For The Greener Good
Late Bloomers
British Petroleum
Transparency
BP offers a PDF of their sustainability goals as well as what they have actually done to try to meet these goals. Their reports appear extensive but do not really dive as deep as one who is looking into their company would hope. Most of the report is BS that uses trendy sustainability words but doesn’t really offer a numerical goal on the many aspects of sustainability. They do offer a lot of information about what they believe in relation to the subject but seeing what exactly their mission statement and goals are takes some diving into. Here is the link to their report:
2008 Sustainability Review
Social impact
On their website, BP has numerous links to the various impacts they have on supporting communities and their staff. As a member of the Global Business Coalition they have contributed to fighting AIDS and promoting awareness. They have also set out to teach and inform people in communities about safety and awareness with their product. One of the most interesting achievements is their involvement in University programs, especially in the field of energy development and engineering. But when you look deeper, they only put $1 million dollars towards this which is not a lot of money when you look at the high cost of tuition today.
What at first glance appears to be an interesting and innovative social campaign turns out to be much less when you dig deeper. The extent of their involvement in most of these campaigns is simply being a member of a certain group and paying a check. The information provided on their website does not give much more incite than this in terms of what they are actually trying to change. It appears as though they want to establish a stronger socially-aware image through donating to various causes but they do not appear to have a system that encourages change and improves social sustainability.
Diversity
Since 2000, the woman in leadership roles has increased from 9% to 15%. This is a great improvement, but the overall number is still quite low compared to the diversity in other companies and industries, some of which reach over 50%.
Greenwashing
This is BP’s worst category on the scale. They boast some great claims about how they hope to invest in alternative sources of energy through a large ad campaign. But when asked how the company feels about oil running out, Group Chief Executive Tony Hayward says that not only does he not believe that there is such an issue, but that the problem is above ground rather than below. This shows that they aren’t truly looking to shift their company towards alternative energy sources. Another key point is that they have spent more money on advertising this movement than they have on the research and implementation itself. If their slogan is “Beyond Petroleum,” than why did they just spend $3 billion to buy into oil from the Alberta Tar Sands. If BP claims to be a sustainable oil company that goes beyond oil, than they should be trying to shift to these alternative methods. You can’t say you are beyond petroleum and truly focus all of your efforts on extending the use of oil. It is not about us running out as much as it is about how bad oil is.
Environmental Impact
Another poor part of BP’s rating on this scale is their environmental impact. According to “Steph” at Webecoist, “Each barrel of oil out of the tar sands generates about two thirds of a ton of CO2, meaning BP’s 200,000 barrels a day will generate about 127,000 tons per day.” BP has also recently cut their renewable energy investment by 30% as well as reducing their solar power workforce by 25%. We must remember that they are an oil company though, and in relation to other oil companies they are one of the best. They may have a negative impact on the environment, but they are making an effort, even if it may not be as genuine as they intended.
BP offers a PDF of their sustainability goals as well as what they have actually done to try to meet these goals. Their reports appear extensive but do not really dive as deep as one who is looking into their company would hope. Most of the report is BS that uses trendy sustainability words but doesn’t really offer a numerical goal on the many aspects of sustainability. They do offer a lot of information about what they believe in relation to the subject but seeing what exactly their mission statement and goals are takes some diving into. Here is the link to their report:
2008 Sustainability Review
Social impact
On their website, BP has numerous links to the various impacts they have on supporting communities and their staff. As a member of the Global Business Coalition they have contributed to fighting AIDS and promoting awareness. They have also set out to teach and inform people in communities about safety and awareness with their product. One of the most interesting achievements is their involvement in University programs, especially in the field of energy development and engineering. But when you look deeper, they only put $1 million dollars towards this which is not a lot of money when you look at the high cost of tuition today.
What at first glance appears to be an interesting and innovative social campaign turns out to be much less when you dig deeper. The extent of their involvement in most of these campaigns is simply being a member of a certain group and paying a check. The information provided on their website does not give much more incite than this in terms of what they are actually trying to change. It appears as though they want to establish a stronger socially-aware image through donating to various causes but they do not appear to have a system that encourages change and improves social sustainability.
Diversity
Since 2000, the woman in leadership roles has increased from 9% to 15%. This is a great improvement, but the overall number is still quite low compared to the diversity in other companies and industries, some of which reach over 50%.
Greenwashing
This is BP’s worst category on the scale. They boast some great claims about how they hope to invest in alternative sources of energy through a large ad campaign. But when asked how the company feels about oil running out, Group Chief Executive Tony Hayward says that not only does he not believe that there is such an issue, but that the problem is above ground rather than below. This shows that they aren’t truly looking to shift their company towards alternative energy sources. Another key point is that they have spent more money on advertising this movement than they have on the research and implementation itself. If their slogan is “Beyond Petroleum,” than why did they just spend $3 billion to buy into oil from the Alberta Tar Sands. If BP claims to be a sustainable oil company that goes beyond oil, than they should be trying to shift to these alternative methods. You can’t say you are beyond petroleum and truly focus all of your efforts on extending the use of oil. It is not about us running out as much as it is about how bad oil is.
