Erhard F. Joeres

Transferable discharge permits and economic efficiency: The fox river

Recent emphasis on reforms of environmental regulation has led to suggestions for strategies which maintain environmental standards but allow the needed flexibility and cost effectiveness. The transferable discharge permit (TDP) is one such strategy for water pollution control recently adopted in Wisconsin. In this article, the potential for substantial cost savings from trading TDPs is demonstrated using data on the Fox River in Wisconsin. A simulation model of water quality (Qual-III) and a linear programming model of abatement costs determine the optimum pattern of discharge. Reaching that optimum from proposed pollution abatement orders is shown to be feasible. Varying conditions of flow and temperature can be accommodated using trade coefficients which can be accurately estimated through interpolation. The calculations demonstrate the value and feasibility of flexible regulations governing water pollution abatement.

Development of a facility-based environmental performance indicator related to sustainable development

Abstract Companies are increasingly interested in environmental performance indicators as a means of managing the degree to which environmental goals and objectives are implemented. Many companies have publicly endorsed goals associated with sustainable development, like the International Chamber of Commerces (ICC) principles for sustainable development. There is a need for metrics that facilitate implementation of these principles at the facility level and for research metrics that measure management improvement. An existing environmental self-assessment management tool called ESAP by the Global Environmental Management Initiative has been modified to measure a facilitys response to the ICCs 16 principles of sustainability. The new tools focus was shifted to a practical, facility based and easily applied assessment of progress towards sustainable development as represented by the ICCs 16 principles of sustainability. The new tool was called the Green Management Assessment Tool or GMAT, pilot tested and used in a research setting. Such tools have value to companies that are interested in the strategic goals of sustainable development and struggle with shifting corporate goals and objectives to manufacturing operations at the facility level.

Teaching the importance of culture and interdisciplinary education for sustainable development

Presents a case study of an interdisciplinary, graduate‐level seminar on the topic of international and business sector differences in approaches to sustainable development. The importance of the course is that it mixed culture, business and environmental sciences in a study of sustainability. The pedagogical structure of the course was designed to enable students to learn necessary skills for interdisciplinary, cross‐cultural, and cross‐business sector communication about environmental issues through their participation in the course. Discusses course design specifics and presents results of a student survey about the effectiveness of the course. Overall, students did find participation in the course helpful for improving their ability to communicate about environmental issues across disciplines, cultures, and industries. Students also highlighted several key cultural aspects that contribute to the different ways in which countries and businesses within them respond to environmental issues.

The utility of environmental impact information: a manufacturing case study

Abstract Cost information has been considered an important signal to facility decision-makers. The case study poses the question: Is environmental impact information (costs, energy impacts, chemical risk) sufficient, in and of itself, to prompt proactive change in facilities managers? The findings of the case study do not support the hypothesis that for manufacturing facilities that are already operating environmental systems meeting regulatory compliance, cost information alone will induce significant environmental change in the facility in the short term. Significant environmental change was not measured by direct observations of manufacturing processes. Paradoxically these findings are contradicted by managerial attitudes that cost information offers significant utility to business decision-makers. A number of operational, facility, customer and product factors may explain why the perceived cost of inaction was less than the cost of action. These factors should be tested further. Operationally, managers did not recognize the environmental implications of their job descriptions. Interpretive structure appears to be important. Priority setting is also an issue. Important facility characteristics that should be tested include the maturity of the program, and the complexity of the organization. Important product characteristics include the relative amounts of environmental impacts and costs associated with a product. Customer focus appears to be an important variable as well.