Climate Change, Sustainability, And Interface Corporation Essay.

“ Society has to get a grip and put a tax on carbon. Of course, there is much that flows from that, and it is a complex situation. The small details of something  such as climate change are political and social, and they are a lot about fairness and how we rebalance towards a fairer society.” (Richard Rogers)

“On climate change, we often don’t fully appreciate that it is a problem. We think it is a problem waiting to happen.” (Kofi Annan)

a.Critically interpret/evaluate both quotes with regards to the concept of climate change (develop an understanding of each part of the quotes and construct your understanding of the overall idea within the quotes).

b.Do you agree or disagree with the ideas presented in the quotes? In developing your answer, you should use evidence that supports your argument.(400 words)

1. What is sustainability?Critically interpret why it is some time such a challenge for business to really engage in sustainability?(300 words)

2. Today will we have a closer look at the carpet manufacturing company Interface, which has an ambitious target of becoming a ‘zero’ emitting company.For more information consider: 

a .  What is Interface’s mission? What impacts might this have on sustainability?

b. Assess Interface’s different sustainability strategies. Do you think Interface has enhanced its sustainability outcomes?

c. With regards to different business responses, how has Interface responded to climate change and sustainability?

The Social and Political Aspects of Climate Change

Based in the words of Richard Rodgers and Kofi Annan, it is true that climate change is both social and political. It is also a matter that world leaders should take up with seriousness and lay strategies on how to overcome it. For climate change to be maintained at the acceptable levels both the social and political elements must be balanced. Socially, small farmers feel the effect of the global change. Research findings connote climate change affects small farmers through extreme weather changing patterns and higher temperatures that threaten their crops. This becomes the source of problems for the farmers as well as entire communities who depend on crops as a source of livelihoods.

Secondly, the poor people living in the rural areas are hardest hit by the climate change. The majority of this people depend on surrounding natural resources for their survival (Byrd & DeMates, 2014). When the effects of climate change set in, their survival is threatened and poverty continues to strike them. Thirdly, climate change put the lives of vulnerable people in the society such as elderly, children and women in danger. This is because they are more likely to suffer from harsh climatic conditions and disease erupting as the result of climate change.

Climate change has become more political affair than an issue that should be addressed in a sober manner (Herman & Treverton, 2009, p. 140). Each nation especially the developed world and the rich nations are accusing each other on the causes climate change. Similarly, rich nations expect the third world nations to take the same approach of engaging in production activities that may contribute to climate change. The rich argument is ridiculous putting into consideration that history shows that developed world contributed largely to the climate change than the less developed nations.

Alternatively, rich nations have continued to contribute to the climate change and are doing nothing about it. Rich nations’ production activities have contributed to the extreme suffering of the developing nations across the globe (Leal & Walter, 2012, p. 24). The balance of climate change as a political element can only be resolved if the developed world adopts a political will and accept to pay for the externalities they cause in the environment that lead to climate change. This paper accepts the views of both Rodgers and Annan on climate change and urges each nation to take it as its responsibility of conserving the environment. It is also high time; the nations limit on the amount pollution emit in the atmosphere.

Challenges Faced by Businesses in Achieving Sustainability

Sustainability is the ability to continue practicing a given behavior indefinitely (Mason, 2015). The definition of sustainability lays emphasis on sustainable development and sustainable economic growth (Daly, 2010, p. 22).  These are two critical aspects that are widely used in relation to sustainability. For the organizations, business, and states to achieve development and economic growth they should make sure approaches or means taken to facilitate the anticipated change are sustainable. If they are not sustainable, the resources employed to realize sustainable growth and economic may become depleted and therefore contribute to problems.

Businesses face several challenges to develop and maintain sustainability. For example “green” practices sustainability is faced with increased costs that business has to pass to the consumers. This becomes a challenge for the business to ensure sustainability at the expense of the customers who may switch to the competitors' products if they are cheap. Additionally, it becomes difficult for the businesses to sustainably maintain operation resources and energy usage during its operations (University of Colorado Boulder, 2015). When the sustainability of all these factors are put into consideration and compared with the monetary value that business has to forgone to meet, it becomes a challenge for the company top management to appreciate the importance of environmental sustainability.

