A Preliminary Investigation into the Environmental and Social …
431
in favor of capital. Leaving the economic dimension a little aside, the concept of
socio-environmental isn’t yet known, the socio-environmental issue is understood as
a “set of manifestations of environmental destructiveness, resulting from the private
appropriation of nature, mediated by human work” (SILVA 2010, p. 144).
It is said that while capitalism ensures the continuous production and reproduction
of the “environmental issue”, as well as the social issue, it strives to minimize its manifestations, managing its contradictions through compensatory programs, based on
respectful speeches human rights, “cooperation between countries” and the defense
of the environment. That is, from this first understanding, it is possible to verify that
the environmental dimension is evaluated not only by the individualistic conception,
but collectively, after all, the big question is to ensure conditions that make survival
on our planet viable.
With a view to survival, it is worth saying that prudence when using natural
resources and awareness of the importance and risks to the environment are key
factors in maintaining humanity and, in addition, result in important studies. The
establishment of rules and regulations are necessary for environmental protection, in
order to ensure minimum conditions of survival and well-being both for the current
generation and for future generations.
With regard to the product’s life cycle, the environmental dimension is becoming
more relevant due to the legal and social requirements imposed, the internal and
external effects that are being created in current and future generations. Thus, the
management of environmental costs is associated with the impacts of the activity, of
the product itself, and throughout its life cycle, therefore, it must be (re) adaptation,
so that there are improvements in the process as a whole.
4 Social Dimension on the Triple Bottom Line
Social sustainability means that corporations (and factories) offer equitable opportunities, encourage diversity, promote connection inside and outside the community,
ensure quality of life and provide democratic processes and responsible governance
structures (Elkington 1994 cited by Gimenez et al. 2012). Therefore, when it comes
to responsible governance, we automatically point to the four basic principles of
governance, which according to the Brazilian Institute of Corporate Governance
(IBGC) are: (i) transparency; (ii) accountability; (iii) equity and justice and; (iv)
conformity (corporate responsibility). Wouldn’t these four principles be considered
the fundamental for growth and development of large corporations?
Transparency—provides information imposed or not imposed on interested
parties; accountability—fully assume the consequences of their acts and omissions; equity and justice—it is the fair and equal treatment among all interested
parties, taking into account the rights, obligations, needs, interests and expectations
and; corporate responsibility—ensures the economic and financial viability and the
policies, procedures and actions of the organizations.
431
in favor of capital. Leaving the economic dimension a little aside, the concept of
socio-environmental isn’t yet known, the socio-environmental issue is understood as
a “set of manifestations of environmental destructiveness, resulting from the private
appropriation of nature, mediated by human work” (SILVA 2010, p. 144).
It is said that while capitalism ensures the continuous production and reproduction
of the “environmental issue”, as well as the social issue, it strives to minimize its manifestations, managing its contradictions through compensatory programs, based on
respectful speeches human rights, “cooperation between countries” and the defense
of the environment. That is, from this first understanding, it is possible to verify that
the environmental dimension is evaluated not only by the individualistic conception,
but collectively, after all, the big question is to ensure conditions that make survival
on our planet viable.
With a view to survival, it is worth saying that prudence when using natural
resources and awareness of the importance and risks to the environment are key
factors in maintaining humanity and, in addition, result in important studies. The
establishment of rules and regulations are necessary for environmental protection, in
order to ensure minimum conditions of survival and well-being both for the current
generation and for future generations.
With regard to the product’s life cycle, the environmental dimension is becoming
more relevant due to the legal and social requirements imposed, the internal and
external effects that are being created in current and future generations. Thus, the
management of environmental costs is associated with the impacts of the activity, of
the product itself, and throughout its life cycle, therefore, it must be (re) adaptation,
so that there are improvements in the process as a whole.
4 Social Dimension on the Triple Bottom Line
Social sustainability means that corporations (and factories) offer equitable opportunities, encourage diversity, promote connection inside and outside the community,
ensure quality of life and provide democratic processes and responsible governance
structures (Elkington 1994 cited by Gimenez et al. 2012). Therefore, when it comes
to responsible governance, we automatically point to the four basic principles of
governance, which according to the Brazilian Institute of Corporate Governance
(IBGC) are: (i) transparency; (ii) accountability; (iii) equity and justice and; (iv)
conformity (corporate responsibility). Wouldn’t these four principles be considered
the fundamental for growth and development of large corporations?
Transparency—provides information imposed or not imposed on interested
parties; accountability—fully assume the consequences of their acts and omissions; equity and justice—it is the fair and equal treatment among all interested
parties, taking into account the rights, obligations, needs, interests and expectations
and; corporate responsibility—ensures the economic and financial viability and the
policies, procedures and actions of the organizations.