BUS5SMM : Sustainable Management and Marketing : Analyses Plastic Coll

1 Background to the case: Investigate and report on the background and importance of the Plastic Collective Australian and international business landscape

 

2. Demonstration of the Body of Knowledge: Research, analysis and discussion of sustainabifity related strategies and  issues. 

 

3. Analysis of the situation: Relate your analysis to sustainabilizi practices of the Plastic Collective (think ice sustainability), and include the following aspects Make recommendations and0, is for future strategies in which management shou s of the company) 

 

4. Explanation of thease and synthesis with the theory: Make recommendations and conclusions for future strategies in which management should engage (identify 3 major strategies based on th the comoarwl.  

 

a. Role of planning

b. Role of organising

c. Role of leading d. Role of control 

1. Introduction:

Sustainable management practices remain one of the most important aspects of the current business. Sustainable business practice helps in the development of a healthy business environment that currently forms a major aspect of the business environment. Plastic is the main threat to sustainable business practices affecting many different businesses. Plastic Collective is an organization that was formed majorly to help tackle the plastic problem that affects the environment. The organization was formed as a result of a problem that plastic caused to death of animals particularly in water bodies. Therefore, the formation of the organization was to assist in the development of programs that aims to reduce the effect of plastic leaked into the environment. To do this the organization came up with programs, training, and equipment to remove plastic materials. The following paper analyses Plastic Collective organization as a sustainable business organization.  

2. Background of the Plastic Collective 

Plastic Collective is a sustainable environmental organization that was formed by Louise Hardman with the aim of empowering people with knowledge, innovation of equipment and creation of a practical reliable way of removing plastic material within the environment.  The organization, therefore, started various training that educates both individual and business on ways to remove plastic and create Plastic Neural Certification business environment. The organization, in addition, advocates for business organizations to adopt ways or use machines that practically remove the plastic that pollutes the environment. Moreover, the organization makes available machines that are used by business to remove plastic materials. There are many different education and training materials normally available to business through workshops and seminars that also assist the business to operate in a sustainable business environment. The organization, therefore, is important for within Australia and internationally (Plastic Collective 2018).  

2.1 Importance of Plastic Collective

Plastic Collective plays an important role in the environmental conservation within Australia and internationally. Firstly, the organization is highly involved in the creation of Plastic Neutral environment with a minimal amount of plastic. The organization through its outreach programs tries to bring people to be involved in a sustainable lifestyle (Rennie 2008). This implies that businesses, individuals and households are encouraged to be part of a sustainable plant of reducing plastic channeled into the environment. Secondly, the company has changed the business landscape within the country and globally. The organization has created various programs that encourage business to create a plastic healthy environment within the business environment. To achieve its objective the organization is involved in programs that teach business on ways to develop a sustainable environment around the business premises (Giesler & Veresiu 2014).

Thirdly, the organization is also important since it empowers people and communities within the remote places of the country with the necessary resources to enable them to live a sustainable life. The organization, therefore, plays an important role in improving the living conditions of communities. In addition, the organization through its business initiative encourages the business community to promote a sustainable business environment. Fourthly, the organization has changed the business landscape internationally through bringing a new way of managing sustainability. The organization through sustainable programs has changed the way business uses and dumps plastic material within the environment. Moreover, the organization has changed the way the plastic material can be removed within the environment to assist the business community to have sustainable practices. Currently, the organization is bringing together many different stakeholders in the business environment for training and education in ways to reduce plastic leaking into the environment (Bansal & DesJardine 2014).  

2.2 Strategies that the organization uses

The organization has various strategies that it uses to realize its objectives some of the strategies that the organization uses include training, purchases of equipment, campaigns, promotion and sustainable production. Firstly, the organization has come up with various educational training programs that train the local and communities on the sustainable environmental practices that help reduce plastic materials. The education program is meant to equip people within the interior part of the country with the necessary knowledge to reduce plastic materials within the environment (Jones 2017). Secondly, the organization has also bought some equipment or machines that practically remove plastic materials within the environment. To achieve this, the organization equips communities living within the village of Woolgoolgal within the NSW with shredders that mechanically remove plastic materials. Thirdly, the Plastic Collective also empowers the community through campaigns to help in creating a sustainable business environment. The organization encourages the community to take part in the sustainable plastic removal exercise aiming at creating of healthy business and living environment (Plastic Collective 2018).

