Sustainable entrepreneurship BU6019 Session 9 Sustainability Verses The Fast Consuming Society

Re-cap on last week’s content Private costs and benefits (e.g. financial) External costs and benefits (e.g pollution) Above equates to social costs and social benefits! To what degree might future generations suffer? Stakeholder feedback (e.g. Disney-Biodiesel) Cost/Benefit Analysis (e.g. Channel Tunnel)

Sustainability verses the fast consuming society So… what really is going on? Q: Does society need to rethink, redesign, and rebuild a positive future for our planet? Consider: “Bricolage!” (The creation of something new by individuals who combine or transform existing resources)

Go to prison? Ray Anderson, Chairperson of Interface Inc. is quoted as saying “Some day they will put people like me in jail” (prison) He said this, as he admitted he felt guilty for exploiting the earth’s natural resources Interface produces carpet and floor tiles and produces nylon and adhesives. from oil and chemicals, creating 900 millions tonnes of emissions - and 2 billion litres of waste water each year!

Interface Inc… Has a mission to become a zero emission business by 2020 Wishes to create the ultimate sustainable enterprise It’s challenges… Ways to save resources Ways to overcome technology barriers Ways to persuade suppliers to be environmentally friendly (e.g. raw materials) Ways to keep employees motivated and engaged Ways to convince stakeholders that a “Greener” way is more profitable

The population is likely to increase by 2 billion this century! AFRICA The population is likely to increase by 2 billion this century! - Some estimate 5 billion!

Let’s examine the Hand-out together!

It’s good to think! Consider: FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) Consumers want everything quickly! People eat, communicate…. and pollute …. “on the move”! How can society be educated to change? In developed/developing countries, is enough done to persuade people to use public transport instead of cars? Problems: Living in the countryside/school run/popping to the supermarket/ governments not investing in public transport/ social costs!

What do you think? Smaller business enterprises can use their flexibility to develop sustainable products and/or services, to meet consumer needs, in a way that is impossible for larger businesses to do! - Do you agree/disagree? - Why is this?

Activity In small groups, please discuss the following: What affect does “Fast food” have upon society? – Why/how? To what degree does modern technology impact upon the fast consuming society? – Is this good or bad? (why/how?) Consumers want to be “mobile” in such a way that they can travel from one location to another instantly! What affect does this have on society? – Why/how? Do any of the above have an influence on our ability to protect future generations? - Please be prepared to share your views with everyone else!

And finally... Next week we will spend part of the session examining the layout/content of your assignment! - Please decide by then, which sector you will investigate!