Abstract
Sustainability is not necessary, as proven by the significant number of chemical companies that have declined to adopt it. However, for more developed-world, public chemical companies, at least some nod to sustainability is probably required. Sustainability’s return-on-investment’ is difficult to quantify, which is not the same as saying there is no ROI.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
Hilger’s apparent disregard of public opinion was long-standing, and was shared by his predecessor, Rolf Sammet. Asked what he did during World War II at an early-1980s press briefing with British journalists, Sammet replied that he spent much of it bombing London.
- 2.
Which were high emitters of N2O, one of the more potent greenhouse gases.
- 3.
With terminator technology, GMOs terminate future generations, in that their seeds are genetically engineered to be sterile. This prevents a GMO from seeding a subsequent generation, thus protecting the natural environment from artificial genetic modification. GMO-opponents generally ignored this, pointing out that “terminated GMO” require farmers to buy seeds every year from Monsanto – alleged proof of its greed.
- 4.
Robert Watson, who also was involved in the IPCC reports on climate change.
- 5.
The European Chemical Industry Council, i.e. the trade association of manufacturers.
- 6.
- 7.
For instance, bribing to win government contracts, paying taxes in countries with lax enforcement or, in a merchant bank, strictly separating investment analysis and deal-making.
- 8.
For instance, a “Sustainability Beyond Compliance in Chemicals” conference held in 2007 featured speakers from Akzo Nobel, BASF, Dow, DSM, Novamont, Rhodia, Solvay and Syngenta. http://www.jacobfleming.com/conferences/chemical/sustainability-beyond-compliance-in-chemicals#eve_inf.
- 9.
In some of these cases, the commitment accounts for a significant amount of the company’s brand – so it is not completely altruistic.
References
Steger et al (2005) Corporate license to operate – review of the literature and research options. Oliver Salzmann, Aileen Ionescu-Somers, Ulrich Steger. IMD. http://www01.imd.ch/documents/research/lto/LTOresreview.pdf
Krisennavigator (1998) Frank Roselieb. Institut für Krisenforschung, Schauenburgerstraße 116 D-24118 Kiel
KPMG & SustainAbility (2007) Count me in: the readers’ take on sustainability reporting
Greenpeace (2001) UK government report on PVC misses the point, but still condemns PVC windows and floors. http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/media/press-releases/uk-government-report-on-pvc-misses-the-point-but-still-condemns-pvc-windows-and-floors
Natural Resources Defense Council (1999) Preventing industrial pollution at its source: a final report of the Michigan Source Reduction Initiative. http://www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/msri/msriinx.asp
Moberg (2002) Erin Brokovich doesn’t live here: environmental politics and‚ responsible care’ in mobile county, Alabama. Human Organization, Winter 2002. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3800/is_200201/ai_n9025846/pg_1?tag=artBody;col1
Washington Post (1999) Crop busters take on Monsanto: backlash against biotech foods exacts a high price. Justin Gillis and Anne Swardson, 27 Oct 1999. http://www.biotech-info.net/crop_busters.html
Wall Street Journal (2000) Tilling the middle ground: consultant brings environmentalists and executives together. Konstantin Richter, 23 Mar 2000. http://www.johnelkington.com/profile-wsj.htm
Guardian (1999) GM food: special report. John Vidal Guardian (London), Saturday 9 Oct 1999
Chemistry & Industry (2008) Syngenta unlikely to rejoin Ag assessment. Marina Murphy, 25 Feb 2008
PEP Review (2000–2010) Impact of the EU’s REACH chemicals policy
Greenpeace (2006) Toxic Lobby: how the chemicals industry is trying to kill REACH. Greenpeace, Amsterdam
Friedman (1970) The social responsibility of business is to increase its profits, Milton Friedman. New York Times Magazine (September):122–126
Vafeas N, Nikolaou V (2001) The association between corporate environmental and financial performance. Adv Public Int Account 8:195–214
The Sustainable Company (2003) Chris Laszlo, Island Press. ISBN 1 55963 836 2
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Johnson, E. (2012). Evaluating Sustainability: Is It Necessary, and Does It Pay?. In: Sustainability in the Chemical Industry. Green Energy and Technology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-3834-8_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-3834-8_9
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-007-3833-1
Online ISBN: 978-94-007-3834-8
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)