Corporate Responses to Environmental Challenges: Initiatives by Multinational Management

Environmental concerns are on the corporate agenda, and companies are searching for effective managerial strategies. Multinational corporations command huge financial resources and technical skills, and their actions toward the environment can have a profound impact. Drawing detailed examples from major multinational companies, this book aims to provide practical insight into how companies approach the difficult task of responding to an increasing variety of environmental challenges. The authors identify several specific programmes being developed and implemented by corporations to establish accountability for environment, health and safety and to integrate environmental concerns throughout the corporate decision making process. The material in this work in drawn from extensive interviews conducted in US-based companies, and examinations of production facilities in developed and developing countries. In addition, results of a survey on corporate environment, health and safety practices are woven into the analysis. Although they note that there are inadequacies in some corporate responses to environmental challenges, the authors contend that improved practice will result from actions on the part of government and universities, as well as companies themselves. This book may help decision makers review their environmental programmes and develop sound strategies.