How to Incorporate Business Ethics in Dealing with E-Waste for Sustainable Livelihoods - Coursework Example

al affiliation: Introduction There are a lot of sustainability problems in Africa, which have to with environmental pollution. Most of the way waste is treated in developing countries leaves a lot still to be desired. My area of focus will be solely on the handling of electronic waste. Electronic Waste can be defined to refer to the old electrical appliances which have completely exhausted their useful life and thus have been disposed of by its former users. These materials can be said to include; Tvs, computers, video games, laptops, mobile phones, Mp3 players, VCRs/DVD players among others. Other names that are commonly used to refer to electronic waste include; E-waste, e-scrap or Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). The issue of e-waste is a serious sustainability problem which if not addressed can lead to serious environmental as well as human health. Many organisations that manufacture this equipment usually have the least ideas on how to deal with the waste of their products after consumption and therefore this makes e-waste sustainability issue. Therefore, organisations need to adopt business ethics that are to be integrated efficiently in order to facilitate a safer environment for all. Business ethics can be defined to be a system of moral principles that are functional in the commercial world (Fritzsche, D.J., and Oz, E. 2007). These business ethics usually provide acceptable guidelines that provide a basis in the organization’s policy formulation, as well as its daily operations (Jones, 2009). Ethical dimension has to be incorporated in organizational management so as to facilitate corporate success and spread a positive corporate image (Arnold, Audi, & Zwolinski, 2010). Many corporate institutions have channelled their concentration on increasing their profit and have completely neglected their actions that promote environmental pollution. However, our discussion will entail how to incorporate business ethics in dealing with e-waste for sustainable livelihoods, and this will involve the application of four ethical theory aspects. First and foremost, we will discuss the four ethical theories which will form the basis of our discussion. These include; a) Theory of Ethical Egoism Ethical egoism is majorly concerned with optimizing the good particularly for the moral agent. There are two main forms of egoism which are psychological and ethical egoism. Psychological egoism holds the view that human beings programmed in a particular way which influences them to behave in a way that is for their interest. On the other hand, ethical egoism is a normative theory that suggests that people ought to do things solely in their self-interest. Therefore, this means that the individual act to support their long-term interest (Shultz & Brender-Ilan, 2004; Jones et al., 2007). b) Utilitarianism The word utilitarian usually represents influential or consequential ethical philosophy. There are two common thoughts about utilitarian when it comes to this theory. There are pluralistic utilitarian and the preference utilitarian concepts The pluralistic utilitarian has come up with a fundamental list of good things that are to be added to the pleasure. For instance, things like knowledge, friendship, freedom among others. Preference utilitarian suggests stringent basis for utility theories that are based on the choices, desires and behaviour as opposed to pleasure (Schumann, 2001). c) Deontology Deontology is the third ethical theory. According to Immanuel Kant, he suggested that good will was the highest good. He also stated that the actions that could be termed to be morally right were those performed with a sense of duty (Kant, 1998 (1781; 1785)). Therefore, what this means is that what matters most in making an action to be considered good is the intention driving an action as opposed to the consequence. Kant second rule suggested that human beings should not be treated as a means to someone’s end but as an end to themselves. In his third rule, he stipulates that one should behave as if he was a member of an ideal kingdom of ends. He means one should actis in both capacities of the king and a sovereign at the same time (Bowie, 2002). d) Theory of Justice Rawls documents that social and economic inequalities are normally there so as to t exploited for the common good of the disadvantaged. Therefore, he suggests that the first step to social justice in institutions is more inclined to justice for individual as opposed to the collective welfare. This theory hence calls for inequalities only in situations that yield benefits to everyone with particular attention to the disadvantaged (Rawls (1971).The theory of justice recommends that decision makers are supposed to be guided by fairness, equity as well as impartiality (Cavanaugh et al., 1981). Electronic Waste As we said earlier, electronic waste is a headache to many governments especially developing countries. The reason is that there may be lacking proper policies that are supposed to govern the disposal of these waste. At times, some of the existing regulatory frameworks are being poorly implemented leaving heaps and heaps of these e-scraps. Another reason for the increased generation of this waste is connected to the lack of appropriate technologies to be applied in order to promote recycling so that in the long-term we can promote sustainable development. This challenge of e-waste has continued to grow at unprecedented rates leaving little at action. Majority of the population are more focussed on the service life of these electrical and electronics equipment and after their useful life, they don’t care where they will dispose of this equipment. As a result, this has led to some business organisations/investors are injecting the necessary technologies in their countries so as to solve this environmentally unwanted waste. There are some countries