3. Situation analysis of Plastic Collective

The Plastic Collective as an organization has a strong management that has helped in the development of various sustainable programs aiming to improve the situation of plastic pollution within the country and internationally.

4.1 Management roles 

Role of planning

The organization has an elaborative plan that helps in reduction of the amount of plastic that is channeled into the environment particularly water bodies. The organization has placed enough resources in terms of manpower, training materials and sustainability programs (Sullivan 2007).

Role of organizing

The organization displays its organizing ability through development of the sustainability framework that assists the organization realizes its mandate. The organization plays the role of organizing various activities with the local community builds a sustainable business system that has many different programs (Rennie 2008).

Role of leading

On the role of leading, the organization is the leading Plastic Neutral Certifier for business organizations. The organization is on the forefront to create a sustainable business environment with minimal plastic waste channeled into the environment. In addition, the Plastic Collective as an organization is currently the certifier for business organizations.

Role of control

Plastic Collective is the sole organization that controls many resources that aims at creating a plastic free environment. The management of the organization is taking control of the organization with various programs that the organization does to improve sustainability (Sneirson 2009).

4.2 Theories 

There are many theories that explain the relationship between Plastic Collective management and sustainable business practice. Plastic Collective organization has many different management strategies to help in advancing sustainable objectives within the business environment. Some common theories that explain the sustainable management include public policy theory, environmental management, and natural capitalism theory. Firstly, public policy theories explain the extent which the public policies affect the sustainable management of the environment and other activities. Based on the activities of the Plastic Collective has tried to influence various stakeholders within the business system but still, have minimal impact. The government can develop policies that better implement the plastic removal initiative spearheaded by the Plastic Collective. Secondly, environmental management theory explains the environmental management efforts and its impact on sustainability management. Many people within the country have not embraced the environmental management initiatives as this has a high impact on the sustainable business operation. Thirdly, natural capitalism is another theory that is based on the effect of natural resources and initiatives that can help in the management of these resources for sustainability management. Currently, business strives to bring a closer understanding of the business and the natural resource relationship as this assist the business to remain responsible (Geissdoerfer, Morioka, de Carvalho & Evans 2018).

There are some strategies that the Plastic Collective organization has used and these strategies include sustainable production, research and development, training, and promotion. Firstly, The organization is highly involved in products promotion that aims at giving and selling its plastic removal machine to the local community.  The promotion of sustainable products to people has made The organization realize its objective of ensuring zero plastic within the business environment. Secondly, the organization is also involved in the massive production of machines that help remove plastic material within the environment. The production has been named as a sustainable production system and it also serves to provide an example to other business organizations. Thirdly, the organization also investing in the empowerment of people with the required skills to keep environment particularly business environment clean and Free from plastic materials. To do this, the organization has various training programs that it uses to educate locals on the importance of sustainable environmental practices. Fourthly, the plastic collective organization takes the theory of research and development to another level through conducting research that aims at developing sustainable management tools that are essential for today's business. Through intensive research, the organization came up with products helpful in removal of plastic. The organization through its management has incorporated these strategies to bring a new perspective to sustainable business management. For instance, the organization is cultivating the business culture ensuring healthy and sustainable business environment (Lockwood 2007).

Rebuttal 

Despite various strategies that have been developed with the Plastic Collective organization, the impact of the initiative remains minimal. The organization is weaker in the implementation of its plastic removal initiatives making the whole process have low impact. Many different programs that the organization is doing to ensure that there is minimal impact of plastic in the environment still show that the organization needs to do more.  Moreover, the impact of plastic removal campaign still shows that plastic still far away from removal as many businesses are still reluctant to implement the initiative as required. Therefore, the organization still need to partner with various stakeholders within the industrial and business environment to ensure there is a success in the initiative (Sullivan 2007).

