Post responses to today’s in-class assignment below.
For Wed. 2/21:
Be sure to read pages 1 – 12 of the article, ” THE ELEPHANT IN THE BOARDROOM: WHY UNCHECKED CONSUMPTION IS NOT AN OPTION IN TOMORROW’S MARKETS,” World Resources Institute Del Pino, et. al., prepare for a discussion of the following questions on Wed. You may find it helpful to print these 12 pages for Wed.
- According to the authors, ” Most businesses’ growth is still predicated on more people buying more goods” and…”The rapid expansion of consumption-driven markets in the coming decades is the anticipated engine for continued business growth.” Discuss the reasons why authors argue that this growth model is unsustainable.
- The reading argues that in order for production and consumption to become sustainable, they must remain “within planetary boundaries.” Clearly explain what this means in the context of the reading.
- a) Describe two business models the reading points to as sustainable models of production.
- a) Provide your own thoughts on whether either of these two models is sustainable and why. Be sure to provide clear reasoning.
The most compelling reason by why the authors argue that the traditional growth model is unsustainable is because there are only a finite amount of raw natural resources. That the linear model of production and consumption is not sustainable given the fact that we do not have unlimited resources.
The two business models where the strategies to “improve” or abate environmental impact and “embrace” or mitigate environmental impact are still based on consumption, profit and loss model. The improve model is based on the idea of making production more eco-friendly and energy-efficient but it does not change the consumption culture. The embrace model, however, is based on the idea of production but focuses on the re-usability of a good, making it much more conscientious about production and consumption. The embrace model calls for a more a conscientious consumer who is aware of the impact of their purchases and who consciously seeks to mitigate the environmental impact of their purchase. The embrace model has the most promise of the two approaches in terms of being sustainable because it changes consumer behavior. The consumer is educated about production practices.
Lisbeth Rivas
Fua Jian Pan
An attainable combination of models that can be used over the next decade are Reduce, reuse, recycle and cradle to cradle.
For the electronics industry they can can receive old products back from customers and recycle the parts that are in the old products and use them to produce new parts for the newer product. It also applies to cradle to cradle model since the materials that were used in the old product are not disposed of as waste and are reused to create something new. Since customers are sending in old products they can receive a discount on the newer product.
Our argument to convince the company’s board of directors is that customers sending their old products will get a discount on the new products and it serves as a incentive to buy the the new product or an upgraded version, so either way the customer will end up spending money. As a company we will spend less money on resources, and at the same time we will contribute to the wellbeing of the environment.
The company will not need as many natural resources since they are recycling older parts that are still in good conditions. There will be less waste of materials.
Group Member: Md A Bhuiyan
An effective public transport is an essential social and economic driver and environmental conservation factor. The most effective model that is attainable in the next decades is the Jean Study Model (Fleming, 2010). The model’s ability to objectively address current needs without compromising future generations’ ability to meet their needs further strengthens its relevance to then be attainable in the coming decades. The Jeon Model’s empirical nature and pillars on key sustainability areas make it an attractive choice (Tamale, 2005).On environment for example, through data analysis on total pollutants emitted we can address issues around emission of greenhouse gases, energy consumption and their long term impact on the city, therefore, gaining more insights on global effects as well. On land area, for example, we can address issues around landscape decay (Fleming, 2010). On system effectiveness after analyzing the data on an average occupancy of public transport vehicles, we can objectively evaluate transit requirements on the capacity vehicles that will offer solutions to congestion challenges and is economically sound.
Picking Nova Bus, Volvo Group’s North American Bus Division responsible for supplying transit buses in Monroe County by Regional Transit Service as our adopted company in public transport sector, the Jeon Study Model will ensure that analysis made on the data collected provides insights on how to create new occurrences and experiences to the population in New York City, trying to solve the ever-growing challenges the public transport sustainability agenda faces (Edwards, 2011 ).On production: we will then have a prototype as a company on what our end product should adopt. The must- win- attributes in the product conception phase would include an array of indicators such as capacity of the buses, energy consumption of the buses, and speed in relation to time costs and emission specifications on whether the products can regulate the level of product toxicity through cleaning features when it is in operation (Tamale, 2005).
As a shareholder, I highlight the need to asses public transport sustainability on relevant indicators to the public transport system against a basket of transport sustainability indicators. This then forms a progressive basis on why the Jeon Study Model should be incorporated in our production framework and be reflected in our products. It is evident that for our business to succeed it ought to have relevance in the community; fundamentally we operate in, and our brands are the lever with which we connect with the community. Integrating sustainability elements in all our business facets especially in our products then gives us the edge because when businesses do good, they do well. Highlighting the never-ending advantages of developing sustainability conscious products from a cost-benefit perspective accords our business with the guarantee of continuous product familiarity, acceptability and relevance in the city and the positive effects can be scaled up to global markets. It reflects a collaborative approach with the city’s ecosystem to address the challenges we all face in public transport and offer plug-and-play solutions for the same.
