzidis & Tsalis, 2015). Climate change is also held accountable for the financial loss that, in turn, decreases the portfolio value for the investors. A company is affected by the risks of climate change that are associated with the business environment. Multiple international organizations operate under business initiatives by less considering the environmental concern in their corporate social responsibility.

The climate change risk due to business is categorized in multiple firms such as physical risks, regulatory and litigation risks, and reputational risks. Corporate social responsibility shows a wide variety of actions related to business, i.e., ethical trading and donating to charity. The primary focus of CSR is the protection of the environment (Nations, 2015). Environmental CSR is about reducing damaging effects on the environment related to the business operations. These activities can be waste management, energy and water use, emissions, recycling, eco-friendly office, and policies for business travel. Environment corporate social responsibility provides opportunities to improve the public value of the company in good will and reduce savings. The simple and efficient measures to conserve environment conditions have a specific effect on the business.

The environmental damage due to industrial activities can be of different types. For instance, if an industry is involving workers in mining practice, possible health effects can occur due to temperature damage, the lethality of chemicals and high labor loss can be possible (Demertzidis & Tsalis, 2015). Industrial units expose high-risk threats to humans and biodiversity, such as air and water pollution. Many large industries release chemicals into water, sea, and oceans. The waste cause death of fishes and marine life. Moreover, this hazardous material is lethal for aquatic plants. In Australia and the US, wastage of material and its disposal on agricultural lands have destroyed crops and turned land into barren places.

Environmental degradation can produce the worst quality air that poses serious risks to healthcare. The environmental degradation simply means high-quality pollution into the air that kills living beings or produces certain kinds of lung diseases (Beggs & Zhang, 2018). Pollutants in air and water stay for a long time and enter into human and animal bodies. Not only damage to human health and biodiversity but air pollutants impact buildings, material property, and quality. There are many sources of pollution when it comes to discussing the industrial activity. The toxic waste dumped into the rivers was seen in Nigeria in 1988 when hazardous waste at the shores of Koko Port impacted living beings (Nations, 2015). Water, noise, land, and atmospheric pollution are attributable to industrial activity, and most of the companies try to innovate their CSR by switching the pollution producing channels. Industrialization is economically harmful, particularly when there are less stringent protection regulations for it.

Coca-Cola Company and Environmental Damage

The concept of corporate social responsibility is linked to large companies. Such example is coca-cola that claims its significant CSR is to improve lives and sustainability. However, currently, coca-cola is considered the worst company producing plastic pollution. Corporate social responsibility is the ability of a company to relate its production and policies to the social environment and work in the ways that are beneficial for the community. Coca Cola is a large company producing cold drinks and shipping it globally. It has worldwide reach, and due to its activities, the company is alarming environmentalists. Environmental responsibility is least considered by it. In 1969, it launched a study to examine the impact of products and reduce ways that produce pollution. It adopted cost-efficient ways to replenish the communities where it was involved in the business (Nations, 2015).

Water is the main ingredient for this beverage, yet it is critical to manufacturing. The company has many water stewardship programs. The water conservation by the company is carried out in bottling plants by working with the government to improve water source' quality. The company also measures the internal efficiencies of the plant. It has its own wastewater treatment plants, and it returns a 100% volume of manufacturing water in the environment (Demertzidis & Tsalis, 2015). In 2008, the majority of bottles, say 88% met wastewater guidelines internally. To produce a one-liter beverage, 1-1/3 liters of water are required, coca-cola has worked over it to reduce this quantity.

The company uses cans and plastic bottles for the delivery of the beverage. Most of the process include recyclable material. The bottles used by the company today are lighter than traditional bottles, so new ultra-glass bottles are expensive (Cox, 2019). The company has also invested in the recycling plant located in Spartanburg; it is the largest plant in the world. The main issue here is the climate footprint of coca-cola as refrigeration. The company is working towards a sustainable refrigeration program that will focus on a 40% improvement in the energy due to using an energy specific management system (Beggs & Zhang, 2018).

By 2015, the company has started phasing out hydrofluorocarbons in its equipment. It has co-founded refrigerants to address climate change. The most prevalent issue that damages the environment is fixing leaks and insulating pipes. Additionally, companywide growth is increasing, which will demand more energy (Ramani, 2015). According to the environmentalists, the environmental pressure group has decided that Coca Cola is the second-worst company that is involved in pollution plastic. It is also nominated as the company among the top polluting companies in the world that made the company focus on 484 bleach clean up in the above 50 countries (Franks et al., 2014).

The company has created a plastic pollution crisis that has killed many animals and aquatic organisms. Louise Edge in UK's Ocean Plastic campaign mentioned that company like a corporate giant is polluting beaches and rivers with plastic. Huge global brands are failing about their policy of planning, and they continue to be the worst polluters unless they will focus on their CSR. After the issue, the company has set high standards of its corporate governance to bring a collaborative and innovative culture related to ethical behavior and transparency. The issuing company has created increasing business' carbon foot print and declined sales.

