REVISITING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BUSINESS AND ENVIRONMENT
Keywords:
Business, Businessperson-Self, Citizen-Self, Greenwash, Environment, New Environmentalism, Profit Maximisation, Role MoralityAbstract
Economic development coupled with ignorance and careless attitude, have exploited natural resources at alarming rates. Globally, industry is responsible for more than one-third of the primary energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. Regarding the question whether business has any obligation to help environment, it has been variously answered, sometimes in affirmation and sometimes in absolute negation. Over and above this dichotomy, another dichotomy can arise within the same individual depending on whether a decision is taken as a businessperson or simply as a citizen. The most popular endeavour so far, to dissolve this rivalry, has been what is called ‘New Environmentalism,’ where the business houses are encouraged to become green for their own profit. This strategy can yield good results but practical application of it comes to a grinding halt when the profitability of the organisation is at stake. Thus the attempt to dissolve the rivalry between business and environment has not been absolutely successful. The problem seems to be one of ‘understanding’ as well as ‘attitude,’ as the ‘businessperson-self’ and ‘citizen-self’ are distinguished and made rivals. As far as environment is concerned, an attempt has to be made to merge the two selves into one ‘pro-environment’ self that keeps environment at par with business considerations and not simply as an ‘add on’.
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