A. Hoeltl

Approach to solving the e-waste problem – case study Ghana

The market for electrical devices still continues to increase all over the world and as a consequence the quantity of waste in the category of electronics rises. A huge proportion of the electronic waste is exported from the industrial countries to developing countries, in order to save costs, and also because of too few recycling plants in industrial countries. The significant environmental and social problem in this context is that the electronic devices are mostly recycled in informal plants. Thereby the burden for the people as well as the environment increases because e-waste includes a lot of toxic substances. The negative impacts are already obvious in countries of importation. This paper will illustrate this on the basis of the case study in Ghana in Africa. The problem is evident, and research, business as well as governments aim to counter this development. The paper will investigate the current approaches employed for solving the e-waste problem with respect to legal options and also regarding voluntary agreements and the provision of information about the actual situation to the consumers.

The Leverage Of Corporate Environmental Protection Concepts On Employee Motivation

Corporate environmental protection is nowadays no longer just a marketing tool or an annoying necessity for a good reputation, but for many companies an integrated element of the corporate culture and of doing business. In a case study of a company in Austria, this paper investigates a feasible additional advantage for corporate environmental protection in terms of a positive leverage on employee motivation. After giving an overview of the most important theoretical approaches and tools regarding corporate responsibility, incentives, and employee motivation, the influence of the environmental protection concept of Kommunalkredit Austria AG on the job motivation of its employees is analysed on the basis of a questionnaire covering all corporate responsibility related topics. The results show a spill-over effect of a company’s increased social responsibility on the behaviour and performance of the employees.

Implementation of the EU Directive on the energy performance of buildings in Austria

According to the Kyoto Protocol the European Union has to reduce its energy efficiency in the building sector holds a great potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and, therefore, is an important part of a group of policies and measures necessary to comply with the Kyoto protocol, the European Parliament and the Council of the EU laid down minimum energy performance requirements for buildings in the EU directive on the energy performance of buildings. The study at hand aims at developing recommendations for the implementation of the EU directive on the energy performance of buildings in Austria. The objective of an Austrian resolution has to have an institutional framework. On the one hand, buildings with the lowest emission reduction costs should be thermal-energetic remediated to reach the Kyoto targets in the building sector in the most economically efficient way and, on the other hand, new buildings should meet minimum energy performance requirements considering long-term energetic, ecologic and economic efficiency.

GREENER HOUSEHOLDS? THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SMART METERS IN REDUCING ENERGY CONSUMPTION LEVELS IN THE DACH REGION

With public opinion shifting to a believe in climate change in the early 2000s the interest in energy nefficiency has been increasing. EU Directives set the goal of deploying smart meters if cost efficient for nproviding more detailed energy consumption. The main goal is to better inform consumers and to give nindividual households the power to change possibly energy wasting behaviours. This paper evaluates nthrough a literature review the effectiveness of intelligent electricity metering systems with a focus on nthe DACH region, the provision of different types of feedback and its persistence. It can be concluded nthat energy feedback enabled by smart meters can lead to savings in the range of 0% to 4.5% in this nregion. If feedback is provided continuously savings persist. However, several aspects have to be considered nto ensure effectiveness of smart meter deployment.

The Potentiality of Green IT for Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility

The society and economy is not able to imagine life without information and communication technologies (ICT). This also has effects on energy consumption and emissions. However, ICT also helps different technologies to increase energy and resource efficiency. This paper presents the variety of possibilities for the implementation of Green information technology (IT), as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each measure. Furthermore, the most important key figures for evaluating the impacts of ICT are discussed. It is shown that ICT has a high potential to force and implement Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). CSR relevant information can be disseminated around the world by ICT in a very effective way, and in so doing make companies take responsibility for their business. Although ICT is a driver for growth and development, developed countries still benefit most.

EU Legislation Advancing ICT To Green

The importance of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for society and economy has sharply increased during the last few decades. As a consequence, this sector’s energy consumption and emissions have risen, too. However, ICT-enabled energy efficiency measures are expected to contribute to a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by an astonishing 15 per cent. So Green IT is an essential precondition for the implementation of sustainable climate and energy policy targets. On the European Union level a set of Directives, Regulations and Communications affects the impact of ICTs on sustainability. This paper investigates the potentials and the effectivity of the present European Union legislation in this respect.

Sustainability reports from the food industry: case studies from Europe and Latin America

Sustainability reports, as a voluntary measure of companies and organisations, are an important instrument for supporting corporate social responsibility (CSR). The most recognized guidelines for sustainability reporting are the Global Reporting Initiative Guidelines. They aim to enable a reasonable and balanced presentation of a company’s performance regarding economic, environmental, and social aspects, to all stakeholders. The paper selects the sustainability reports from four companies from the food industry, two from Europe and two from Latin America. A qualitative analysis highlights to which degree sustainability reporting in Europe and Latin America shows different results.

Shared Responsibility For Post-Kyoto

The approach of the Kyoto Protocol of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is currently production-based only. This means that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are calculated and assigned on the basis of production. Exports and imports as well as international transportation and the potential for carbon leakage are disregarded in the current Kyoto mechanism. The mechanism is considered unfair by an increasing number of Parties of the UNFCCC. Consumption-based accounting (CBA) can possibly be an approach for rebuilding the Kyoto Protocol into a fairer one, accepted by developed as well as by developing countries. CBA moves the responsibility from producers to consumers. The study at hand is aimed at making a contribution to the question of a fair and efficient combination of the two approaches. It develops an indicator that shares the responsibility for emissions embodied in traded goods among producers and consumers.

State Of The Art Of Environmental Management

Enterprises are confronted more and more with environmental issues of increasing complexity, environmental regulation and public pressure which they have to manage in a new way. An environmental management system is an appropriate instrument which may be certified and accepted internationally and offers answers to the new challenges in a cost efficient manner. Environmental management systems are assigned to the “third” way of environmental policy instruments. The main feature is the voluntary participation of enterprises to such measures. There are many advantages in participating in an international systematic certified system like EMAS in Europe. Participation is voluntary, but the organisation must meet minimum standards to be EMAS registered. Due to the fact that environmental management systems can make an important contribution to a sustainable economic development as well as to reach the Kyoto targets, the European Union should enforce the promotion of EMAS registration especially concerning small and medium-sized enterprises.