Searching for the profit in pollution prevention case studies in the corporate evaluation of environmental opportunities


Book Description

The concept of pollution prevention, or "P2," signifies a new, proactive environmental mindset that targets the causes, rather than the consequences, of polluting activity. While anecdotal evidence suggests that P2 opportunities exist and that many have been pursued, there is also the perception that the pace of P2 is far too slow. To explore that claim -- and to shed light on barriers to P2 innovation -- this paper presents case studies of industrial P2 projects that were in some way unsuccessful. Economic, financial, and accounting analysis is used to assess the rationale for, and soundness of, these corporate decisions. While based on a very limited sample, the evidence contradicts the view that firms suffer from organizational weaknesses that make them unable to appreciate the financial benefits of P2 investments. Instead, the projects foundered because of significant unresolved technical difficulties, marketing challenges, and regulatory barriers. Based on evidence from the cases, the paper concludes with a discussion of environmental policy reforms likely to promote P2 innovation.




Computer Simulated Plant Design for Waste Minimization/Pollution Prevention


Book Description

Full of examples based on case studies from a variety of industries, Computer Simulated Plant Design for Waste Minimization/Pollution Prevention discusses preventing pollution and minimizing waste using computer simulation programs. The author examines the computer technologies used in the field, including the design and analysis of computer-aided flow sheets. With this book, readers will understand how to use computer technology to design plants that generate little or no pollution and how to use information generated by computer simulations for technical data in proposals and presentations and as the basis for making policy decisions.




Environmentalism Unbound


Book Description

A call for a broadened environmental movement that addresses issues of everyday life. In Environmentalism Unbound, Robert Gottlieb proposes a new strategy for social and environmental change that involves reframing and linking the movements for environmental justice and pollution prevention. According to Gottlieb, the environmental movement's narrow conception of environment has isolated it from vital issues of everyday life, such as workplace safety, healthy communities, and food security, that are often viewed separately as industrial, community, or agricultural concerns. This fragmented approach prevents an awareness of how these issues are also environmental issues. After tracing a history of environmental perspectives on land and resources, city and countryside, and work and industry, Gottlieb focuses on three compelling examples of this new approach to social and environmental change. The first involves a small industry (dry cleaning) and the debate over pollution prevention approaches; the second involves a set of products (janitorial cleaning supplies) that may be hazardous to workers; and the third explores the obstacles and opportunities presented by community or regional approaches to food supply in the face of an increasingly globalized food system.




Improving Regulation


Book Description

Is there potential for a U.S. regulatory system that is more efficient and effective? Or is the future likely to involve 'paralysis by analysis'? Improving Regulation considers the challenges faced by the regulatory system as society and technology change, and our knowledge about the effects of our activities on human and planetary health becomes more sophisticated. While considering the difficulty in linking regulatory design and performance, Improving Regulation makes the case for empowering regulatory analysis. Studying applications as diverse as fire protection, air and water pollution, and genetics, its contributors examine the strategies of different stakeholders in today's complex policymaking environment. With a focus on the behavior of institutions and people, they consider the impact that organizational politics, science, technology, and performance have on regulation. They explore the role of technology in creating and reducing uncertainty, the costs of control, the potential involvement of previously unregulated sectors, and the contentious public debates about fairness and participation in regulatory policy. Arguing that the success of many regulations depends upon their acceptance by the public, Fischbeck, Farrow, and their contributors offer extensive, inductive evidence on the art of regulatory analysis. The resulting book provides 'real world' examples of regulation, and a demonstration of how to synthesize analytical skills with a knowledge of physical and social processes.




Environmental Protection


Book Description

This report: (1) examines the extent to which companies have adopted pollution prevention (PP) measures, (2) identifies the major factors that facilitate or encourage companies to use PP strategies, & (3) identifies the major factors that discourage their use of PP. Examines quantitative data available from the EPA & other sources on companies' PP practices, interviewed representatives of relevant national organizations & individual companies, & reviewed existing literature on the subject. Also conducted site visits to a number of firms to obtain detailed insights on their experiences in employing PP measures. Charts & tables.




Contemporary Environmental Accounting


Book Description

Contemporary Environmental Accounting: Issues, Concepts and Practice has been written by two of the world's leading experts in the field in order to provide the most comprehensive and state-of-the-art textbook on environmental accounting yet attempted. The book is suitable for both undergraduate and graduate students and their teachers, professional accountants, and corporate and organisational managers. Although no prior knowledge of environmental accounting is necessary to understand the critical issues at stake, academic accountants will also find that the book provides a useful introduction to the topic. The goals of the book are to discuss and illustrate contemporary conceptual approaches to environmental accounting; to make readers aware of crucial controversial topics; and to offer practical examples of how the concepts have been applied throughout Europe, North America and Australia. In order to increase the usefulness of the book for relevant courses, each chapter concludes with a set of questions for review. This book is essential reading for all those who are interested in how environmental issues influence accounting.A solutions manual is available on request with the purchase of this book.




Green Engineering


Book Description

A chemical engineer's guide to managing and minimizing environmental impact. Chemical processes are invaluable to modern society, yet they generate substantial quantities of wastes and emissions, and safely managing these wastes costs tens of millions of dollars annually. Green Engineering is a complete professional's guide to the cost-effective design, commercialization, and use of chemical processes in ways that minimize pollution at the source, and reduce impact on health and the environment. This book also offers powerful new insights into environmental risk-based considerations in design of processes and products. First conceived by the staff of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Green Engineering draws on contributions from many leaders in the field and introduces advanced risk-based techniques including some currently in use at the EPA. Coverage includes: Engineering chemical processes, products, and systems to reduce environmental impacts Approaches for evaluating emissions and hazards of chemicals and processes Defining effective environmental performance targets Advanced approaches and tools for evaluating environmental fate Early-stage design and development techniques that minimize costs and environmental impacts In-depth coverage of unit operation and flowsheet analysis The economics of environmental improvement projects Integration of chemical processes with other material processing operations Lifecycle assessments: beyond the boundaries of the plant Increasingly, chemical engineers are faced with the challenge of integrating environmental objectives into design decisions. Green Engineering gives them the technical tools they need to do so.




Economic Institutions and Environmental Policy


Book Description

This title was first published in 2001. This wide-ranging and comprehensive collection investigates the background to environmental economic development over the last thirty years, and the political implications of new directions resulting from technological and cultural changes in environmental issues. It examines the application of economic analysis to environmental problems in the past and solutions to the current issues of water, soil, air, energy, waste and urban ecology, discussing the implications of political decisions, cultural changes and technological constraints. It will prove a stimulating resource for students, academics, researchers and policy-makers alike.




EPA National Publications Catalog


Book Description




Environmental Policy and Corporate Behaviour


Book Description

An in-depth empirical analysis of an industrial survey spanning 4000 facilities in all manufacturing sectors and of all sizes illustrating the links between government environmental policies and company environmental management, investments innovation and performance.