Environment Management

-
Significance of Environmental
Management in Contemporary
Organizations

Shashini Pananwala
Consultant/ Lecturer
National Institute of Business Management
HNDBM
Marks allocation

• Written paper – 60%

• Assignments – 40%
• Case analysis/ Presentation/Final report/ MCQs
What is Environment?
• The National Environmental Act No. 47 of 1980 (NEA)
defines environment as “the physical factors of the
surroundings of human beings including the land, soil,
water, atmosphere, climate, sound, odors, tastes and
the biological factors of animals and plants of every
description
What is Environmental Management?
• Environmental Management is the systematic approach
whereby an organization takes responsibility for the
environmental impact of its activities.
• Environmental management is a process that industries,
companies, and individuals undertake to regulate and protect
the health of the natural world.
 Environment and Organizations

Inputs – Raw
Out put – Finished
materials, Natural Processing
product or service
resources, energy

Electricity Noise/ Generate waste

dust/odore
 Environmental Management
• The successful management of environmental
impacts is to allow the use of
• energy,
• natural resources,
• waste
in a manner that ensures the long term
sustainability of an organization.
Why Environmental Management?
Organizations engage in environmental management for a
couple of different reasons.
• Following local laws, rules about conservation, compliance
with the Government
• Caring for the natural world, - Taking responsibility of protect
the world & Environment
• Saving money.
Criticism on Industries
• Most of the pollution on the planet can be traced back
to industries of some kind.
• In fact, the issue of industrial pollution has taken on
grave importance for agencies trying to fight against
environmental degradation.
• Nations facing sudden and rapid growth of such
industries are finding it to be a serious problem which
has to be brought under control immediately.
Environmental Pollution
• Environmental pollution is defined as “the contamination of the
physical and biological components of the earth/atmosphere system
to such an extent that normal environmental processes are adversely
affected.”
• Pollutants can be naturally occurring substances or energies, but they
are considered contaminants when in excess of natural levels. Any use
of natural resources at a rate higher than nature’s capacity to restore
itself can result in pollution of air, water, and land.
 Industrial Pollution
• Industrial pollution takes on many faces. It contaminates
many sources of drinking water, released unwanted
toxins into the air and reduces the quality of soil all over
the world.

• Major environmental disasters have been caused due to

industrial mishaps, which have yet to be brought under
control. There are many different factors that comprise
of the issue of industrial pollution.
Some Effects of Industrial Pollution
• Air pollution
• Water pollution
• Soil pollution
• Noise pollution
• Wild life extinction
• Global warming
Causes of Industrial Pollution
1. Lack of Policies to Control Pollution
Lack of effective policies and poor enforcement
drive allowed many industries to bypass laws and
this resulted in mass scale pollution that effected
lives of many people.
Causes of Industrial Pollution
2. Unplanned Industrial Growth
In most industrial townships, unplanned growth took
place wherein those companies flouted rules and
norms and polluted the environment with both air
and water pollution.
Causes of Industrial Pollution
3. Use of Outdated Technologies
Most industries still rely on old technologies to
produce products that generate large amount of
waste. To avoid high cost and expenditure, many
companies still make use of traditional technologies to
produce high end products.
Causes of Industrial Pollution
4. Presence of Large Number of Small Scale Industries
Many small scale industries and factories that don’t
have enough capital and rely on government grants to
run their day-to-day business often escape
environment regulations and release large amount of
toxic substances.
 Causes of Industrial Pollution
5. Inefficient Waste Disposal

• Water pollution and soil pollution are often

caused directly due to inefficiency in disposal of
waste.

• Long term exposure causes chronic health

problems, making the issue of industrial pollution
into a severe one.
Causes of Industrial Pollution
• It also lowers the air
quality in surrounding
areas, causing many
respiratory disorders.
Causes of Industrial Pollution
6. Leaching of Resources From Our Natural World

• Industries do require large amount of raw

material to make them into finished products.
• This requires extraction of minerals from beneath
the earth.
• It destroys the land used for mining and drilling,
by removing all resources and leaving it to waste
away, or through leaks and accidents that cause
oil spills in both the land and the sea.
 Industrial Pollution in Developing
Countries
• There is a rapid growth of Industrial pollution in developing countries
• This is often the case in developing countries, where
• Less attention is paid to environmental protection,
• Environmental standards are often inappropriate or not effectively implemented,
• Pollution control techniques are not yet fully developed.
• Ex- With rapid economic development, many developing countries, like
China and other Asian countries, face some additional environmental
problems.
• One is the environmental pollution from hazardous industries or technologies
transferred from developed countries, which are no longer acceptable for
occupational and environmental health reasons in developed countries, but still
allowable in developing countries due to looser environmental legislation
Industrial Pollution in Developing Countries
Cont.
• Another problem is the rapid proliferation of informal small-
scale enterprises in townships as well as in rural areas, which
often create serious air and water pollution because of lack
of sufficient knowledge and funds.
The Green Movement in Business
• A “green” business strives to have a positive impact on the environment
and community. It develops and practices business strategies that go
beyond regulation and demonstrate commitment to a healthy and
sustainable future. A green business adopts principles, policies, and
practices that improve the quality of life for its customers and
employees.
Four Levels of Environmental Strategy
• Compliant: A firm decides it will be in compliance with all
environmental, health, and safety regulations. This is the minimum
level of environmental strategy a firm can adopt.

• Market-driven: A firm responds not only to regulatory requirements,

but also reacts to its customers’ environmental expectations by
providing leading product/service and operational performance.
Four Levels of Environmental Strategy
• Engaged: A firm is not only in compliance, but also understands its
environmental market opportunities and proactively uses that
knowledge to create engagements with the value chain and other
stakeholders to identify opportunities faster.
Four Levels of Environmental Strategy
• Shaping the Future: A firm develops products and services for
current and future market conditions, addressing unmet societal
needs by proactively integrating economic growth, environmental
health and safety, and social well-being into its operations and
business practices.