Product details

By continuing to use our site you consent to the use of cookies as described in our privacy policy unless you have disabled them.
You can change your cookie settings at any time but parts of our site will not function correctly without them.
Management article
-
Reference no. 94310
Published by: Harvard Business Publishing
Published in: "Harvard Business Review", 1994

Abstract

Responding to environmental problems has always been a no-win proposition for managers. Help the environment and hurt your own business, or irreparably harm your business while damaging the earth. Recently, however, a new common wisdom has emerged that promises the ultimate reconciliation of environmental and economic concerns. The proponents of this new popular wisdom cite a mounting body of "win-win" projects that benefit the environment and create financial value. In this new world, managers might redesign a product so that it uses fewer environmentally harmful or resource-depleting raw materials--an effort that if successful could result in considerable cuts in direct manufacturing costs and inventory savings. This new vision sounds good, yet it is highly unrealistic.

About

Abstract

Responding to environmental problems has always been a no-win proposition for managers. Help the environment and hurt your own business, or irreparably harm your business while damaging the earth. Recently, however, a new common wisdom has emerged that promises the ultimate reconciliation of environmental and economic concerns. The proponents of this new popular wisdom cite a mounting body of "win-win" projects that benefit the environment and create financial value. In this new world, managers might redesign a product so that it uses fewer environmentally harmful or resource-depleting raw materials--an effort that if successful could result in considerable cuts in direct manufacturing costs and inventory savings. This new vision sounds good, yet it is highly unrealistic.

Related