1. chemical innovation used to address societal problems around water purity
1.1. Tata Chemicals' Swach water purifier
2. Cooperation
2.1. Profit-maximizing Cooperations are aware of the consumerist behaviour of individuals and thus make us of it as a mean to gain more and more profit. The Demand-suuply theory-- The more individuals demand fore goods, the more the the factories will produce goods for us
2.1.1. Large-scale production by factories to meet the escalating demand produces toxic chemicals and emits greenhouse gases that have adverse impacts on our environment such as global warming
2.1.2. Since coopertaions want to mximize profit, they prefer not to produce "green product" which includes higher cost of production.
2.1.2.1. Selling this higher price product to consumers means producer may lose in term of price competitiveness with their rivals since they have to sell the 'green products' at higher cost
2.1.2.1.1. A cursory glance around some shopping sites at laundry detergent shows that the green detergent we use, Mrs. Meyers, comes in at $0.20 per fluid oz, while another green product, Seventh Generation, comes in at $0.14 per fluid ounce. However, All 2X Concentrated Laundry Detergent(non-green) comes in at roughly $0.09 per fluid ounce.
2.1.2.2. Therefore, most cooperations choose to produce non-green products which may involve the use and emission of toxic chemicals during the process of production.
2.1.2.2.1. In May 2002, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) released an extensive report saying that, “there was a growing gap between the efforts to reduce the impact of business and industry on nature and the worsening state of the planet” and that “this gap is due to the fact that only a small number of companies in each industry are actively integrating social and environmental factors into business decisions.”
2.2. Corporate Social Responsibility
2.2.1. lack of CSR
2.2.1.1. One sharp example of environmental problems caused by multinational corporations, is the drive to extract oil from Nigeria6. As the previous link, from this site’s section on Africa shows, corporations have even backed the military to harass, even kill, local people who continue to protest at the environmental and other problems the activities of the various oil companies have caused.
2.2.2. CSR manipulated by company to maximize profit instead of to save the environment
2.2.2.1. Increasing green movement in the society. A certain group of individuals will be attracted to buy a product if it is called 'green-product' since this individual will feel that they have actually contributed into saving the environment by using this product
2.2.2.1.1. Companies use this 'green movement' concept to actually increase their sales by attracting these green activists to use their products. The very aim of Corporate Social Responsibility itself is lost, which is to ensure the welfare of the environment and the society.
2.2.2.1.2. With increased consumerism, there has been a rise in the number of environmental groups campaigning on various issues such as environmentally friendly products. To varying extents then, environmental concerns are issues that sometimes make the mainstream news. However, a cover story11, of Down To Earth magazine from Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment as an example, warns that the latest craze in green and ethical consumerism may just be another way for corporations to exploit people and make money by misrepresenting the facts. As another example of this, EarthDay Resources’ annual Don’t Be Fooled Awards12 highlight some of what they call the corporate “greenwashing” that goes on through advertising and lobbying campaigns.
2.3. Kimberly's Clark shocking mismanagement of forest resources
2.3.1. -shocking photos of a massive stockpile of old-growth logs destined to become disposable products -- Kleenex tissue
2.3.1.1. OGOKI FOREST
2.3.1.1.1. egregious mismanagement of the forests
2.3.2. Company's claim that 'much of the fibre comes from leftovers of the lumber production process
2.3.2.1. It turns out that K-C is purchasing huge quantities of pulp made primarily from whole, old growth trees
2.3.3. 71% of Kenogami Forests has benn fragmented
2.3.3.1. substantial decline of monitored species by 80% within the next 100 years
2.3.3.2. threaten species habitats
2.3.3.3. KENOGAMI FOREST-- CLASSIFIED AS INADEQUATELY PROTECTED AND HIGH PRIORITY FOR CONSERVATION
2.4. TATA CHEMICALS
2.4.1. ICIS awards
2.4.1.1. a strong emphasis on sustainability and the environment
2.4.1.1.1. judges noted that the company has well established and deeply embedded philosophies of social n corpoorate responsibility
3. Government
3.1. In developing countries where bossting economic growth outweighs protecting the environment
3.1.1. Industrilisation increase production in manufacturing
3.1.1.1. Since the Industrial Revolution, atmospheric CO2 has increased by around 100ppm due to human activity
3.1.1.1.1. Manufacturing factories produce high amounts of greenhouse gases and other harmful gases along with toxic waste dumped into water bodies
3.1.2. In fast-growing cities such as China, cropland is converted to nonfarm uses
3.1.2.1. Industrial construction, paving of land for roads, highways and parking loats are claimimng cropland in densely populated countries that are rapidly industrializing such as CHINA and INDIA
3.1.2.1.1. in 2011, new car sales in China are projected to reach 20 million. It is estimated that for every 5 million cars added to a country's fleet, roughly 1 million acres must be paved to accomodate them and cropland is a often the loser.
3.2. Government often believe that environment has a long-term impact therefore they may just focus on shorter term issues such as economic growth through industrialization.
