Sustainable Production Case Study

Sustainable Production

Utilizing sustainability policies within a Corporate Social Responsibility framework allows companies to be socially responsible and respond to the concerns of third parties whilst still maintaining economic control and maximizing their profits (Dauvergne & Lister, 2013). The majority of the sustainability practices big brands are integrating focus on enhancing the eco-efficiency of production, in order to improve their bottom line (Dauvergne & Lister, 2013). The primary focus of sustainable production practices is to find ways to continue to make products, but with less resources, energy and waste. Looking for solutions to improve production efficiencies allows businesses to coast through financial downturns that cause

Products and packaging should be safe and eco-friendly, waste should be minimized and energy and minerals should be conserved at the highest level possible. Furthermore, sustainable production should be safe and healthy for workers and their communities and encourage their long-term economic security and development (Lowell Centre for Sustainable Production, 2016).

Sustainable production also broadly includes the effective management of supply chains. Supply chains have the capacity to be altered by the desires of both corporations and consumers. Through their sustainability policies, business and help to create more transparency and accountability within global supply chains. By better tracking the flow of their respective supply chains, businesses can create more efficient and durable supply structures and show resource quality, security and productivity (Dauvergne & Lister,

Big businesses have always used sustainability as a tool to protect their own private interests. It is clear that economic and business related issues are the main drivers for the adoption of sustainable business plans (Dornfield, 2012). Big businesses have a huge amount of power globally, and often have influence over governments and not-for-profit organizations. This creates conflict, as this power often allows them to influence state regulations, as well as international codes and standards (Dauvergne & Lister, 2013).

Opinions are varied on the benefits of eco-business strategies. Some argue that it is little more than an economic tool, while others stress that the rise of a sustainability focus in business is an important factor that will encourage the “mainstreaming and scaling up” of the issue that is required in order to make global change. Dauvergne and Lister (2013) express concern that corporations use the term sustainability in their policies to ‘confuse and falsely reassure’ governments and consumers that they are taking effective action to reduce consumption and waste. Natanski and Baglione (2014) express concern that the private sector has a habit of narrowly interpreting the concept of sustainability as ‘environmental stewardship’ instead of viewing it as an effective way to improve ‘alignment with its stakeholders’ (pp.1). Sustainability