Consumers Behaviour Towards the Environmental Issues and How Companies Respond to It

(5F2050)

HRM 2nd year

Word count: 2383

Title of the research project

Consumers Behaviour towards the Environmental Issues and how companies respond to it

Research Context

Environmental issues are influencing the market strategies and planning. Manufacturers now are concern about stakeholders' expectations and attitude. They drive companies to raise the awareness of the environmental issues, as a result of this pressure we can see how manufacturers are considering green policies and eco-friendly products as a core priority in their work. A research reported by (Adrienne Selko , Sep 2007) give an example of companies environmental strategies; eight out of ten managers and professionals in the U.S., Brazil, Italy & Germany view reduction of waste as a higher priority than other environmental factors: such as increasing energy efficiency or developing green (environmentally friendly) products while managers in China, Korea and India for example, consider the development of green (environmentally friendly) products as a more important driver than CO2 emissions, use of clean/renewable energy sources or waste reduction. ( www.industryweek.com April 2010) . Morrisons in March 2006 faced one of the most embarrassing environmental protest in the time when a group of Greenpeace activates climbers scaled the roof of Morrisons flagship store in Bradford and unfurled a giant banner above the Morrisons logo saying 'UK's worst seafood retailer (www.greenpeace.org.uk April 2010) .

Source: greenpeace.org.uk

In this research I am going to explore consumer attitude and behaviour toward environmental issues and how companies respond and adapt sustainable policies toward the environment or what is so called now CO2 footprint. The research work will focus on consumers' awareness of environment, how they see their role toward greenhouse gas, energy efficiency, CO2 footprint and other challenging waste issues. I will collect a sample data from consumers and also from business owners – managers – to see if they can meet in the middle; the financial profit and the ethical moral duties toward our planet. I will summarise the research work as follow:

Research Aims:

• To explore consumer attitude and behaviour toward environmental issues.

• How companies and manufacturers act in response to consumers concerns.

Research Objectives:

1. Identify the impacts caused by landfill waste and CO2 emission on the environment.

2. Explore consumer awareness on the causes of pollution and what do they know about daily life consuming waste.

3. Find out the manufacturers and companies polices and procedures to promote sustainable environmental products and services.

Overview of the literature

Landfill waste, pollution, greenhouse gas, global warming, energy consumption…etc, these issues have driven a global concern all over the world; this is because of the climate change and shortage of food supply and unfair use of natural resources.

The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and Consumers International (CI) have documented nationally-sponsored consumption related policies, many of which fall into the general categories of engaging in research and/or product testing, promoting "green" government purchasing, and using economic instruments and/or regulations to increase environmentally benign consumption (UNEP/CI, 2004),

The challenge, as a UNEP report states, "is for governments to create the right conditions in which consumers are encouraged to naturally shift towards sustainable consumption through the wise combination of different policy instruments" (UNEP/CSPS 2006, p.44).

This international concern is justified because of the serious problems I just mentioned early.

Norman Baker MP the Shadow Environment Secretary published a guide for best practice in 2004 called ( HOW GREEN IS YOUR SUPERMARKET) , this guide highlighted