Engaging senior management and other colleagues in the business context is another challenge that hampers sustainability in the business context (Werbach, 2013). Findings indicate even in the organization where sustainability is a priority; engagement has remained the largest barrier. In fact, this phenomenon cuts across each industry sector (Knowles, 2014). However, to get the support of all individual to engage in business sustainability influential people such as financial managers and logistic managers should be in the front line in encouraging others to take part.

Interface mission focuses on becoming the first global company to be committed to its people, process, product, and profits. This will be achieved by building an organization where all people are treated with respect and dignity. This will be attainable through the creation of environment of learning and development. Secondly, the company production operations will pay attention to the customers’ needs to provide them with quality products. Finally, the company mission is to protect in the areas where they operate. Interface aims to achieve this by becoming the first a company to engage in industrial ecology. The environmental protection is aspect is tied to the notion that Interface is the company that cherishes nature and ready to restore whatever damage they cause to the environment (Interface, Inc., 2016). Interface validates its profits with an objective of leaving the better place than they found it.

Interface sustainability strategies include training and development, strengths that are based on culture, volunteerism, and philanthropy. Training involves encouraging associates’ professional development and growth. On the strengths based on culture, Interface believes that associates who are motivated to take advantage of their strengths will be more satisfied and productive. Volunteering and philanthropy involve restoring and helping the communities where the company operations are located.  

Interface core mission is to realize climate take back. One of the key Interface argument on climate change is that people should stop thinking about how to reduce the externalities caused by climate change and instead focus on finding how they can create a climate suitable for life. The interface does this by running business operations that create a climate for people to live without climatic change hazards (Makower, 2016). Secondly, the company strives to reduce carbon emission with the mission of reversing climate change. Third, create a supply chain that supports all life. Make factories that will run like forests. Finally, recycle waste products into useful products.

References:

Byrd, R. & DeMates, L., 2014. Five Reasons Why Climate Change Is a Social Issue, Not Just an Environmental One. [Online]
Available at: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/rosaly-byrd/climate-change-is-a-socia_b_5939186.html
[Accessed 20 July 2017].

Daly, H., 2010. Toward some operational principles of sustainable development. Ecological Economics, 6(2), pp. 12-36.

Herman, P. F. & Treverton, G. F., 2009. The Political Consequences of Climate Change. Survival: Global Politics and Strategy, 51(2), p. 137–148.

Interface, Inc., 2016. Interface’s values are our guiding principles. [Online]
Available at: https://www.interfaceglobal.com/company/mission-vision.aspx
[Accessed 20 July 2017].

Knowles, V., 2014. Engagement is the biggest challenge in driving sustainable business. [Online]
Available at: https://www.2degreesnetwork.com/groups/2degrees-community/resources/engagement-biggest-challenge-driving-sustainable-business/
[Accessed 20 July 2017].

Leal, F. & Walter, 2012. The Economic, Social and Political Elements of Climate Change. Climate Change Management, 4(2), pp. 22-32.

Makower, J., 2016. Inside Interface's bold new mission to achieve 'Climate Take Back.' [Online]
Available at: https://www.greenbiz.com/article/inside-interfaces-bold-new-mission-achieve-climate-take-back
[Accessed 20 July 2017].

Mason, M., 2015. What Is Sustainability and Why Is It Important?. [Online]
Available at: https://www.environmentalscience.org/sustainability
[Accessed 20 July 2017].

UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BOULDER, 2015. Top Three Sustainability Challenges in Business. [Online]
Available at: https://www.colorado.edu/sustainablepractices/2015/12/17/top-3-sustainability-challenges-business
[Accessed 20 July 2017].

Werbach, A., 2013. Sustainability—The Only Strategy. [Online]
Available at: https://hbr.org/2008/09/harvard-business-idea cast-111.html
[Accessed 20 July 2017].