Good Essay On Sustainable Environment Paradox

Fig1: Environmental sustainability-Frepessco Global Services
There is an ever increasing pressure on the residents to increase productivity and consumption to spur economic growth. This is often translated as a need to acquire that new dress, a pair of shoes, make ups, and other luxury products that we do not necessarily need. The human desire is to acquire the best quality at the lowest possible cost. On the other hand, there is pressure on the organizations to increase the production efficiency and reduce the carbon emission and other form of wastes. Thus, the need for increased production at a lower cost to meet the customer demand is contradicted by the need for efficiency, quality and environmental friendly systems.
Often the businesses are left struggling on how to strike that balance and ensure the needs of all the stakeholders are catered for. A cheap product is not likely to attract the target customers. Thus, the company will be forced to offer incentives and promotion tactics to attract customers. They will buy as a result of the artificial demand created by the advertisement and low costs only to realize that it was not what they really wanted. The product will thus be returned to the environment as a waste and cause additional stress.
This paradox is not only manifested in the clothing and cosmetic industry, but rather in the entire supply chain networks. Take for example the automobile industry, the government has prescribed measures that determined the allowable emissions and ensure that the rates are as low as possible. The car companies in the quest to take an active role in taking care of the environment have resulted to the development of electric cars. This may seem like a good plan, however, the electric cars are expensive and out of reach for the masses. These ploys are thus articulated designs that are meant to serve as marketing tools. Thus, companies announcing about a new revolution car that uses electricity and has zero emission that is way too expensive just to create an illusion of environmental awareness.
There is thus a growing need for the organizations work sincere in combating the issue of sustainability. There are three pillars including the economic growth, social responsibility and environmental protection. This can only be achieved if the organizations are willing to be open to work towards the social responsibilities, economic efficiency and at the protection of the environment. Companies should use materials that are recyclable and safe. The efforts should be genuine and not just a marketing stunt aimed at luring more customers into buying products that they may never use.
Figure 2: Environmental Sustainability_City of Fairfax
The issue of sustainability is a debate that is supposed to include all the stakeholders. The government is a beneficially of the capitalist activities as who aim at increase the profits to the shareholders. The management including the CEO has a responsibility to the shareholders, but more important to the environment and the stakeholders. The government should be able to work together with the corporations to ensure that that they adhere to the environmental laws. In addition, corporations through self governance should be able to recognize their misgivings and strive to rectify through corporate social responsibilities and as well through the use of the available technology.
Figure: Sustainability environment: Small Business Trends
Finally, as much as the corporations and the governments have a role to play, the public should also join the fight against environmental degradation. We should be willing to reward investment in quality and environmental friendly products. We should be willing to recycle and reuse products. This will create an equilibrium that will allow the corporations to continue investing in the environmental technologies and reduce the amount of waste. This will improve conserve the environment and foster a sustainable business environment.