3.3. However in developed countries efforts have been made to reduce environmental degradation
3.3.1. developed countries has more stable economic growth and therefore can diverge their attention more on environmental isssues
3.3.1.1. Singapore Government policy that motor vehicles must be fiited with catalytic converter to reduce pollution (environmental-friendly car)
3.3.1.2. Use of renewable source of energy such as Wind Power in Netherlands
3.4. developing countries also start contributing their parts in saving the environment
3.4.1. China has a policy such that citizens have to bring their own plastic bag as they will be supplied. If not, they have to purchase a cloth bag on the spot for $1
3.4.1.1. but these measures are obsolete, compared to the large-scale environment degradation caused by their manufacturing industries
4. 'Selfishness' + 'unlimited want' is one of the most fundamental human nature
4.1. We all have unlimited want and will never be satisfied.
4.1.1. Ex : Women love shopping, especially clothes and bags. They believe that they have to keep updating their clothes to the latest fashion. Although the old ones are still in a very good condition, they are just tempted to buy a new one. Cupboard-storeroom-disposal
4.1.2. Resource Use Increasing Faster Than Population
4.1.2.1. Even accounting for population growth, from 1960 to 2006 the per capita consumption of natural resources globally tripled. In accomplishing this, metal production grew six times, oil consumption eight times, natural gas use 14 times. The average European uses some 43 kilos of natural resources daily, while the average US resident more than doubles that at 88 kilograms.
4.1.3. economic strength and higher standards of living
4.2. selfish human nature
4.2.1. Humans are selfish. They only think of their own welfare and not the world community. They choose not to be indifferent and not to know about the repercussions of their buy-and-throwaway action.
4.2.2. People think that consumerism is necessary to boost their self esteem to define their social status and thus make them happy
4.3. Consumerism has become a culture
4.3.1. The Economic principle that has been embedded into our minds
4.3.1.1. Our consumption of goods obviously is a function of our culture. Only by producing and selling things and services does capitalism in its present form work, and the more that is produced and the more that is purchased the more we have progress and prosperity. The single most important measure of economic growth is, after all, the gross national product (GNP), the sum total of goods and services produced by a given society in a given year. It is a measure of the success of a consumer society, obviously, to consume.
4.3.1.1.1. An increase in quantity supplied and demanded means increase in economic growth (PPC shifts outward)
4.3.1.2. However, the production, processing, and consumption, of commodities requires the extraction and use of natural resources (wood, ore, fossil fuels, and water); it requires the creation of factories and factory complexes whose operation creates toxic byproducts, while the use of commodities themselves (e.g. automobiles) creates pollutants and waste.
4.3.1.2.1. Environmental degradation has become an external cost that has been, more often than not, neglected in our economic-based world
4.3.2. Our consumerism behaviours may be the most difficult to change; our consumption patterns are so much a part of our lives that to change them would require a massive cultural overhaul, not to mention severe economic dislocation
4.3.2.1. A decline in economic growth means unemployment
5. Inter-government
5.1. The sense of urgency among all levels of communities in the world is heightened for continued efforts to address the challenging issues-environment degradation
5.1.1. Regional Associations such as ASEAN
5.1.1.1. ASEAN Celebrates the ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable Development Film Festival Phnom Penh, 19 October 2011
5.1.1.1.1. The Film Festival is a part of the implementation of ASEAN Environmental Education Action Plan (AEEAP) 2008-2012, which aims to inspire and promote awareness of ASEAN citizens on the importance of multi-stakeholders' participation in addressing climate change. The short films provide brief highlights of unique, creative, indigenous and impactful initiatives taken by various stakeholders in ASEAN Member States, ranging from government, private sector, international organisations, civil society groups, to academia, to contribute to collective efforts in tackling climate change.
5.1.1.2. Over the last decade, there have been adequate examples of natural disasters around the ASEAN region which have claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. It shows how susceptible the Southeast Asian region is to changing environmental conditions.This was disclosed by the Permanent Secretary for Administration and Finance at the Ministry of Development at the Opening Ceremony of the 3rd Meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Climate Change, AWGCC
5.1.2. diplomatic agreements thru international organisations such as UN
5.1.2.1. Kyoto Protocol
5.1.2.1.1. gained support from 55 countries to reduce carbon emmissions by 2015
5.1.2.1.2. but many believe that this protocol is a failure
5.1.2.2. Copenhagen Summit
5.1.2.3. UN mobile app lets users calculate size of carbon footprint 13 December 2011 A new United Nations mobile telephone application released today lets users calculate their carbon footprint, visualize its equivalent in a particular ecosystem, and learn new ways in which they can reduce their emissions through specific actions.
5.1.2.4. The UN Climate Change Conference in Durban, South Africa concluded on Sunday, 11 December with a package of decisions called the Durban Platform.
5.1.2.4.1. a continuation of the Kyoto Protocol
5.1.3. Three Nations Agree to Conserve Biodiverse Heart of Borneo
6. NGO
6.1. Greenpeace
6.1.1. Movement against Kleenex Clear cut
6.1.1.1. Greenpeace Ends Its “Kleercut” Campaign and Applauds the Company’s Sustainability Efforts
6.1.1.2. K-C has set a goal of obtaining 100% of the company's wood fibre for tissue products from environmentally responsible resources
6.1.1.2.1. enhance the conservation and protection of Endangered Forests
6.1.1.3. These revised standards are proof that when responsible companies and Greenpeace come together, the results can be good for business and great for the planet
6.1.1.3.1. K-C's efforts are challenge to its competitors
6.1.1.3.2. 'i hope other companies pay close attention'