Businesses can have a negative impact on the environment
Environmental audits assess the impact of a business on its environment
Businesses create many external costs that affect the environment e.g. pollution
External costs created by businesses can impact the environment in the following ways:
- Urban blight – excessive development and inappropriate developments mean the environment is visually less attractive, loss of farmland
- Production and disposal of waste – this could include an increase in litter and rubbish from packaging
- Use of energy
- Pollution: Noise – from cars, lorries, factories etc. Air emissions from cars and delivery vehicles
Methods of Controlling Environmental Impact
The Environmental Protection Act, 1991 and the Environment Act, 1995 are designed to protect the environment
Businesses can also help reduce harm to the environment by:
- Redesigning products to use less materials and making them biodegradable / recyclable
- Sourcing resources from sustainable supplies
- Finding ways to reduce pollution
