Environmental and Corporation Social Responsibility - Assignment Example

Environmental and Corporation Social Responsibility 1. Mass, Eutrophication, Acidification, and Global Warming Potential Chart 1.a: Chart 1.b: Chart 1.c: Chart 1.d: From the above graph mass, eutrophication, acidification, and global warming have different effect depending on the amount of the mixture of organic fuel produced in the United States. The data depicts that from the nearly 66% of the energy being produced only a small portion of nearly 25% is converted into electricity that is used for various aspects in the country (Mullerat and Brennan, 2011). Otherwise, the rest of the percentage is emitted to the environment leading to global warming. Notably, the greater the organic mass used in such electricity generation the greater emission thereby translating to greater the effect translated to global warming (Kao, 2010). Notably, the efficiency of production range between 50 and 60 percent; this translates to only to the preferred replacement technology of energy production. From the some graph, it should be noted that the higher the emission of biofuel byproducts into the atmosphere, the higher the ionization rate (Werther and Chandler, 2011). Additionally, the same biofuel products usually react with the free hydrogen gas and radicals in the atmosphere leading to acidic atmosphere. From the graphs, it is also apparent that the higher the energy generation form the biofuel the higher the chances of formation of acidic atmosphere. The effects of the use of biofuel are stronger when the emission is directed to the air other than water (Mullerat and Brennan, 2011). In fact, it should be noted that the direct use of these gases are intense in air emission than water since the water emissions usually result as accidents. Nonetheless, both cases are never environmental friendly. Finally, it should be noted that eutrophication is also affected with increased emission and use of biofuel into the environment. Charts c and d indicate that the high the electricity generation the high the emission; thus, the higher the global warming thereby affecting the normal ecosystem functionalities (Kao, 2010). Hence, it is worth noting that electricity generation among the use of other energy sources contributes to the efficiency of the environment in different ways. All the charts above indicate the higher or the massive use of biofuels in the United States, the higher the effects on Eutrophication, Acidification, and Global Mass Warming; hence, the corporates should minimize such energy use to minimize the effects on the same. 2. Weak Point analysis from GaBi Data.xls Below are graphs generated from GaBi Data.xls Graph 2.a: effect of global warming and acidification Graph 2.b: effects acidification and Eutrophication Graph 2.c: Effects of Eutrophication All these graphs and their subsequent analyses relate to the energy regulation and generation of barley. Production barley involves processes including land preparation, cultivation, seeding, spraying, mashing, oasting, malting, and the use of electricity (Werther and Chandler, 2011). All these process have the effects to the Eutrophication, Acidification, and Global Warming Potential. Notably, the potential effects of all these elements are equated to the mass effect or the mass used in each of the above levels of producing barley (Kao, 2010). The mass in this analysis is the amount of the material used at any given level. Form the gabi_data, it is apparent that the mass translated to the quantity of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere; the higher the mass the higher the amount of carbon emission. It should be noted that the greater the amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere the greater the global warming. Moreover, heating the environment also create conditions that interferes with occurrences of numerous nutrient elements in the atmosphere. During the cultivation stage, much of herbicides and fertilizers are used; recorded at masses. These usages of chemicals lead to increased production of acidic gases into the atmosphere that increases both acidity into the atmosphere and water. Some of the gases that are generated from the same include nitrogentriflouride, nitrous oxide, sulphur hexafluoride, and nitrous oxide (Kao, 2010). All these constitute to organic emission to the air and all contribute to the acidity of all water bodies and the atmosphere. It should be noted that it contributes to Eutrophication since the changes in acidity and alkalinity interferes with nutrient contents in the soil, air, and water. However, it should be noted that cultivation of barley helps in reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere since it absorbs the same reduces the rate of global warming and atmospheric and water acidification (Mullerat and Brennan, 2011). Most of the processing processes of barley involve the use of electricity thereby contributing to increased environmental heating; thus, global warming. It should be noted that both inorganic emissions to air and organic emissions to water are both harmful to the atmosphere and water. Chart 2.d: Diesel Consumption in Barley Production In the production of barley, diesel is often used in the production electricity used in the all processes involved in the production of barley. Shipping of the barley is done by diesel truck. Statistically, “diesel*driven,*Euro*1,*cargo*|technology*mix|*28R32t*gross*weight/22t*payload*capacity (LCA$of$beer$, n.d)”. Electricity is also used in heating water and aerating processes. From the provided data, it is apparent that the great demand of diesel is in the farm production of the barley. Cultivation uses tracks and the same locomotives are used in the cultivation and transporting the same. On the other aspects especially processing stages, electricity is the main source of energy. From the chart 2.d above, point 0 and nearly 2.5, the diesel used is relative high compared to other parts of its application in the production and processing of barley (Werther and Chandler, 2011). Nonetheless, the use of energy in the barley production is intense those contribute to global warming in different aspects with diesel contributing to the generation of carbon dioxide. Recommendations Diesel or the biodiesel fuel has low capacity of greenhouse gas emission compared to other fossil fuels. Nonetheless, it produces carbon dioxide, which is a major greenhouse gas. Carbon dioxide contributes to global warming and environmental acidifications as well as interfering with eutrophication. Therefore, despite its generation when burning biodiesel, it generation can be minimized as low as possible. The major way to help in achieving minimal emission of carbon dioxide is maximum production of barley plants since during production, the barley plants help in absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Additionally, the use of herbicides can be reduced to ensure reduced eutrophication in the soil and water. This can be done through intercropping or rotational cropping since these will reduce the insect buildup and over depletion of soil fertility thereby reducing the use of fertilizers; hence, reducing soil acidity thereby maintaining eutrophication. References Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Kao, R. W. Y. (2010). Sustainable economy: Corporate, social and environmental responsibility. Singapore: World Scientific. Mullerat, R., & Brennan, D. (2011). Corporate social responsibility: The corporate governance of the 21st century. Alphen aan den Rijn: Kluwer Law International. Werther, W. B., & Chandler, D. (2011). Strategic corporate social responsibility: Stakeholders in a global environment. Los Angeles: SAGE. LCA$of$beer$. (n.d.). retrieved May 21, 2014, from http://www.academia-research.com/filecache/instr/b/e/1088161_beer_lca.pdf Bottom of Form Read More