Weather & Environment Blog

Society insists that every company become sustainable. Many would view any “demand” such as this as a threat to the organization, but it is fair to say that a drive to sustainability offers as many if not more opportunities and great fiscal sense. Gather the information necessary to create an accurate and believable baseline when it comes to all scarce resources, including energy and water. The carbon and water footprints are the first step.

Corporations need to reduce water consumption, but they also need to be concerned about making money, protecting their position in the marketplace, being aware of operational risks as they embrace sustainability. A baseline position needs to be assessed, creating a water footprint. Water represents risk to a company in many different ways, which must be understood and these factors must be compiled into a workable plan.

Toyota has long been one of the leaders in the automobile world and long ago they identified seven separate areas of wasteful inefficiency, which can all be attributed to any manufacturing operation around the world today. These areas can really kill your profitability and expose your organization and its lack of planning in the areas of sustainability. Overproduction, transportation, waiting time, processing, inventory, motion and poor quality control must be addressed.

While many months went by without too much activity, early May of 2010 proved to be very eventful for climate change politics. Two highly important announcements arrived, with the unveiling of the American Power Act, closely followed by news that the EPA had reached a final determination in their process of greenhouse gas regulation. The EPA will use powers under the Clean Air Act to regulate emissions from the very largest industrial facilities across the country.

AB 42 was introduced in 2006 by the California legislature as a way of seeking to control emissions throughout the state within a “cap and trade” scheme. Since its inception, the legislation has attracted considerable opposition, yet has survived challenges meant to water down or even suspend its effects. As the all-important November ballots approach, it seems that it will face a significant challenge, with a possible voter referendum ahead.

It’s amazing to think that many organizations are just not “with it” when it comes to the overall subject of corporate sustainability. How many people still see this as just a buzzword, with potential trouble ahead. The organization that does not realize just how important this issue is may be doomed to failure unless it gets up to speed very quickly and starts to take action. This is a matter of corporate life and not just a “green” issue.