Being Green and Social Responsibility: Basic Concepts and Case Studies in Business Excellence

Through a qualitative business case approach, three major manufacturing firms in Pittsburgh, PA were reviewed for their eco-friendly sustainability strategic initiatives and products/services. Undoubtedly, use of green best practices are value adding steps for a company may be initially difficult to justify spending the time and resources developing such a process. This is especially true when other core business needs are present, such as driving revenue, product development, and meeting governmental or consumer expectations. However, green and sustainability initiatives may not be currently dictated needs, but many companies feel strongly that charting such a course would be to their stakeholders' mutual advantage. As resources are being consumed more rapidly, it is logical to enact steps to ensure the sustainability of such scare resources. The added benefit of lower input needs greatly improves the companies' stances in their market while also adding to the firms' overall profitability.