A Preliminary Investigation into the Environmental and Social …
433
purchasing power, however, man’s tools and predatory action, regardless of income,
doesn’t lessen his guilt.
Scholars then proposed the rational exploration of nature, which caused managers
uncomfortable due to ecological initiatives to reduce profitability, but they saw
no other way than to adapt. Giving greater emphasis to Product Life Cycle Analysis (PLCA)—considered a comprehensive management mechanism—according to
CURI “the great advantage of PLCA is to evaluate the environmental impacts at
different levels, from the extraction of raw materials to their waste disposal”. In
this regard, it is known that the five phases are important and that they aren’t easy
to analyze, as they overlap as changes arise. We must not forget that the concept
of management must be constantly reviewed, after all, everything is constantly
changing, people, products/production processes, fashion/trends, organizations,
resources used, etc.
Therefore, it is necessary to think of something that is at least viable, endurable,
sustainable and equitable, it would be the great start to think about the Triple Bottom
Line. Previously, organizations were obviously looking for profit, and were almost
satisfied, however, this objective is no longer sufficient to remain active in the products
and services market and new strategies are being devised almost daily. Consumers
have become more demanding, technological innovations faster and suppliers and/or
partners more engaged. So, it is reasonable that companies have to pay attention not
only to economic aspects, but to environmental sustainability and the needs of society.
The combination of environmental, economic and social acts must ensure balance
and a good relationship, referring to “corporate responsibility”. Due to this fact,
previous studies on the supply chain, in particular, the product life cycle focused
on economic aspects, failed to address the social and environmental dimensions, as
their market view didn’t let them realize that the interests go beyond the economic
aspect.
Because of this, the 1990s were marked by a several debates regarding sustainable development, which, according to Oliveira cited by Oliveira and Souza-Lima
“is the concern of society with the future supply of products and services indispensable to the survival of humanity”. In other words, it is concerned with strangling
production, preserving the environment and managing it—which should raise environmental awareness. Therefore, innovations, expectations, stakeholder engagement
and sustainable practices are part of the new purpose of organizations. And, the
objective of the sustainability assessment is to ensure that products, processes, plans
and activities contribute in an ideal way to sustainable development (Verheem and
Tonk 2000 cited by Ahmad and Wong 2018). After all, when we talk about development, we mention the satisfaction of human needs and aspirations. With that, Purvis
et al. (2019) says that:
Parallel to the three pillars can be seen in Campbell’s “planning triangle”. Campbell produced
a model of what he considered three major objectives or priorities of urban planning: social
justice, economic growth and environmental protection (Campbell 1996 cited by Purvis
et al. 2019) Campbell argues that these objectives introduce three fundamental conflicts,
but at the center illusory of the three is ‘sustainable development’, the balance of these
goals. Campbell recognizes the difficulty of finding that balance, emphasizes the need to
433
purchasing power, however, man’s tools and predatory action, regardless of income,
doesn’t lessen his guilt.
Scholars then proposed the rational exploration of nature, which caused managers
uncomfortable due to ecological initiatives to reduce profitability, but they saw
no other way than to adapt. Giving greater emphasis to Product Life Cycle Analysis (PLCA)—considered a comprehensive management mechanism—according to
CURI “the great advantage of PLCA is to evaluate the environmental impacts at
different levels, from the extraction of raw materials to their waste disposal”. In
this regard, it is known that the five phases are important and that they aren’t easy
to analyze, as they overlap as changes arise. We must not forget that the concept
of management must be constantly reviewed, after all, everything is constantly
changing, people, products/production processes, fashion/trends, organizations,
resources used, etc.
Therefore, it is necessary to think of something that is at least viable, endurable,
sustainable and equitable, it would be the great start to think about the Triple Bottom
Line. Previously, organizations were obviously looking for profit, and were almost
satisfied, however, this objective is no longer sufficient to remain active in the products
and services market and new strategies are being devised almost daily. Consumers
have become more demanding, technological innovations faster and suppliers and/or
partners more engaged. So, it is reasonable that companies have to pay attention not
only to economic aspects, but to environmental sustainability and the needs of society.
The combination of environmental, economic and social acts must ensure balance
and a good relationship, referring to “corporate responsibility”. Due to this fact,
previous studies on the supply chain, in particular, the product life cycle focused
on economic aspects, failed to address the social and environmental dimensions, as
their market view didn’t let them realize that the interests go beyond the economic
aspect.
Because of this, the 1990s were marked by a several debates regarding sustainable development, which, according to Oliveira cited by Oliveira and Souza-Lima
“is the concern of society with the future supply of products and services indispensable to the survival of humanity”. In other words, it is concerned with strangling
production, preserving the environment and managing it—which should raise environmental awareness. Therefore, innovations, expectations, stakeholder engagement
and sustainable practices are part of the new purpose of organizations. And, the
objective of the sustainability assessment is to ensure that products, processes, plans
and activities contribute in an ideal way to sustainable development (Verheem and
Tonk 2000 cited by Ahmad and Wong 2018). After all, when we talk about development, we mention the satisfaction of human needs and aspirations. With that, Purvis
et al. (2019) says that:
Parallel to the three pillars can be seen in Campbell’s “planning triangle”. Campbell produced
a model of what he considered three major objectives or priorities of urban planning: social
justice, economic growth and environmental protection (Campbell 1996 cited by Purvis
et al. 2019) Campbell argues that these objectives introduce three fundamental conflicts,
but at the center illusory of the three is ‘sustainable development’, the balance of these
goals. Campbell recognizes the difficulty of finding that balance, emphasizes the need to