4. Recommendations

In view of the Plastic Collective strategies of suspension management, there are other areas that need improvement. Firstly, the organization needs to work with the government to develop policies that are essential for sustainable business management of plastic materials. This is important for ensuring proper certification of businesses. In addition, businesses will feel the authority of the government hence respond positively towards the organization programs. The government partnership is often viewed as a final authority capable of enacting legislation that governs environmental practices (Tueth 2010).

Secondly, the organization needs to intensify its international objectives as this will also help secures those plastic materials that move across the borders of the country. The international reach of the organization is still limited and this means the plastic materials challenge that affection large water bodies such are oceanographic and seas are still insecure. Moreover, partnerships with the government are important for international sustainable management of plastic materials (Schaltegger, Windolph & Hörisch 2014).

Thirdly, the plastic collective organization needs to diversify its sustainable system to provide uses of plastic remains that are obtained after the shoulder has cut plastic materials. The ultimate plastic usage and end of these plastic materials still are not properly specified by the organization. In addition, as a strategy, end of plastic materials removed or collected is very important in environmental conservation (Becker 2008).

Fourthly, the organization needs to come up with evaluation strategies that are essential for ensuring all organization object I've is realized. Despite research that the organization is involved in, evaluation of these programs is still needed as this shows the far an organization has achieved. Furthermore, the success of an organization is determined by evacuation of its achievement and this is needed. Evaluation will also help show areas that are still not reached through plastic neutral certification of businesses (Schaltegger, Lüdeke-Freund & Hansen 2012).

Lastly, the organization needs to improve its current programs to adopt digital plastic monitoring system so as to better its geographical coverage. Many businesses today have developed software that monitors essential aspects of the organization as this also helps in the evaluation of strategies used. Some of these digital tools have proved promising in mapping and identification of geographical areas that need high attention. This will in turn help in the quantification of the coverage in terms of geographical and impact of the programs within the country (Edgeman & Eskildsen 2013).

Future strategies

The future of both business and environmentally sustainable management requires a close look at some of the weaknesses of those programs that are currently used. Despite the effort, the organization has shown in dealing with the plastic challenges, the initiatives that are currently used have shown some weaknesses and there are some strategies that can be used in future to solve the challenge. Firstly, the implementation of modern technologies in monitoring and evaluation of the areas that are affected by these materials is important. Some of the current digital tools can assist in the mapping of geographic areas that are affected by plastic with an effort to isolate these areas. This will help strategically tackle those areas with massive plastic fast before going to other places (Cramer 2018).

Secondly, sustainable business solutions for plastic are another important aspect of future strategies. Instead of spending considerable time in tackling the problem of plastic stakeholders within the business sector can find an alternative to plastic that is more sustainable than plastic. This may include packages that are biodegradable as compared to plastic that is disastrous for the environment. In addition, finding an alternative to plastic has been implemented by other countries and has proved workable and the country can also come up with policies that limit usage of plastic materials in the business sector (Rashid, Asif, Krajnik & Nicolescu 2013). 

Thirdly, another area that can also be sued in future to control the impact of plastic is the adoption of reusing or recycling techniques. Plastic Collective is currently doing good work in the removal of plastic in the environment. However, it still not clear the reusing or recycling technique that the organization uses to solve the issue of plastic. This there presents an opportunity in future that can convert the currently used plastic materials into another form that is then used within the business. Instead of throwing away used plastic bottles and packages, these materials can be converted to another object that is useful for the business (Hansen & Schaltegger 2014). 

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the sustainable management system is an important aspect of today business management. Plastic Collective is an organization that tries involves locals in the sustainable management of plastic within the community can business environment. The organization, therefore, has come up with several strategies to help the community deal with plastic material leaks into the environment. In addition, The organization has developed train programs that bring together individuals, community and businesses to take part in plastic materials practice. Some of the theories that are visible within the organization include research and development, sustainable production system, products promotion, and training programs.

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