Issues In an environment of resource depletion and a municipal solid waste crisis, organizations worldwide are faced with the task of analyzing their waste streams with focus on reduction and low-impact disposal methods. This can be a complex charge, affecting everything from material procurement and disposition to design and corporate culture. Energy conservation is on the forefront of any sustainability approach, primarily because it presents a powerful opportunity to reduce operating costs almost instantly. Addressing energy concerns ultimately leads to consideration of clean energy sources and carbon management, both critical in an era of heightened institutional regulation and scrutiny. Corporations everywhere are challenged to go beyond sustainability as a mere compliance issue and envision a culture of environmental accountability that satisfies the demands of their stakeholders. By far the greatest obstacle in achieving corporate sustainability is the misalignment of systems with corporate vision. Progressive technologies are the most notable advance in the movement towards environmental stewardship. Additionally, they enable optimization on nearly every level of operation, reducing expenses, improving communication, managing resources, and providing an overall competitive advantage. Regardless of company size or industry, the efficiency of systems and the introduction of progressive technologies must become a priority, if long-term sustainability and profitability are to be achieved. Organizations are beginning to realize that their environmental responsibilities extend beyond their own practices to those of their supply chains. General Motors summed it up well: “Working together with our suppliers, we can accomplish much more to improve the environment than GM can alone". The challenge lies in the complexity of supply-chains and second or third-tier socio-environmental issues can be difficult to isolate and address. However, it is exactly this kind of commitment that customers, employees, and shareholders expect and in most cases, having to adhere to your company’s environmental standards translates into benefits for your suppliers as well. Even the most comprehensive sustainability strategy will fail, if not properly communicated to the workforce. Employee involvement remains an often neglected component in the successful integration of environmentally sound practices for many companies and can typically be attributed to ineffective communication and insufficient training. Corporate sustainability is an ongoing process, an integral part of a company’s culture, rather than an overnight success strategy. Recent studies show that Green Buildings improve productivity, while lowering operational and maintenance expenses. According to findings by the Switzerland based World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), however, companies across the globe overestimate the cost of green building by more than triple the true cost over conventional construction and upgrades. In reality, green building costs exceed conventional costs by a mere 5%, while reducing the heating expense of an average building by 80% and increasing energy efficiency by 35%. A progressive business finds opportunities in challenges. Visit our Solutions page to learn more.
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