Targeting environmental improvements through ecological triage

In: Eco-management and auditing, Band 8, Heft 3, S. 154-164

Abstract

AbstractThis paper proposes a conceptualization of the approaches taken to determine whether, and which, companies should be targeted for improvement in their environmental performance and sustainability. Based on the concept of triage the paper proposes two approaches that the present authors argue could be utilized to select which companies should be forced or assisted into improving their environmental performance. The paper has four parts. It begins by outlining the authors' perceptions of the differences between a sustainable firm and environmental management. Secondly the authors examine the concept of triage, as used in disaster or battlefield conditions, and its applicability to greening businesses. Thirdly the authors propose two distinct triage scenarios that can be applied to selectively target businesses for environmental improvement or positive discrimination. Finally, the paper concludes by examining the possibility of selective targeting of businesses to green industry. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. and ERP Environment