Analysis of public transport is a broad topic including network configuration, human behavior, system geography, and influences on the system such as politics and economics and travel modes available. Integrating sustainability, a complex subject in itself, with elements such as environmental impact of human growth and development, economic expansion and human welfare in the overall public transport conversation makes it a critical area in solving urban areas and city challenges. A sustainable public transport system then limits emissions and wastes mirrored on the planets ability to absorb them (Tamale, 2005). This is because its effectiveness minimizes consumption of non-renewable resources such as fossil fuels and renewable resources such as hydroelectric power which relies on water supply, the sustainable yield level, recycles and reuses its key components and effectively minimizes land use and noise pollution.
References
Edwards, B. (2011). Sustainability and the Design of Transport Interchanges. London, England: Routledge.
Fleming, S. A. (2010). Public Transportation: Federal Project Approval Process Remains a Barrier to Greater Private Sector Role, and DoT Could Enhance Efforts to Assist Project Sponsors. Collingdale, PA: DIANE Publishing.
Tamale, K. A. (2005). Urban Development, Public Transport, and Sustainability: International Experiences and Options for Kuala Lumpur.
Yes. A commitment to sustainability in public transportation can lead the way in reducing emissions and increasing efficiency
through a reduction of energy usage. An effective plan for accomplishing these goals undertaken in one city can provide a strong
model for other cities to follow.
Assignment #2
Franklin Rivera
Deion Bhuggoo
Igor Dupont
Christo Sam
There are many important business and consumption models which can be used in the future, one major important model we consider important for the next decade is cradle to cradle.
A company which can implement this business model on the production and consumption is Dell. For a computer technology company this model can have a positive effect. We can offer an incentive for bringing back old computers by giving the costumers like gift cards or a certain percent off of the next purchased item.
If Dell implements this model they would save a lot of money. For example instead of paying for new processor/video cards they can use the old processor card in there newer computers.
This model will definitely save money and time. The company will reduce the need for extracting natural resources which would lead the company to reduce greenhouse and water pollution.
Yes, a good example that would mean re-using materials and components in old computers in the assembling of new ones.
If other major computer makers adopted such a model, this could have a significant impact within the market for
electronics.
This is for Fabio Paulino, Monica Sanchez, and Maria Marzant
1. The Cradle to Cradle model will be very attainable within the next decade due to environmental concerns.
2&3. In the mobile industry the cradle to cradle model can reap great benefits through a device exchange program that would facilitate the acquisition of raw materials while minding environmental concerns.
4. This model will reduce GHG emissions by reducing machine work hours needed to extract and refine raw materials.
Anna Woo
Lesly Morales
Md Islam
Shuyi Wu
Sierra Secours
1. Product as service: Sell the service rather than the product – company has more of an incentive to make the service resource efficient Product to Service: People use the item in the hotel, they get the item but cannot take it with them once they leave
2. Company: Holiday Inn Express Overall Industry: Hotel Industry. Amenities in Hotels. Introducing reduce, reuse, and recycle in hotels
3. The consumption of disposable goods increases the cost for the hotel meanwhile society overseas it as an opportunity to waste resources. Rather than utilizing the older methods of hospitality through individualizing each item to accommodate the customers’ needs, why not implement automated dispensers to reduce waste. For example, bathrooms can set up wall-mounted hand sanitizer, shampoo, and body wash bottle. Therefore, it is much better than one time use products, it’s more economical. In addition, no toothpaste or toothbrush is provided for guests who stay for less than 3 days, and only non-disposable toothpaste or toothbrush is provided for the guests who stay for more than 3 days continuously. Consumers’ consumption habits cannot be changed in a short period of time. If the hotel does not provide disposable daily supplies, consumers may not adapt to it. If the concept of environmental protection can become a social consensus, the resistance to the implementation of the elimination of disposable hotel supplies will be much smaller.
4. Hotel companies need to start minimizing the use of plastic. There are couple of ways hotels can make this efficient. Purchasing larger or full sized items rather than multiple individualized bottles reduces the amount spent on purchasing and manufacturing that particular item; this leads to reducing the use of plastic manufacturing. Shampoo and conditioner bottles, and body soap can be put in big automatic dispensers. They can save money. This can limit the amount of plastic. We can also have amenities at the front desk for the guest to receive upon request.
