APPLYING ENVIRONMENTAL

STUDIES AND SUSTAINABILITY

SYSTEMS TO OPERATIONS
ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN LOGISTICS AND
SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
 THE ENVIRONMENT AND
SUSTAINABILITY
ENVIRONMENT- the surroundings or conditions in which
a person, animal, or plant lives or operates.
THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT - includes all living and
non-living things occurring naturally (Earth)
Sustainability - meeting our own needs without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet
their own needs
 THE ENVIRONMENT AND
SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainability and environmental management involves

managingthe oceans, freshwater systems, land and 
atmosphere according to sustainability principles
THE ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY

SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT
the application of sustainable practices in businesses,
agriculture, society, environment, and personal life
 managing resources in a way that will benefit not only
current but also future generations
responsibly interacting with the planet to maintain
natural resources and avoid jeopardizing the ability for
future generations to meet their needs.
THE ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
environmental sustainability is about acting in a way
that ensures future generations have the natural
resources available to live an equal, if not better, way of
life as current generations
our forests, coral reefs, fresh and salt water systems,
atmosphere, plant and animal life etc are examples of
sustainable systems that need to be protected
THE ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
As populations have increased and we have relied on the
Earth's natural resources—such as minerals,
petroleum, coal, gas, and more—the Earth's biodiversity
and creatures, from birds to insects to mammals, have
declined in number
 global production and consumption patterns are
destroying nature at persistent and dangerously high
rates
Humans are using and destroying the earth's resources
faster than they can be regenerated and replenished
 FACTORS NEGATIVELY IMPACTING THE
ENVIRONMENT
Humans impact the physical environment in many
ways:

Overpopulation
 pollution
 burning fossil fuels
 deforestation.
 FACTORS NEGATIVELY IMPACTING THE
ENVIRONMENT
Changes like these have triggered undesirable issues
such as:
climate change
Floods
Storms
 soil erosion
poor air quality
 polluted waters
 ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE
OPERATIONS
In modern societies, the concept of sustainable
development is based on three factors:

 Economic development
Environmental conservation
 Social justice.
 ENVIRONMENTALLY
SUSTAINABLE OPERATIONS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Is the creation of wealth from which community benefits are
realized. 
Will contain elements such as:
1. Increasing persons freedom
2. Reduction of poverty
3. Provision and maintenance of education, health care, law
and order facilities
4. Guaranteeing civil liberties and right to participate in
national decisions
 ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE
OPERATIONS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Business retention and expansion -A large percentage of
jobs in the economy are created by existing companies
that are expanding their operations
Economy fortification -Economic development helps to
protect the local economy from economic downturns
Job creation –
Industry diversification -works to diversify the economy,
reducing a region’s vulnerability to a single industry
 ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE
OPERATIONS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Increased tax revenue - translates to increased tax

