So what can we do??

We've been critiquing companies as to what they are doing to contribute positively to the environment in which they operate. As we close this exercise, I'd like to ask you what can you do to make a positive impact on the environment?

National Geographic aired an interesting documentary titled "The Human Footprint" where they show exactly how much waste every American will generate in the course of his or her lifetime. This includes things the foods we eat, the personal hygiene products we use, the clothes we were and the resources that go into making those products.

I'd like you to check out the link to National Geographic located here:

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/preserveourplanet/index.html

Please take a look at the "Carbon Calculator" - and see what you can do to reduce your carbon emissions. Please post your thoughts to the recommendations here.

Earth hour?

You may or may not have noticed this past Saturday from 8:00 - 9:00 pm that many places in and around Chicago went dark to call attention to our consumption of electricity which produces greenhouse gases.

Here is a link to an article in Sunday's Chicago Tribune:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-world-lights-out,0,3671686.story

As you will read, this is a tradition that was started in Australia last year and this year it was hoped that 100 million people would participate.

I was particularly struck by the following comment made by Richard Moss, vice president for WWF, World Wildlife Fund:
There's a widespread belief that somehow people in the United States don't understand that this is a problem that we're lazy and wedded to our lifestyles. (Earth Hour) demonstrates that that is wrong," Richard Moss, a member of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the climate change vice president for WWF, said in Chicago on Saturday.

What is your reaction to this comment? Do you agree that the perception is that Americans don't care about the environment? If so, what can we do to show the world that we are serious about taking care of the environment.

If you believe that we are doing enough give examples. Did you participate in "Earth Hour"? What do you to prevent global warming?

Refreshingly honest or irresponsible?

I found this article on the Wall Street Journal website regarding Wal-Mart and their "green efforts".

As you will read, although Wal-Mart has been touting that it is "going green" it still isn't there yet. They mention that their main motivation to drive out waste or better said "to make more money".

Do you find this suprising from the World's Largest Retailer who has been known to "squeeze" vendors to get more profit out of them? In your opinion, does it matter what the company's motivation is- profitability or making the world a better place- when it comes to corporate responsibility? Does it take something away from a company's corporate responsibility efforts when they mention that they are looking to increase profitability?

Here is the link to the article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120546648773336113.html

Here is a summary from the March 14th Wall Street Journal
Lee Scott Jr. announced at WSJ "ECO-nomics" conference that despite Wal-Mart's focus on going green that they are not there yet.
Mr Scott was questioned as to why if the company is going green that Wal-Mart's carbon emission footprint is growing. He said that the reason for this is because that in order for Wal-Mart to grow they must continue to use energy.
He then stated that "The impetus for the company in doing all this isn't just to please environmentalists, he said, but to save money."

Air Jordans going green?

Nike just released the "green" version of Air Jordan's. This version of Air Jordan's has been designed to be more environmentally friendly by using materials that are less toxic and by cutting down on the amount of waste.

Here is a link to the article that was in the January 10, 2008 Fortune:
http://money.cnn.com/2008/01/09/magazines/fortune/gunther_nike.fortune/index.htm

One thing that jumped out at my was the price of the shoes- $230! I couldn't help but think that there was an interesting dichotomy here. On the one hand, Nike seems to be taking charge and trying to do something for the environment. On the other hand, how likely is it that the "average" person can afford these shoes?

We've talked at great lengths about stakeholders in a company. Who would you say benefits from this move? Is there a group of stakeholders that doesn't benefit? Let's hear your thoughts!

Diversity in American companies

I'd like you to read this article from the Wall Street Journal

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120370822092186297.html

and answer the following questions:

What will it really take to get equal respresentation at the top-level of Fortune 500 companies?Why do you think that most companies claim to promote diversity however there is not equal pay for all employees? Or equal representation at all levels of the organization? Do you think that the discrepancies are intentional or unintentional?

Why do you think that this topic is included as part of Corporate Social Responsibility?

Pursuing developing markets

The following quotes were taken from an article in the January 29th Wall Street Journal titled "Philip Morris Readies Aggressive Global Push". The article talks about their pursuit of "product innovation" particularly in developing markets.

Among the new products in test phase is a hand-held electronic smoking device called the Heatbar, which emits less smoke than a regular cigarette. Another is Marlboro Wides -- an extra-thick cigarette whose package flips open from one side. To appeal to customers in some emerging markets, the company is making sweet-smelling cigarettes that contain tobacco, cloves and flavoring -- with twice the tar and nicotine levels of a conventional U.S. cigarette.While smoking rates in developed countries have slowly declined, they have shot up dramatically in some developing counties, where PMI is a major player. These include Pakistan (up 42% since 2001), Ukraine (up 36%) and Argentina (up 18%).

Here is a link talking about their new product innovation:http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid452319854/bctid1395217394So the question becomes...is Philip Morris behaving in a socially responsibile manner by creating these products? If so, why? If not, why not? Who are the stakeholders that they are serving with this strategy? Which stakeholders may not be happy with their strategy? Is it ok to put out cigarettes that have twice the tar and nicotine levels of conventional U.S. cigarettes in the developing world even if the people in the developing world prefer the higher levels of nicotine?

"Renewable Energy"

We've heard a lot of talk in the media about decreasing our dependence on foreign oil. For one reason or another our dependency continues. Here is a link to what GE is doing to help: http://www.ge.com/news/audio_video/index.html

Questions: Do you think that biofuel is something that can completely replace oil? Why aren't companies doing more research in this area? How come we don't hear about the work that many companies are doing already? What do you think about the concept of biofuel?

GE seems to be taking the lead in this area. We would assume that in the five stage process of social responsibility that they are at least at the "strategy" stage and may even be at the "civil" stage. How would you classify their level of involvement in CSR and why?