What can be done?

Coca Cola is aware of the issue and shows concerns about rising plastic waste. It has admitted that recycling plastic infrastructure has not kept pace with manufacturing. Issues like local regulations, cost of inefficient material, and linear models of production are bringing risks in global operations. The company has identified that there are hotspots in the region where there is a high need to do recycling. The damage to the ecosystem from pollution is increased and needs an emergency solution.

To solve such problems of the environment, such large companies have to use innovative recyclable materials at the global level. Plant-based raw materials can substitute the petrochemical feedstocks. There should be models that can turn post-consumer plastic into economic valuable value streams and new items. Such systems, if considered, can bring a lot of opportunities for human beings (Mobil, 2019). The plastic production models need a big change, such as reduction of carbon footprint, shifting from single-use plastic and improved ecosystem.

There is a need to learn the 5R model for every large industry; these are, refuse, reuse, reduce, recycle, and rot. These 5R's have zero waste that can damage the environment. There is a need to conserve more water for the ecosystem (Franks et al., 2014). It will help the earth and all living beings. All human beings should focus on environmental protection activities and use and act in a reasonable manner. For instance, pure and natural foods should be used. Always clean the local community. Reusable and disposable items will help the community thrive well and improve its living being. Individuals should use paper plates, towels, and cups to minimize the waste material into the soil ( Cox, 2019).

Coca Cola management is concerned about water resources and climate change. It has added more policies in its corporate social responsibility to address these rising climate concerns. The expertise ensured that all of their operations would contribute positively to marine ecosystems. The company will use the same resources to increase access to safe drinking water (Ramani, 2015). The company is also helping to restore natural cycles of water and benefit from its value chain that can serve the communities and people.

Everyone knows that global temperature is rising, so the disruption in weather is creating frequent natural disasters. Serving under CSR, companies are focusing more on the environment by implementing innovative approaches to reduce the waste material that can minimize harmful impact on individuals and biodiversity (Mobil, 2019). Moreover, companies are monitoring their CO2 emissions from value chains and altering supplier relationships to focus more on investors' and shareholder's relationships.

Climate change results are linked to business operations. Research studies underscore that there is a long term association between corporate performance and sustainability (Beggs & Zhang, 2018). The performance of the company demonstrates that they embrace sustainability through their strategies. A number of scholars argue that climate change can also change the financial conditions of business companies (Demertzidis & Tsalis, 2015). Climate change is also held accountable for the financial loss that, in turn, decreases the portfolio value for the investors. A company is affected by the risks of climate change that are associated with the business environment. Multiple international organizations operate under business initiatives by less considering the environmental concern in their corporate social responsibility.

The climate change risk due to business is categorized in multiple firms such as physical risks, regulatory and litigation risks, and reputational risks. Corporate social responsibility shows a wide variety of actions related to business, i.e., ethical trading and donating to charity. The primary focus of CSR is the protection of the environment (Nations, 2015). Environmental CSR is about reducing damaging effects on the environment related to the business operations. These activities can be waste management, energy and water use, emissions, recycling, eco-friendly office, and policies for business travel. Environment corporate social responsibility provides opportunities to improve the public value of the company in good will and reduce savings. The simple and efficient measures to conserve environment conditions have a specific effect on the business.

The environmental damage due to industrial activities can be of different types. For instance, if an industry is involving workers in mining practice, possible health effects can occur due to temperature damage, the lethality of chemicals and high labor loss can be possible (Demertzidis & Tsalis, 2015). Industrial units expose high-risk threats to humans and biodiversity, such as air and water pollution. Many large industries release chemicals into water, sea, and oceans. The waste cause death of fishes and marine life. Moreover, this hazardous material is lethal for aquatic plants. In Australia and the US, wastage of material and its disposal on agricultural lands have destroyed crops and turned land into barren places.

Environmental degradation can produce the worst quality air that poses serious risks to healthcare. The environmental degradation simply means high-quality pollution into the air that kills living beings or produces certain kinds of lung diseases (Beggs & Zhang, 2018). Pollutants in air and water stay for a long time and enter into human and animal bodies. Not only damage to human health and biodiversity but air pollutants impact buildings, material property, and quality. There are many sources of pollution when it comes to discussing the industrial activity. The toxic waste dumped into the rivers was seen in Nigeria in 1988 when hazardous waste at the shores of Koko Port impacted living beings (Nations, 2015). Water, noise, land, and atmospheric pollution are attributable to industrial activity, and most of the companies try to innovate their CSR by switching the pollution producing channels. Industrialization is economically harmful, particularly when there are less stringent protection regulations for it.

Coca-Cola Company and Environmental Damage

The concept of corporate social responsibility is linked to large companies. Read More