Anna Woo
Lesly Morales
Md Islam
Shuyi Wu
Sierra Secours
1. Product as service: Sell the service rather than the product – company has more of an incentive to make the service resource efficient Product to Service: People use the item in the hotel, they get the item but cannot take it with them once they leave
2. Company: Holiday Inn Express Overall Industry: Hotel Industry. Amenities in Hotels. Introducing reduce, reuse, and recycle in hotels
3. The consumption of disposable goods increases the cost for the hotel meanwhile society overseas it as an opportunity to waste resources. Rather than utilizing the older methods of hospitality through individualizing each item to accommodate the customers’ needs, why not implement automated dispensers to reduce waste. For example, bathrooms can set up wall-mounted hand sanitizer, shampoo, and body wash bottle. Therefore, it is much better than one time use products, it’s more economical. In addition, no toothpaste or toothbrush is provided for guests who stay for less than 3 days, and only non-disposable toothpaste or toothbrush is provided for the guests who stay for more than 3 days continuously. Consumers’ consumption habits cannot be changed in a short period of time. If the hotel does not provide disposable daily supplies, consumers may not adapt to it. If the concept of environmental protection can become a social consensus, the resistance to the implementation of the elimination of disposable hotel supplies will be much smaller.
4. Hotel companies need to start minimizing the use of plastic. There are couple of ways hotels can make this efficient. Purchasing larger or full sized items rather than multiple individualized bottles reduces the amount spent on purchasing and manufacturing that particular item; this leads to reducing the use of plastic manufacturing. Shampoo and conditioner bottles, and body soap can be put in big automatic dispensers. They can save money. This can limit the amount of plastic. We can also have amenities at the front desk for the guest to receive upon request.
Yes, this is a good idea that could be an important step toward reducing the amount of plastic waste. Indeed, if the promotion of environmental
protection becomes a conscious goal among more consumers, they are likely to accept and support these kinds of changes.
Name:
Anna Woo
Lesly Morales
Md Islam
Shuyi Wu
Sierra Secours
Product as service: Sell the service rather than the product – company has more of an incentive to make the service resource efficient Product to Service: People use the item in the hotel, they get the item but cannot take it with them once they leave
Company: Holiday Inn Express Overall Industry: Hotel Industry. Amenities in Hotels. Introducing reduce, reuse, and recycle in hotels
The consumption of disposable goods increases the cost for the hotel meanwhile society overseas it as an opportunity to waste resources. Rather than utilizing the older methods of hospitality through individualizing each item to accommodate the customers’ needs, why not implement automated dispensers to reduce waste. For example, bathrooms can set up wall-mounted hand sanitizer, shampoo, and body wash bottle. Therefore, it is much better than one time use products, it’s more economical. In addition, no toothpaste or toothbrush is provided for guests who stay for less than 3 days, and only non-disposable toothpaste or toothbrush is provided for the guests who stay for more than 3 days continuously. Consumers’ consumption habits cannot be changed in a short period of time. If the hotel does not provide disposable daily supplies, consumers may not adapt to it. If the concept of environmental protection can become a social consensus, the resistance to the implementation of the elimination of disposable hotel supplies will be much smaller.
Hotel companies need to start minimizing the use of plastic. There are couple of ways hotels can make this efficient. Purchasing larger or full sized items rather than multiple individualized bottles reduces the amount spent on purchasing and manufacturing that particular item; this leads to reducing the use of plastic manufacturing. Shampoo and conditioner bottles, and body soap can be put in big automatic dispensers. They can save money. This can limit the amount of plastic. We can also have amenities at the front desk for the guest to receive upon request.
Fadwa Mini
Sandira Ramdat
Martine Alexis
Qilun Chen
Topic: Clorox
If you look around in your household you will find that you have at least one of the Clorox Company’s cleaning products. The Clorox Companies manufacture and market household cleaning and supermarkets product for over 100 countries around the globe. One of these products including Clorox bleach, cleaning pads. Our group is focusing on Clorox bleach that comes in plastic bottles. The Clorox Companies produce thousands of Bleach bottles every month, leaving us with major issues, including environmental issues, recycling, and also the high concentration and chemical substance that each bottle contains could be harmful to our health. The question we asked is, how could we control the production of these plastic bottles and also the improper disposal.
In order for Clorox to pursue “going green”, they can utilize the “Cradle to Cradle” business model to satisfy production and consumption ends. This business model allows us to avoid improper disposing of bleach bottle containers and being able to reuse them instead. This promotes eco-efficiency as we are creating and maintaining value within products while decreasing waste. The take-make-waste model has shifted because now we are reusing the plastic containers before they become obsolete trash.
Customers are inherently drawn towards items on sale or discount. Clorox containers are regularly recycled and bleach can leak or pollute the environment. As shareholders of the company, when customer recycles their bottle, we decided to offer a 10% discount on the next Clorox purchases. Offering discounts for a limited time will attract customers into the company and probably lead to more purchases. Finally, giving customers great discount for good quality products can greatly enhance their loyalty to the company.
“Cradle to Cradle” business model can reduce GHG emissions from two ways. First, If Clorox can reuse their bleach bottle containers, that can reduce greenhouse gas while shipping. Second, it can use less plastic to make new bottles and reduce GHG while making or shipping new bottles.