revenue for community projects and local infrastructure.
Improved quality of life -Better infrastructure and more
jobs improves the economy of the area and raises the
standard of living for its residents
 ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE
OPERATIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
 Human existence is impossible without the presence of a
healthy ecosystem
Our environment comprises all living and non-living
components and their interactions within a natural habitat
Environmental conservation is the protection of the natural
environment by individuals, organizations and governments.
Its objectives are to conserve natural resources and the
existing natural environment and, where possible, to repair
damage and reverse trends
 ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE
OPERATIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
 Environmental conservation aims at addressing:
Overpopulation
 hydrological issues
 ozone depletion
 global warming
 deforestation
 desertification
climate changes
 pollution
 ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE
OPERATIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION – Aims/Benefits
To reduce air, water and land pollution
To facilitate the conservation of natural resources for future
generations
To ensure the protection of biodiversity
To implement sustainable development
To restore the ecological balance
To save our planet from harmful repercussions of global
warming
 ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE
OPERATIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION – Methods
Forest Conservation:
plants and trees are essential for air, food as well as other day-
to-day products we use.
 Forests are habitats for living creatures and any disturbance in
the ecosystem can cause disruption in the water cycle as well
as the food chain.
Afforestation is amongst the core Environmental conservation
aims to plant more trees as well as save the existing ones from
cutting down as trees play a crucial role in maintaining the
ecological balance. 
 ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE
OPERATIONS
SOCIAL JUSTICE
Is the view that everyone deserves equal economic,
political and social rights and opportunities
The equitable distribution of wealth, opportunities, and
privileges within a society.
 Four  principles of social justice;
- equity
-access to resources
- participation in processes and activities
- rights.
 ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE
OPERATIONS
EQUITY
equity refers to fairness and justice
recognizing that some persons need more than others
in order to correct any imbalance in society
 ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE
OPERATIONS
ACCESS TO RESOURCES
Persons are sustained by resources from the
environment 
the resources necessary to sustain life are limited to
those already on the planet.
 all organisms must have continuous access to
resources obtained from their environment
These necessities must be available in the minimal
amounts needed to sustain human life
 ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE
OPERATIONS
ACCESS TO RESOURCES
The main connections between human systems and nature
involve flows of resources from the environment into the human
economy, and flows of wastes from the economy back to the
environment
 This can damage the natural environment.
The damages may be from:
 harvesting natural resources
 pollution,
 other factors especially those occurring in heavily industrialized
economies.
 ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE
OPERATIONS
PARTICIPATION IN PROCESS
Society must allow everyone to voice their concerns
and take part in making decisions.
If something affects a person's life, that person needs
to be a part of the process.
focuses on outcome and opportunity disparities on the
ground of differences in race, ability, and class
 ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE
OPERATIONS
RIGHTS
For a society to be just, it must ensure the protection of
everyone’s civil, political, economic, cultural, and social
rights.
These rights include the right to life, the right to free
speech, the right to vote, the right to a fair trial, and so on.
Governments must be held accountable when they violate
these rights or fail to protect them
Human rights are recognized internationally included in
many international agreements
 CITIZENS ENGAGEMENT FOR
SUSTAINABILITY
BEHAVIOUR CHANGE
human behaviour is having a negative impact on
our environment.
 Behavioural change, is important to ensure a more
environmentally sustainable future
It is important to understand strategies that might
create behaviour change and thereby a more
sustainable environment
 CITIZENS ENGAGEMENT FOR
SUSTAINABILITY
BEHAVIOUR CHANGE

Solving environmental problems will require behavior

change.
 Issues are diverse as reducing energy and water
consumption, protecting wildlife and ecosystems
achieving a sustainable future will require that
people change their behaviors.
 CITIZENS ENGAGEMENT FOR
SUSTAINABILITY

