Page 30 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

L1644_C01.fm Page 6 Monday, October 20, 2003 11:46 AM

1.3.2 TOWARD ESTABLISHMENT OF MORE AMBITIOUS STRATEGIES
THAN THOSE GIVEN BY LEGISLATION

Establishing environmental strategies more ambitious than current legislation results
in benefits for businesses as well, although very often those benefits will only be
noticeable within the mid- or long run. This necessitates investing in the future. In
many markets a green product sells better than a “regular” product, that is, good
environmental management may also contribute to better marketing. Businesses
seeking to survive in the global market must not let their competitors have a more
advanced environmental policy; they must always ascertain how they stand in com-
parison to them (benchmarking). One of the criteria currently used by financial
assessment organizations is environmental competence. Reviewing development
through the past years, we may say that more technologically advanced businesses
are also more environmentally competent businesses. Existing at the crest of the
wave avoids losing ground and then struggling later to regain it. Future benefits
include cost reduction, image enhancement and increased staff motivation. Specif-
ically, the following advantages can occur:

• Enhancement in optimization and control of energy and raw material
consumption
• Optimization in costs derived from waste and emission management and
treatment
• Expense reductions in transportation, storage and packing
• Savings in environmental cleaning and repair tasks derived from acciden-
tal leaks
• Reductions in insurance policies for environmental risk
• Better conditions in negotiating bank loans
• Savings in fines from violations of law
• Decreases in accident risk and therefore in derived costs
• Enhanced business image with clients, administration, staff, investors,
media, environmental defense organizations and the general public
• New marketing tool by using an environmental compliance label
• Adoption of an active policy before current legislation and future envi-
ronmental regulations affect the business
• Increased possibilities to obtain public funding for environmental
activities
• Involvement of staff in a system aimed at achieving common goals
• Increased training for staff

1.4 CONCEPTS

The previously mentioned philosophies and businesses goals to establish environ-
mental strategies are reflected in and can be applied to various concepts.

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