Sustainable Production and Sustainable Products

1
Sustainable Production and Sustainable Products

• Practicing Corporate Social Responsibility
• Chapter 7 - DesJardins

2
Supply as a function of Demand

• Businesses are often mislead to be responding to
  demand rather than shaping it entirely.
• Consumer demand is generic
• Businesses bear responsibility for the
  sustainability of products, and the production
  process required to construct them.

3
The Business is a Consumer
4
What are Sustainable Products?

• Goods and Services that meet the needs of human
  beings without decreasing the capacity of the
  biosphere to continue producing the goods and
  services needed by others. (P. 104, DesJardins)
• Example Cotton and Wool vs. Plastic

5
Negligent CorporationsBackward Looking Theory

• Theoretically to prove a corporation is acting
  negligently by law, you must prove that
• Individuals were harmed
• The company acted negligently
• The negligence caused the harm
• Instrumental Value versus Intrinsic Value

6
Life-Cycle Management

• Businesses should take responsibility for the
  product throughout its entire life-cycle.
• Where the business exercises control of the
  products, it also bears responsibility to those
  decisions.
• Case point within the Carpet Industry.

7
Supply Chain Responsibility

• Food and agriculture industries are challenged
  with genetically modified organisms.
• Retail and textile industries are challenged with
  sweatshop working environments.

8
Private Consumer Power

• We as consumers have the ability to demand
  sustainable products and sustainable practices
  from our businesses.
• VP Cheney leaves the responsibility for
  sustainable energy in the hands of the consumer.
• Conservation may be a sign of personal virtue,
  but it is not a sufficient basis for a sound,
  comprehensive energy policy.

9
Competitive Prices

• Individuals and businesses alike face the
  challenge of a competitive price market.
• Are we willing to pay a premium to receive a
  sustainable product?
• What would companies like Wal-Mart say?
• Reality is that businesses are at a significant
  advantage to consumers, with large bulk quantity
  orders and with highly specialized orders are
  made specifically for the business.

10
Critical Reflection

• Sustainable production may be a vital element to
  acquiring a sustainable future, but what about
  sustainable consumption?
• What would a Kantian based view say about
  DesJardins theory of sustainable production in
  business? Millians?
• Is sustainable production a realistic view?
  Inevitably, doesnt every business have
  waste-by-products? If so, how can we determine an
  effect measure of sustainability?