BEHAVIOUR CHANGE
Controlling unsustainable behavior can reduce the rate
of environmental degradation and lead
to sustainable development.
Sustainable consumer behavior studies examine why and
how consumers do or do not
incorporate sustainability issues into their
consumption behavior.
 CITIZENS ENGAGEMENT FOR
SUSTAINABILITY
BEHAVIOUR CHANGE - various thoughts
 Humans are ‘naturally’ greedy and selfish
Humans are ‘puppets’ , victims of the social structures
set up by capitalism
 Humans will do the right thing if they know the
truth about environmental problems. 
 CITIZENS ENGAGEMENT FOR
SUSTAINABILITY
BEHAVIOUR CHANGE –strategies based on thought
The views of behaviour result in particular change
strategies. For example:
 provide people with incentives that will lead them to
‘choose’ different behaviours,
 the transformation of social structures such as
capitalism and patriarchy
 the provision of environmental education.
 CITIZENS ENGAGEMENT FOR
SUSTAINABILITY
BEHAVIOUR CHANGE – how to influence
 Information - . People need to know both why an
action is important and how to do it. ...
Assistance – help people understand the information
Leverage the leaders
Make actions easy and non onerous
Allow participation by all
Take things in stages , avoid overload or haste
 rewards for participation.
 CITIZENS ENGAGEMENT FOR
SUSTAINABILITY
CONFLICT MANAGEMENT
Conflict is a natural part of any environment
It's important to manage conflict so the environment can
continue to be a positive and collaborative place where
people interact in a productive and mutually beneficial
way.  
Conflict management skills are abilities that help you
manage how conflict affects you and those you interact
with.
 CITIZENS ENGAGEMENT FOR
SUSTAINABILITY
CONFLICT MANAGEMENT
Conflicts frequently arise over environmental issues such
as land use, natural resource management, and laws and
regulation, emerging from diverging interests and values
among stakeholders
Environmental conflict management refers to all kinds of
interventions in a conflict over the use of renewable
resources and the degeneration of the environment.
Effective communication is one of the most
important skills you can have for conflict management
 CITIZENS ENGAGEMENT FOR
SUSTAINABILITY
CONFLICT MANAGEMENT
Some of the best communication skills that can be used in
conflict management are:
Active listening
Practicing empathy
Problem-solving
Positive attitude
Have patience
Understand body language
 CITIZENS ENGAGEMENT FOR
SUSTAINABILITY
NEGOTIATION STRATEGIES
Negotiation is a method by which people settle
differences.
 It is a process by which compromise or agreement is
reached while avoiding argument and dispute.
Negotiation is a discussion between two or more people
or parties intended to reach a beneficial outcome where
a conflict exists
 CITIZENS ENGAGEMENT FOR
SUSTAINABILITY
NEGOTIATION STRATEGIES
 Individuals and organizations aim to achieve the best
possible outcome for their position
 The principles of fairness, seeking mutual benefit and
maintaining a relationship are the keys to a successful
negotiation.
Specific forms of negotiation are used in many
situations
general negotiation skills can be learned and applied
in a wide range of activities
 CITIZENS ENGAGEMENT FOR
SUSTAINABILITY
NEGOTIATION STRATEGIES

In order to achieve a desirable outcome, it is advisable to

follow a structured approach to negotiation
 NEGOTIATION STRATEGIES

The process of negotiation includes the following

stages:
Preparation
Discussion
Clarification of goals
Negotiate towards a Win-Win outcome
Agreement
Implementation of a course of action
 Negotiation Strategies
Preparation
This stage involves ensuring all the pertinent facts of the
situation are known
Before any negotiation takes place, a decision needs to
be taken as to when and where a meeting will take place
to discuss the problem and who will attend. 
Setting a limited time-scale can also be helpful to prevent
drawn out process
 Negotiation Strategies
Discussion
During this stage, individuals or members of each side
put forward the case as they understanding it.
Key skills during this stage:
- questioning
- listening
-clarifying
Each side should have an equal opportunity to present
their case
 Negotiation Strategies
Clarifying Goals

the goals, interests and viewpoints of both sides of the

disagreement need to be clarified. 
It is helpful to list these factors in order of priority
without it misunderstandings are likely to occur which
may cause problems and barriers to reaching an
acceptable outcome.
 Negotiation Strategies
Negotiate towards a Win-Win outcome
where both sides feel they have gained something
positive through the process of negotiation and both
sides feel their point of view has been taken into
consideration
A win-win outcome is usually the best result
 This may not always be possible
alternative strategies and compromises may need to be
considered
 Negotiation Strategies
Agreement
can be achieved once understanding of both sides’
viewpoints and interests have been considered. 
It is essential for everybody involved to keep an open
mind in order to achieve an acceptable solution
Any agreement needs to be made perfectly clear so that
both sides know what has been decided.
 Negotiation Strategies

Implementing Course of Action

Once agreement is reached, a course of action has to be
implemented to carry through the decision
 All the information is put into a format that's acceptable
to both parties, and they formalize it.
 procedures are developed to implement and monitor
the terms of the agreement.
iiiEngagement for Sustainability
Public Engagement

The process by which information, resources and the

benefits of higher achievements can be shared with
the public for mutual benefit.
Engagement is a two-way process, involving
interaction and listening.
 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Purpose

