Corporate Responsibility and Green Practices Alekhya Gampa, Luke Sharkey, Andrew Chung, Stephanie Brown

What is a corporation? A legal entity separate from the people who own or manage it. In America, the tem corporate denotes a body formed to conduct business.

Defining features of a corporation A corporation is legally independent from the people who create it. Corporations only with creditors, shareholders, employees, and clients. Corporations are recognized by the law to have rights and responsibilities like actual people.

Modern Corporations Corporations range in size from local retail stores to Ford Motor Company or General Electric, the nation's largest corporation. Larger corporations sell stocks to shareholders, and the shareholders legally own the company. Multinationals corporations conduct business in many different countries and produce more goods and wealth than many smaller countries.

Examples of Corporations Apple IncGoogle General Electric

Corporate Green Practices What is it? Why is it important? How much is it being practiced today compared to recent years?

Definition of Corporate Green Practices Using practices of cutting down energy costs and reducing “carbon footprints” from Corporate facilities Examples include: 1.Employee engagement in sustaining importance of green practices 2.Waste reduction in facilities 3.Renewable energy usage

Importance of Corporate Green Practices Cuts down on personal costs of Corporations in the long run Helps prevent planet decay Helps public image of large and small Corporations across the globe

Evolving Corporate Green Practices Over past 3 years, green practices in corporate America has increased by 76% Large Corporations are setting standard for smaller business to follow in footsteps Example of major Corporations seriously involved: 1.Wal-Mart 2.Xerox 3.General Motors

What is Corporate Responsibility? Form of corporate self-regulation integrated into a business model. Mechanism whereby business would monitor and ensure its adherence to law, ethical standards, and international norms. Inclusion of public interest into corporate decision making. Honors the triple bottom line: People, planet, profit.

Debate and Criticisms Proponents: Corporations and society benefit in long run. Critics: Distracts fundamental role of businesses. Superficial.

Several Types of Corporate Responsibilities Philanthropy: Charity, sponsorships and employee voluntarism. Integration: Conducting existing business operations more responsibly. (Green practices) Innovation: Development of new business models for solving social and environmental problems. (Green practices)

Benefits of Different Types of Corporate Responsibilities Philanthropy: Improves corporate reputation and market opportunities. Integration: Improvements of environmental and social aspects of core business. Innovation: Alleviation of social or environmental problem

Examples: Philanthropy: Corporate donation to charity. Integration: Improvement of hiring policies, ensuring high-quality products, applying environmentally benign policies. Innovation: Introduction of new ideas that improves society or improves environment.

Implementation: Motives and Practices

Implementation: Methods Green energy / solar and wind power Rainwater harvesting system Paperless services for records, billing, etc. Reusable packaging designs Tap water for meetings

Implementation: Programs Certain programs promote green practices by asking corporations to collect specific products and then turn them in for rewards or cash. – Ink cartridges – Phones – Old CDs

Implementation: Green Building - Less Maintenance & Higher Durability: Green building uses premium materials that are more durable and building practices that often exceed building code requirements. - Healthier Living: Green building encourages use of products and materials that reduce or eliminate sources of indoor pollution. - Financial Savings: Green buildings are more energy efficient and can result in lower utility bills. - The Environment: Green building promotes sustainable communities, a diverse economy and reduces our impact on the environment. - Reputation: Modern customers prefer to support environmentally friendly corporations

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