3-2 Discussion: Risks and Benefits of Sustainable Operations
Although sustainable operations have many benefits for organizations,
consumers, and society, they also come with many business risks. In this
discussion, you will explore sustainability operations of major organizations
to reflect on what they are doing well, the benefits their sustainable
operations may bring, and the potential risks associated with their
sustainable operations. In evaluating the risks and benefits of prioritizing
sustainability, you will also learn the importance of justifying organizational
priorities, which will assist you in completing the first section of your course
project.
First, take some time to explore a few different organizations’ sustainable
operations statements on their websites. You may explore organizations you
are familiar with or use the following:
• Starbucks Stories
o Select Social Impact from the navigation bar, then select from the
story topics in the drop-down menu to explore the stories. Be
sure to explore the Sustainability topic.
• L’Oréal Group: Commitments and Responsibilities
• Dixie Cares: An Eye Toward the Future
• Peabody: Sustainability Approach
In your initial post, address the following questions:
• How did the organizations you explored address sustainability concerns
inherent to their industry, if at all?
o For example, a company that manufactures plastic has inherent
environmental risks regarding plastic waste and pollution.
• What other sustainable practices did the organizations you explored
identify as priorities, and what kinds of business risks may they be
taking on to prioritize those sustainable practices?
• Do you think that the business risks the organizations are taking to
prioritize their identified sustainable operations are worthwhile from a
business perspective? Why or why not?