whose informal sector has devised makeshift methods to recycle the e-waste. Although their crooked methods work efficiently to some extent, their health is at risk because of the chemicals in use. In addition, the environment suffers as the by-products of their recycling activities end up being poured into the soil that injects unwanted metal elements into the soil. Application of the theories in a business Organisation Attero Recycling Company is an e-waste company in India which has been dedicated to helping solve the nightmare of e-waste. In India, this company is the only fully integrated e-waste company.The meaning of this is that they possess the updated technology and machinery necessary to facilitate sound recycling that has minimal or no negative effects on the health of the workers or either to the environment in general. According to Attero Recycling, it is very difficult to handle e-waste because of the high level of mixed metal, as well as pollutant composition. This waste is said to contain serious pollutants, for example; lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium and beryllium. These E-waste also contain brominates flame retardants (BFRs), PVCs and compounds of phosphorus that possess toxins that are termed resistant and which bio-accumulates in human bodies (Attero Recycling, 2011). Furthermore, 95% of unorganized recycling leads to very serious air and water pollution. Moreover, it causes a negative impact on health and safety of surrounding communities (Attero Recycling, 2011). The theory of ethical egoism suggests that an action is ethical when it promotes individual’s long-term interest (Reidenbach & Robin, 1990; Jones et al., 2007). The theory has been applied comprehensively at Attero Recycling Company simply because the company has not put its foot forward to maximum of the business of recycling at the expense of its employees. The organization understands the sensitivity and the health risks associated with the type of waste that the deal with thus they have prioritized the safety of their employees. What demonstrates this theory being in effect is the organized structure of the operation that is existent in the company. The organisation comprehensively performs regular audits that focus on ensuring that the level of compliance within the existing Health, Environment and Safety standards continues to be upheld. These regular checks have continued to ensure that the long-term interest of employees is fulfilled by minimizing the health risks posed by exposure of the working conditions. Through promoting safety to the environment as well as to its users, this can be considered to be one of the major contrbutors to a path towards sustainable development. Also, this theory applies inform of the way the company has ensured that their long-term interest which health& safety, protecting the environment and having the required capacity to handle its waste is first fulfilled. After fulfilling their primary goals, they have extended their helping hand to other companies who are struggling with their e-waste load and this has continued to help reduce environmental pollution. Besides the pollution to the environment, the sustainable livelihoods of the communities in India have been enhanced. Material Number of Years it may last, if the world consumes at todays rate Application % of Recycling Aluminium 1027 Transport, Electrical, Consumer Durables 49 Antimony 30 Drugs Data Not Available Chromium 143 Chrome Plating, Paint 25 Copper 61 Wire, Coins, Plumbing 31 Gallium Data Not Available LEDs, Solar Cells, Lasers 0 Germanium Data Not Available Infrared Optics, Semiconductors 35 Gold 45 Jewellery, Dental 43 Hafnium Data Not Available Computer chips, Power station Data Not Available Indium 13 LCDs 0 Lead 42 Lead pipes, Batteries 72 Nickel 90 Batteries, Turbine blades 35 Phosphorous 345 Fertilizer, Animal Feed 0 Platinum 360 Jewellery, Catalysts, fuel cells for cars 0 Rhodium Data Not Available X‐Rays, Cat, Converters Data Not Available Silver 29 Jewellery, Catalytic converter 16 Tantalum 116 Cell phones, Camera lenses 20 Tin 40 Cans, Solder 26 Uranium 59 Weapons, Power stations 0 Zinc 46 Galvanizing 26 The second theory is about Utilitarian which focuses on the ends and not the means. It also goes ahead to factor in all current and future benefits as well as harm that may accrue from a particular action (Snoeyenbos & Humber, 2002). (source: Attero Recycling, 2011) Attero Company has applied this theory of utilitarian by sensitizing the community about the environmental effects of the current usage of these natural elements that are commonly used in manufacturing different electrical and electronic waste. This knowledge is very crucial to help the global community to rethink once again about their extraction rate in order to avoid over-exploitation that will easily lead to depletion of these resources. This company is sensitizing the global community so as to promote sustainable development. Sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of the current generation without compromising the ability of future generation to benefit from the same. (Strange & Baylay, 2008) Therefore, this theory is practical because the company is recycling some of these metal elements with a view of prolonging the resource life of thes unexploited metals ores. Here the company has its sights on the future generations will be able to benefit from the same. Hence, Attero Recycling Company has enlightened the world about the potential depletion of this materials hence promoting environmental awareness and preventing the harm that would otherwise result from failure to recycle. Act utilitarianism is achieved through maximizing benefits relative to cost as it’s done by the company after recycling. Thirdly, the theory of justice can be used to elaborate some aspects in Attero Recycling Company. This theory is dependent on the on three kinds of moral prescriptions. The first one is that individuals in the same