Greening the Corporation: Management Strategy and the Environmental Challenge

by Robbins, Peter Thayer

• ISBN13: 9781853837715
• ISBN10: 1853837717
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-08-01
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Summary

* Exposes the contradictions of pursuing environmental and social goals while maximizing profit * Illuminating case studies of how corporations deal with the dilemmas involved * Develops a new management model Corporations are often blamed for a significant amount of environmental destruction and many are looking for new ways of managing environmental impacts and pursuing "green" markets. This "greening" of the corporations is riddled with contradictions, which Peter Robbins exposes. Analyzing the approaches of four major companies - ARCO Chemicals, Ben & Jerry's, Shell, and The Body Shop - he identifies common approaches and develops a management model to resolve them and combine environmental and business objectives.

Author Biography

Peter Robbins is a lecturer in sociology in the Institute of Water and Environment at Cranfield University.

Table of Contents

List of Tables	viii
Acronyms and Abbreviations	ix
Acknowledgements	xiii
Preface	xiv
Environmental Challenges and Corporate Responses	1	(22)
Introduction	1	(1)
Atmosphere	2	(2)
Toxic chemicals and hazardous waste	4	(3)
Freshwater	7	(2)
Land	9	(2)
Oceans	11	(1)
Biotechnology and biological diversity	12	(3)
Corporate response to specific environmental challenges	15	(7)
Management responses	15	(7)
Conclusion	22	(1)
Theories of Corporate Greening	23	(20)
Introduction	23	(1)
Ecological modernization	23	(6)
The discourse of ecological modernization	23	(1)
Ecological modernization theory	24	(1)
Three key aspects of ecological modernization	25	(4)
The sociology of management	29	(5)
Rational choice theory	29	(1)
Organizational theory	30	(2)
Corporate culture	32	(2)
Green economics and business	34	(7)
Environmental economics	34	(3)
The greening of business	37	(2)
Business ethics and the environment	39	(2)
Conclusion	41	(2)
Corporate Management of Environmental Challenges	43	(24)
Introduction	43	(1)
Corporate environmental management structures: Policies	43	(3)
Summary of corporate policies	46	(1)
Corporate environmental management structures: Programmes	46	(8)
Sustainable development issues	50	(4)
Summary of corporate environmental management structures	54	(2)
Corporate environmental management styles	56	(8)
Compliance oriented management	56	(2)
Preventive management	58	(1)
Strategic environmental management	59	(2)
Sustainable development management	61	(3)
Summary of corporate environmental management styles	64	(1)
Conclusion	65	(2)
An Analysis of Two Corporations with a Traditional Corporate Culture	67	(27)
Introduction	67	(1)
ARCO Chemical Company	67	(12)
Environmental policy	70	(7)
Environmental record	77	(2)
Summary: ARCO Chemical Company	79	(2)
Shell	81	(9)
Environmental policy	82	(4)
Environmental record	86	(4)
Summary: Shell	90	(2)
Conclusion	92	(2)
An Analysis of Two Corporations with a `Social-environmental' Corporate Culture	94	(37)
Introduction	94	(2)
The Body Shop	96	(14)
Environmental policy	96	(4)
Environmental record	100	(10)
Summary: The Body Shop	110	(2)
Ben & Jerry's	112	(14)
Environmental policy	116	(4)
Environmental record	120	(6)
Summary: Ben & Jerry's	126	(1)
Conclusion	127	(4)
Greening the Corporation: Shades of Green	131	(9)
Introduction	131	(1)
Ecological modernization as institutional learning	132	(1)
Ecological modernization as technocratic project	133	(1)
Ecological modernization as cultural politics	134	(1)
Structures, styles and cultures	135	(2)
Implications for further study	137	(1)
Policy implications	138	(1)
Conclusion	139	(1)
Endnotes	140	(35)
References	175	(16)
Index	191