 Increase the accountability and transparency of

companies and political authorities
 Help responsible parties such as governments,
universities and companies respond to social needs
locally, nationally and globally
 Help to build trust and mutual understanding.
Generate mutual benefits.
 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Strategies
 Public-Engagement Strategies focus on how to achieve public
involvement, educate citizens, engage community members, and
gain input from stakeholders to plan for communities.
It is a plan to increase satisfaction and Acceptance by the public by
having more positive interactions with them.
 It can be through any channel, from in person, to online, to over the
phone.
It clarifies the purpose of the activity
It sets a clear vision of the direction being taken
Great strategies take public engagement from reactive to proactive.
 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Strategies
 Public engagement can help businesses connect
with people and get the word out about their work.
 Companies can give back and receive support and
recognition on their projects by engaging with members
of the community
Getting involved with the public can also help
organizations better understand their audience and
ultimately allow them to create better products and
services.
 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Strategies

Businesses can use strategies to make a positive

impact on the public
Leaders need to find the most effective ways to ensure
that their approach creates positive PR for the
company or public body as well as foster greater
understanding by the community
 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Strategies
Strategies for public engagement include:
Leverage Local Community First
Listen To Community Experts
Participation of Top Management
Leverage Social Media For A Larger Reach
Ensure acceptance By Providing Value
Engage With Future Generations
 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Strategies
Leverage Local Community
One of the best ways to grow your business is by
leveraging your local community
 You can do this effectively by sponsoring or volunteering
at charity events
By doing this you help the local community and many
times can get coverage on television news and in
newspapers.
Citizens tend to support organizations with a track record
of assisting the general public
 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Strategies
Listen To Community Experts
When working to create an impact in the community, it is
best to authentically listen to community experts who
have been working on these issues for decades.
Instead of trying to reinvent the wheel, support local
initiatives that align with your charitable goals.
 This shows your authentic desire to create change and
acknowledges that others may know more.
 This approach can create respect and better
engagement 
 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Strategies
Participation of Top Management
Leaders of businesses are their company's most visible
brand ambassadors
They can generate positive coverage by getting engaged
in their communities.
 Participation in community service leads to connecting
with other leaders and influencers in the community
This connection delivers a high-quality rating to your
business can and will lead to great PR
 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Strategies
Leverage Social Media For A Larger Reach

Focus on causes your company passionate

 develop a PR and social media plan to create awareness.
 leveraging viral social media tactics creates an increased
reach and awareness for both your organization and the
cause
 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Strategies
Ensure acceptance By Providing Value

Ensure acceptance by offering significant value to

members of the public
The public won't take kindly to self-promotion if they
sense selfish or misleading motive
 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Strategies
Engage With Future Generations
Be active in your community when it comes to the future
of your industry.
 Utilize local high schools, trade shows and college job
fairs to make sure your industry is properly represented
to the future generation.
Implement internship programs to allow future
candidates an opportunity to experience your company
Invest in the future so that it will invest in you.
 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Strategies
Public engagement is an expansion of democratic and
social practices that go beyond citizens’ voting in
elections or showing up at meetings and company
events.
It is most effective when strategies are planned,
citizens feel their input is valued, and the process
results in informed decision making and benefits to
the community. ~
 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Team Building
People play a key role in developing a successful
community project or company
Stakeholders who understand their community and
company needs and have a stake in its success are an
indispensable requirement for success
Community developers and company leaders should seek
to build relationships and expand their network with
other organizations outside of their sectors
Team building involves the public in solving problems
or making decisions that affect them
 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Team Building
To build strong teams include:

Determining the reason for involving the public

 Intentionally using tools and processes that support
that goal
 building trust and support for decisions
 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Team Building

In involving the team the leader:

Inform the team with objective and balanced information.
Consult with the team by informing them and then
requesting input.
Involve the team in the decision by accepting input and
reflecting this input in the choice.
Collaborate by engaging with the team and sharing the
decision-making with them.
Empower the team by putting the final decision in their
hands