Ebook: Ahead of the Curve: Cases of Innovation in Environmental Management

The debate on sustainable production often ends in discussions on the feasibility of far-reaching changes in relation to the competitiveness of companies. Industry itself and policy-makers tend to back away from engaging in profound processes of industrial transformation. Examples of companies who have voluntarily moved beyond what is seen as 'reasonable' and 'feasible' can overcome this deadlock. This book collects a fine sample of companies who have taken up their responsibility in this respect. To quote the editors of this book: "They are cases that might provide other firms and policy-makers with ideas for innovative environmental responses that are outside the slowly rising trend of improvement that we are currently observing: in short, the cases are of firms and ideas that are ahead of the curve". The editors and many of the authors of this volume are members of the Greening of Industry Network and have been debating with one another for years. Founded in 1991, the Greening of Industry Network comprises over 1500 individuals representing academia, business, public interest, labor and government from more than 50 countries. Participants work together to build policies and strategies toward creating a sustainable future through many vehicles -- coordinating research efforts, publications, planning and participating in workshops, public forums and conferences. To provide benefit to broader society, the Network stimulates public dialogue and brings together academic researchers from many disciplines with other stakeholders who traditionally do not work together in coalitions.

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While it is generally true that the actions firms take to make them more environmentally friendly are driven by the pressure of government regulation, there are some companies that have been driven by `vision' or expectations to stay ahead of regulatory pressure. The book described how some organisations are going, or have tried to go, beyond current requirements to arrive at more solid environmental achievements. The cases described will thus provide other firms, organisations and policy makers with ideas for innovative environmental responses that lie outside the slowly rising trend of improvements the we currently observe - firms and ideas that are `ahead of the curve'.
The editors and many of the contributors are members of the Greening of Industry network.

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While it is generally true that the actions firms take to make them more environmentally friendly are driven by the pressure of government regulation, there are some companies that have been driven by `vision' or expectations to stay ahead of regulatory pressure. The book described how some organisations are going, or have tried to go, beyond current requirements to arrive at more solid environmental achievements. The cases described will thus provide other firms, organisations and policy makers with ideas for innovative environmental responses that lie outside the slowly rising trend of improvements the we currently observe - firms and ideas that are `ahead of the curve'.
The editors and many of the contributors are members of the Greening of Industry network.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-4
Ahead of the Curve: Introduction....Pages 5-17
The Role of Visioning in Environmental Management and Organisational Change: The Case of Abitibi-Price....Pages 19-40
Introducing Environmental Management in a Printing Company....Pages 41-62
Waste Costing for a Korean Steel Producer....Pages 63-75
Sustainable Banking at the Rabobank....Pages 77-91
The Emergence of Conservation Banking in Southern California....Pages 93-105
Greenpeace’s ‘Greenfreeze Campaign’....Pages 107-131
Mobility Carsharing....Pages 133-141
Networking Toward Sustainability — Value Added?....Pages 143-163
Environmental Innovation in Refining and Chemicals....Pages 165-191
The Uptake of Cleaner Production in Sub-Saharan Africa....Pages 193-210
Avocet: Not for the Want of Trying....Pages 211-223
On Becoming an ‘Energy Efficient Company’: The Adoption of an Advanced Energy System in an Italian Plastic Manufacturer ....Pages 225-241
Back Matter....Pages 241-241

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While it is generally true that the actions firms take to make them more environmentally friendly are driven by the pressure of government regulation, there are some companies that have been driven by `vision' or expectations to stay ahead of regulatory pressure. The book described how some organisations are going, or have tried to go, beyond current requirements to arrive at more solid environmental achievements. The cases described will thus provide other firms, organisations and policy makers with ideas for innovative environmental responses that lie outside the slowly rising trend of improvements the we currently observe - firms and ideas that are `ahead of the curve'.
The editors and many of the contributors are members of the Greening of Industry network.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-4
Ahead of the Curve: Introduction....Pages 5-17
The Role of Visioning in Environmental Management and Organisational Change: The Case of Abitibi-Price....Pages 19-40
Introducing Environmental Management in a Printing Company....Pages 41-62
Waste Costing for a Korean Steel Producer....Pages 63-75
Sustainable Banking at the Rabobank....Pages 77-91
The Emergence of Conservation Banking in Southern California....Pages 93-105
Greenpeace’s ‘Greenfreeze Campaign’....Pages 107-131
Mobility Carsharing....Pages 133-141
Networking Toward Sustainability — Value Added?....Pages 143-163
Environmental Innovation in Refining and Chemicals....Pages 165-191
The Uptake of Cleaner Production in Sub-Saharan Africa....Pages 193-210
Avocet: Not for the Want of Trying....Pages 211-223
On Becoming an ‘Energy Efficient Company’: The Adoption of an Advanced Energy System in an Italian Plastic Manufacturer ....Pages 225-241
Back Matter....Pages 241-241
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