A company's corporate culture and attitude toward environmental issues has a major impact on what you can realistically hope to accomplish as its environmental, health and safety director. An Australian study suggests that there are 6 kinds of attitudes that companies harbor toward matters environmental. Which one best describes your company?
1. Rejection
Sees environmentalism as empty rhetoric that is without substance and opposed to "progress." About 50 years ago, rejection was the prevailing attitude in most corporate circles. Today, it's dying out.
2. Indifference/Compliance
Considers environmental concerns to be of little or no relevance to their activities. Such companies are willing to do what the law requires and no more.
3. Greenwashing
A pun on whitewashing, greenwashing involves talking a good game while covering up the environmental damage the company is actually doing. A more benign version of greenwashing is meaning well but not following sound environmental practices due to inexperience or ignorance.
4. Efficiency
Supports environmental programs because of the belief that they will result in lower costs and improved operations. Such an attitude provides fertile ground for ISO initiatives.
5. Strategic Positioning
Characterized by a desire to make the company an environmental leader in the community and the corporate world. Companies displaying such an attitude are likely to be ISO certified.
6. Ideological Commitment
The true believers who demand green performance not simply because of the economic advantages but because it's the right thing to do.
Source: Tagar, "Corporate Environmentalism: Evaluating Government Programs Using a Simple Classification Model," (Melbourne, AUS: 2001)
Click on the links more information on Safety Compliance or OSHA Compliance.
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