Why Understanding Green Business? With every new day society has become more aware of the increasing threats to the globe due to the non-environmentally friendly practices that have been occurring in the previous years. Due to the newfound awareness, people have taken greater lengths to pass laws, alter company policies and change their everyday lives to do their part in helping to preserve the environment and prevent any further damage. Rather than taking the easy route and continuing their habits, society is putting forth a consciousness effort to go out of their way to improve the environment in any way they can. As a collective force the going green movement will better the environment and allow further generations to enjoy a clean and productive world. How is Understanding Green Business structured? Dr. Tehrani and Dr. Sinha dedicate each chapter to a different aspect of "going green" in this book such as products, transportation, networking, research and energy alternatives. In addition, the authors discuss green careers and provide useful information on how to go about working at a green company. The future of the green movement and its impacts are mentioned so as to provide a potential impact of current changes in the future. It also shows a possible interpretation of how the future green movement shall be exercised. Who is this book for? This book has been created as the core textbook for Business professionals, industry practitioners, academicians and students who would like to hone their business skills, and keep up with the latest trends in Green Business. As a result, Understanding Green Business will support students pursuing a master degree in MBA, Certificate in Management or a Diploma in Management and/or Business while undergraduate students in business programs.

Understanding Green Business

By Nik Tehrani Swapna Sinha

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2011 Nik Tehrani
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4634-1082-7

Contents

About the Authors..........................................................................................iAcknowledgements...........................................................................................vPreface....................................................................................................viChapter 1 Introduction....................................................................................1Chapter 2 Green Business-Compelling Issues Regarding Environmental Sustainability.........................28Chapter 3 Green Energy Alternatives.......................................................................69Chapter 4 Green Research..................................................................................111Chapter 5 Green Manufacturing & Green Supply Chain Management.............................................141Chapter 6 Green Products..................................................................................171Chapter 7 IT and Networking...............................................................................202Chapter 8 Green Homes and Commercial Buildings............................................................240Chapter 9 Green Transportation............................................................................272Chapter 10 Green Consumer.................................................................................310Chapter 11 The Role of United Nations, Institutions, and Country Specific Initiatives.....................349Chapter 12 Policy Framework for Green Business............................................................382Chapter 13 Green Advertising & Eco-Labeling...............................................................419Chapter 14 Green Movement: The Future.....................................................................448Chapter 15 Managing Green Businesses......................................................................493Chapter 16 The Green Jobs.................................................................................535

Chapter One

Introduction

Chapter Contents

? Introduction 3

? A Historical Perspective 3

? Green Business-Compelling Issues Regarding 5 Environmental Sustainability

? Green Energy Alternatives 9

? Green Research 10

? Green Manufacturing & Green Supply Chain Management 11

? Green Products 12

? Green IT and Networking 15

? Green Homes and Commercial Building 16

? Green Transportation 17

? Green Consumer 18

? The Role of United Nations, Institutions, and Country 18 Specific Initiatives

? Policy Framework for Green Business 20

? Green Advertising & Eco-Labeling 20

? Green Movement: The Future 23

? Managing Green Businesses 23

? Green Jobs 24

? Chapter Summary 24

? Review Questions 25

? Appendix 26

? References 26

INTRODUCTION____________________________________

The concept of Green Movement and Green Politics began in the late 1970s when the first Green party was formed in Germany. The term 'Green' is the English translation of the German word 'Grun'. Green politics advocated issues pertaining to ecology, environment, feminism, conservation and peace. Apart from all this, the supporters of green politics were also concerned with civil liberties, non-violence and social justice. Hence, green politics came to be known for ecological and environmental goals during the 1970s. It also focused on achieving these goals through participatory democracy, consequently, parties were formed that dealt with ecological and environmental goals. These were known as 'green' parties and by the early 1980s they were active in several countries.

A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE_________________________

It is believed that Green politics draws its inspirations from Mahatma Gandhi, Spinoza and Uexkull who advocated and urged personal responsibility to make the right moral choices is the pillar of the green politics ideology. Further, the significance of environment seems to have been influenced by other great thinkers and philosophers such as Rousseau and Thoreau .

One of the most noteworthy facts is that green politics began as a conversation forum drawing insights and ideas from ecology, environment, feminism, social democracy, libertarian socialism, pacifism, social ecology and eco-socialism. These platforms evolved into a new philosophy to synthesize these goals, thus leading to the formation of green politics.

It is reported that the United Tasmania Group formed in Australia in 1972 was the first green party. During the same year in May, a meeting at the Victoria University at Wellington, New Zealand led to the formation of Values Party. This was a national-level party that contested for Parliament seats. The following year, UK's Ecology party was established, the first green party in Europe. Though the German Green Party was not the first in Europe, it received a lot of attention. The Party conducted a conference in 1979, during which the Four Pillars of the Green Party were identified. These Pillars formed the basis for the Party and for several green parties around the world. The Party or the Green won 27 seats in the federal election of 1983. Later, during the 1980s and 1990s, several other countries such as Canada, Finland and the US witnessed the formation and growth of green parties.

The proponents of green politics support several issues, one of the most important being Green Economics. Green economics emphasizes on the significance of the health of the environment along with the human well-being. As a result, the Greens disown capitalism, which focuses on economic growth at the cost of ecological health. The Greens consider such growth as uneconomic growth that fosters material consumption over quality of life. The supporters on green politics support economic policies that are less harmful to the environment. They denounce subsidies to certain industries and propose a green tax on these industries, thus forcing producers and consumers to make eco-friendly choices. Green economics is also anti-globalist in its approach. It considers globalization as a threat to the well-being of local cultures and natural environments.

GREEN BUSINESS-COMPELLING ISSUES REGARDING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY___________________

The term 'green movement' denotes the individuals and organizations that involve in efforts to safeguard the environment. To a greater extent it was believed that the green movement originated in the US with the publishing of the book Silent Spring by...