category should be accorded a similar treatment while those of different levels of position should be treated differently as long as it’s with the reasonable range of accordance. The second kind states that the administration of rules should be fair and clear. Lastly, individuals need not be held liable for issues that they have no control over, and thus they should be compensated for the cost of injuries by those responsible for these injuries (Budd, 2004). The legal frameworks of India recognize a principle that can be used to promote justice incase of any injurious act caused by the negligence of one party. The presence of the principle of polluter pay principle has alerted the organisation to be careful on how they dispose their waste or any by-products of the waste generated. Due care has being priortized so as to avoid being liable for any injury that may result. In India, pollution definition may be derived from the Water (Prevention and Control) Act, 1974, Air Act.1981 and also the Environmental Protection Act, 1986. From the definitions from those Acts, it is evident that pollution is something likely to generate a nuisance that may be injurious or may cause. That why Attero recycling is very strict to perform regular audits that are done according to the existing Health, Safety and Environmental Standards. The essence of such measures is to avoid the compensations either to its employees or the surrounding community which may arise from any act of negligence. Last but not the least, is the theory of deontology on whose third rule suggest that a member should embrace an ideal ‘kingdom of ends.’ It proposes that one presumes both of the roles of the king and sovereign at the same time (Bowie, 1999). Therefore, from an organisational level, it means that the rules in governance in an organization must be supported by every member. This can be taken to be the case in Attero recycling because of the good corporate image that exists which defines the organisation as the only integrated e-waste recycling company in India. The recognision of the company can be taken to an indicator that there are coordinated cooperation and harmony within the rules and regulations governing the organisation hence the high levels of performance. This governance can be evident through the available protections which are efficient enough to ensure zero waste discharge and very minimal landfill. The company has been tagged as an ISO certified shows that they have a strong environmental management system which ensures that the organisation is 100% environmental friendly with very secure recycling operations in place. All these are down to good governance in place and members of staff being in support of the existing management structures. Conclusion Organisation should adopt good business ethic practices that will yield sustainable development. These can include an advanced air management system which will assist to monitor parameters like noise pollution, carbon monoxides/dioxides, radiations and EM pollution SO2, SO, chlorine among others. Also, a sound advanced Water Management System should be in place to monitor things like flow level, PH, temperature, conductivity, hardness, TDS, ORP, DO, BOD/COD and others. When all these parameters are in good check then, the environmental system in place can work in totality and give sound results. Finally, ethics theory should be adopted and applied in a practical way in any relevant organisation, and the outcome will be excellent. The organisation will be operating at its prime both economically and environmentally so as to promote sustainable development. References Arnold, D., Audi, R., & Zwolinski, M. 2010. Recent Work in Ethical Theory and Its Implications for Business Ethics. New York: Rowman & Littlefield. Attero Recycling. 2011. “India’s only fully Integrated e-waste Company." Mumbai: Attero Recycling. Bowie, N.E. 2002.A Kantian Approach to business Ethics in Frederick, R.E. Companion to Business Ethics, Blackwell, UK. Bowie, N.E.1999. Business Ethics: A Kantian Perspective. Malden, Mass: Blackwell. Budd, J.W.2004. Employment with a Human Face Balancing Efficiency, Equity, and Voice. Cornell University Press Fritzsche, D.J., and Oz, E. 2007. Personal Values Influence on the Ethical Dimensions of Decision Making. Journal of Business Ethics, 75: 335-343. Jones, D.A. 2009. A Novel Approach to Business Ethics Training: Improving Moral Reasoning in Just a Few Weeks. Journal of Business Ethics, 88: 367-379 Jones, T.M., Felps, W., and Bigley, G.A. 2007. Ethical Theory and Stakeholder – Related Decisions: The Role of Stakeholder Culture Academy of Management Review, 32(1): 137-155. Kang, H. Y., & Schoenung, J. M. 2005. Electronic waste recycling: A review of US infrastructure and technology options. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 45(4), 368-400. Kant, I. 1998. 1785 Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. Edited by Mary Gregor. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Rawls, J. 1971. A Theory of Justice Cambridge, MA: Harvard Univ. Press. Reidenbach, R.E. and Robin, D.P. 1990. Toward the Development of a Multidimensional Scale for Improving Evaluations of Business. Ethics.Journal of Business ethics, 9:8, 639-653. Schumann, P.L. 2001. A Moral Principles Framework for Human Resource Management Ethics, Human Resource Management Review, 11: 93-111. Shultz, T. and Brender-Ilan, Y. 2004. Beyond Justice: Introducing Personal Moral Philosophies to Ethical Evaluations of Human Resources Practices. Business Ethics: A European Review, 13:4, 302-316. Snoeyenbos, M. and Humber, J.2002. Utilitarianism and Business Ethics, in Frederick, R.E. A Companion to Business Ethics, Blackwell, UK. Strange, T., & Baylay, A. 2008. Sustainable Development. Paris Cedex: OECD. Zwolinski, Matt, and David Schmidtz, 2005. "Virtue Ethics and Repugnant Conclusions," Environmental Virtue Ethics, ed. Philip Cafaro and Ronald Sandier. New York: Rowman & Littlefield. Read More