First posted on the Terra Infirma blog.
Of all the industries in trouble, the car industry seems closer to the edge of the cliff than any other. Yet the Geneva Car Show had almost every major motor manufacturer showing off their latest green options. From the new Prius hybrid to Peugeot's diesel hybrid to GM's new electric vehicle (oh, the irony) to VW's Eco-motion options, it is very clear that they see green as a route to survival.
There are a number of image benefits for the car companies:
- to be seen to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem
- to be seen to be part of the future rather than a relic of the past
- to try and corner new and future markets however small they are at present
- to tap into the 'new frugality' public feeling that has come with the recession
- to sweeten the pill of Government intervention by demonstrating 'societal' benefits
But whatever the motives, there is a clear message that 'green' won't only survive the economic crisis, but it may even be a lifeboat for this and, by extension, many other business sectors.
To a very large degree it comes back to a post I made yesterday, regarding organisations undergoing CSR to build and leverage their competitive edge. It is time that organisations realised that CSR is not a zero sum gain, not the society on one side and the corporation on the other. But, it is an amalgamation of society and business, the critical task of organisation and management is to align that view to ensure they harness competitive advantages, and or build on core competence. Aligning societal and organisational interest is not about publicity, it is about strategy, it’s about taking a position, a perspective, devising a plan, aimed at ensuring the company is viable, competitive against intelligent competitors, and sustainable in its approach. Again, this is no new ground, its all about thinking and using the strategic tools of STOW and PEST analysis in a dynamic way.
Lloydon Alleyne
University of Leeds – Postgraduate student
in the name of making money they will never truely do the things that must be done to be truely green which is recycle ALL curent Cars that have not been sold for the first time and Do a extreem makeover from the current designs.
True CSR would do this as a means of lessening the earlier than expected extinction date.
I think I will stick to my bike.
PS if the electric part of the motor is made in china I can Say with certainty that the total dudt to dust cost will exceed the current form. Why Their motors that are made in china Has had an extreem high rate of burnout which leaves no burn marks when opened to be inspected as to why said motor stopped running.
They have no intention of making said green cars to be built to last 20-60 years. which would be a true green car life.
this whole 4 percent improvment each year in efficiency Is a load of bull for someone who buys a green car now is not going to replace it with one that only gets a 4 percent improvement thus by taking little steps they are saturating with less that effecient cars thus wasting resources and killing us faster.
:mad:
Ps I so rarely go online now, so if you want me te read a particular response please PM me to tell me where to look other wise I won't be able to find it in the time I have.
We can talk till we are blue in the face, The real impact of change is when we take action based on information we have talked about. So lets do more action to create change. :)