JUNIOR CYCLE BUSINESS STUDIES Business and Sustainable Development
A business that is committed to sustainable development will endeavour to have as little negative impact on the environment as possible. This often involves putting policies in place that seek to reduce the impact of how raw materials are sourced and how products are manufactured and distributed.
An example of an Irish company that has a commitment to sustainability is Country Crest, a supplier of potatoes and onions based in Lusk, County Dublin. Country Crest has a green ethos, which includes generating its own electricity using wind turbines, recycling water and composting, using greener fuel in vehicles and machinery and promoting biodiversity.
Sustainable business in Ireland In groups, research another Irish business that is committed to sustainable development.
• What steps has it taken to promote sustainability? • Does it have a green ethos or a sustainability statement on its website? Present your findings to the class.
Sustainable strategy A
Go to page 228 of your Activities and Accounts Book to consider how you would make a business more sustainable.
The Government and Sustainable Development
The government must establish initiatives and laws that protect our economy and the environment. Irish laws in place to protect the environment include the Waste Management Act 1996, the Protection of the Environment Act 2003 and the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the statutory body responsible for the sustainable protection and management of Ireland’s environment. Its duties include:
• Enforcing environmental law. • Waste management. • Monitoring, analysing and reporting on the environment.
