LESSON 3

• Environmental Management


  The process of observing, monitoring, reporting, developing, executing, and evaluating the environmental policies of a business organization
• The same goes with our planet. We need to take care of it to keep us safe, healthy, and sustain our needs.
• The depletion of natural resources, destruction of biodiversity, and climate change have become increasingly alarming.
• Purpose of Environmental Management

  To attain a desirable environmental state under the prevailing socio-economic and technological conditions
• Means of Environmental Management

  By enhancing the beneficial links between its resource system and the environment
• The new standard for modern companies is to incorporate environmental protection policies as part of their social responsibility.
• Objective of Environmental Management

  Minimize the negative impact on the environment and take an active role in promoting sustainable development
• Sustainable Development


  The balance between economic progress and environmental protection
• Sustainable Development


  Meeting the present needs of society without compromising the future generations' quality of life
• Sustainable Development


  Promotes the equitable distribution of benefits across generations
• Environmental Management as Social Responsibility

  • A company that sells agricultural products and seeds is concerned about the country's declining quality of soil and farmland. They are committed to contributing to improving soil fertility by assessing the environmental impact of their products while conducting training for farmers and rural residents on how to prevent soil erosion and loss of nutrients.
  • These efforts are the company's way of ensuring that future generations would still have arable lands for their food production.
• Environmental Indicators


  Specific variables that determine the effectiveness of policies and are vital to assessing whether a business enterprise adheres to the sustainable use of natural resources
• Environmental Indicators


  • Air quality, water quality and quantity, climate changes, wildlife and habitat
• Air Indicators


  Quality of air, air pollutant emissions, impact of pollution on human health
• Water Indicators


  Water quality and quantity, pressures on water quality, regional ecosystems, household use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, municipal wastewater management, use of plastic particles, freshwater quality and quantity, release of harmful substances into water
• Climate Indicators


  Climate changes, greenhouse gas emissions, precipitation change, sea ice level, snow cover status
• Wildlife and Habitat Indicators

  Biodiversity, habitat, ecosystem health, biological resources, species index, status of wild species, population trends of wildlife, trends in conserved areas, ecological integrity of national parks, aquaculture management
• Sustainable Development Goals


  A mission that needs the cooperation of the whole world to protect and sustain the quality of the environment that suffices the needs of the present and future generations
• Dimensions of Sustainable Development Goals

  • Environment, Culture, Economy, Society
• The Sustainable Development Goals are a global partnership calling for the urgent action of all nations and must be achieved by 2030.
• The 17 SDGs


  • No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-being, Quality Education, Gender Equality, Clean Water and Sanitation, Affordable and Clean Energy, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, Reduced Inequalities, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action, Life Below Water, Life on Land, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, Partnerships for the Goals
• Life-Cycle Analysis (LCA)


  Measures a product's cradle-to-grave impact on the environment
• Product Life Cycle


  1. Design

  2. Extraction of raw materials

  3. Manufacturing

  4. Distribution

  5. Use

  6. Disposal
• Life-Cycle Analysis (LCA)


  To draw up strategies to reduce the adverse effects, improve their products, and provide alternatives
• Industrial Ecology


  Designs factories and distribution systems in the most resource-efficient way
• Industrial Ecology


  • Saves raw materials
  • Reuses wastes, energy, and other by-products
• Extended product responsibility


  Promotes the idea that companies should be responsible for the product they produce even after selling them
• Cradle-to-cradle approach


  • Products can be disassembled when they are no longer useful to create another product
• Carbon Neutrality


  Encourages companies to produce net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases
• Carbon Neutrality


  1. Reducing their own greenhouse gas emissions

  2. Offsetting the remainder by reducing others'
• Reducing Carbon Impact through Extended Product Responsibility


  • A global producer of computer products such as personal computers, printers, and mobile devices, created a new generation of energy-efficient servers to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions caused by using their products.
  • According to the company, reducing the environmental impact of their manufacturing and distribution processes could only do so much. They had to do something about the high volume of energy consumed by the consumers when using their products.
  • The company launched a high-volume server that stores data that has up to 90% less energy. A few years later, they launched a computer product capable of using just 1% of energy compared to others.
• Businesses use resources to develop products and services that meet the current needs of society. Since business activities impact the environment, companies and enterprises are challenged to observe, monitor, report, develop, execute, and evaluate their environmental policies. This process is called environmental management.
• The purpose of environmental management is to attain a desirable environmental state under the prevailing socio-economic and technological conditions. It is achieved by enhancing the beneficial links between its resource system and the environment.
• Some of the most critical parameters in assessing whether industry or enterprise adheres to the sustainable use of natural resources are air and water quality and the impact of business on wildlife and habitat.
• The United Nations called on governments and businesses to work together and achieve the 17 sustainable development goals. Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the future generations' quality of life. It promotes fairness and equitable distribution of benefits across generations.
• The business community responded to this challenge by integrating environmental management strategies in their business operations. These strategies are the Life-Cycle Analysis (LCA), industrial ecology, extended product responsibility, and carbon neutrality.