BB120: CSR Case Study Pollution and Profit
Claire Doyle is the environmental compliance manager for a small plastics manufacturing company. She
is currently faced with the dećision whether or not to spend money on new technology that will reduce the
level of a particular toxin in the wastewater that flows out the back of the factory and into a lake. The
factory's emission levels are already within legal limits.
However, Claire knows that environmental regulations for this particular toxin are lagging belind
scientific evidence. In fact, a scientist from the university had been quoted in the newspaper recently,
saying that if emission levels stayed at this level, the fish in the lakes and rivers in the area might soon
have to be declared unsafe for human consumption.
Further, if companies in the region don't engage in some self-regulation on this issue, there is reason to
fear that the goverument -backed by public opinion - may force companies to begin using the new
technology, and may also begin requiring monthly emission level reports (which would be both expensive
and time consuming).
But the company's environmental compliance budget is tight. Asking for this new technology to be
installed would put Claire's department over-budget, and could jeopardize the company's ability to show a
profit this year.
1. Clearly state the problem/dilemma in this case
2. Identify the stakeholders in this case
3. Develop 3 different alternatives, and evaluate each with pros and cons
4. Recommend which alternative Claire should choose, and explain why.