Environmental Impact
Another poor part of BP’s rating on this scale is their environmental impact. According to “Steph” at Webecoist, “Each barrel of oil out of the tar sands generates about two thirds of a ton of CO2, meaning BP’s 200,000 barrels a day will generate about 127,000 tons per day.” BP has also recently cut their renewable energy investment by 30% as well as reducing their solar power workforce by 25%. We must remember that they are an oil company though, and in relation to other oil companies they are one of the best. They may have a negative impact on the environment, but they are making an effort, even if it may not be as genuine as they intended.
J.R. Simplot
Transparency
Transparency is a quality that J.R. Simplot does enforce. The Simplot website has external links to all of its various locations, their mission statement, current facts and projects, the company overview, livestock, and products. It is important that consumers can follow Simplot’s progression on the internet. The only downfall about Simplot’s transparency is that the company does not mention its negative encounters with environmental groups and the government. This company has been cited and fined many times for running an unclean, pollution producing practice.
Social impact
Giving back to the community they work in is one of the strong points of J.R. Simplot and the State of Idaho. The company makes contributions to many charitable and non-profit organizations that give back to locals and shows their good nature as neighbors in their community.
A few of the numerous charities and non-profits they donate to are:
Diversity
Simplot is an international corporation that has locations in 7 different countries including Australia, China, Mexico, Europe, and Korea. All of these different locations unite as one to provide the world with fertilizer and food products. Simplot is an active community member that offers numerous amounts of scholarship opportunities for students that are involved in after school activities such as: Boys and Girls Clubs, Future Farmers of America, and Little League.
Greenwashing
One of the major greenwashing moments from Simplot is in their mission statement, “The Simplot Company’s mission statement, Bringing Earth’s Resources to Life, embodies our reason for being in business. We mold many of our planet’s raw materials into value-added items that sustain and enhance life.” Clearly this is greenwashing because although Simplot may want to practice sustainability, they are not. Simplot was the leading worst environmental offender in 2008 by the Portfolio magazine. Simplot has made little environmental efforts and has done the bare minimum to clean up its disgusting display of pollutants and energy hogging tendencies. Simplot many want to be a part of the green movement but until they show a try effort, their words and intentions are meaningless drivel.
Environmental Impact
While the company has done well to make an overall positive social impact, the impact they are making on the environment is not as positive. The company produces fertilizer which generates a lot of toxins. Simplot stores these toxins in an unlined stockpile that leaks arsenics and nitrate into the Portneuf River and has contaminated both the river and the ground water that runs beneath the factory.
Simplot also mines the phosphate ore that is used to make fertilizer. This practice has polluted southeastern Idaho with mining waste and selenium; too much of these chemicals can be lethal. After several unheeded warnings from The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Simplot was finally fined in 2004 for $500,000 by the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to control its life-threatening toxins.
Transparency is a quality that J.R. Simplot does enforce. The Simplot website has external links to all of its various locations, their mission statement, current facts and projects, the company overview, livestock, and products. It is important that consumers can follow Simplot’s progression on the internet. The only downfall about Simplot’s transparency is that the company does not mention its negative encounters with environmental groups and the government. This company has been cited and fined many times for running an unclean, pollution producing practice.
Social impact
Giving back to the community they work in is one of the strong points of J.R. Simplot and the State of Idaho. The company makes contributions to many charitable and non-profit organizations that give back to locals and shows their good nature as neighbors in their community.
A few of the numerous charities and non-profits they donate to are:
- Ballet Idaho
- America’s Second Harvest
- Hispanic Cultural Center
- United Way
Diversity
Simplot is an international corporation that has locations in 7 different countries including Australia, China, Mexico, Europe, and Korea. All of these different locations unite as one to provide the world with fertilizer and food products. Simplot is an active community member that offers numerous amounts of scholarship opportunities for students that are involved in after school activities such as: Boys and Girls Clubs, Future Farmers of America, and Little League.
Greenwashing
One of the major greenwashing moments from Simplot is in their mission statement, “The Simplot Company’s mission statement, Bringing Earth’s Resources to Life, embodies our reason for being in business. We mold many of our planet’s raw materials into value-added items that sustain and enhance life.” Clearly this is greenwashing because although Simplot may want to practice sustainability, they are not. Simplot was the leading worst environmental offender in 2008 by the Portfolio magazine. Simplot has made little environmental efforts and has done the bare minimum to clean up its disgusting display of pollutants and energy hogging tendencies. Simplot many want to be a part of the green movement but until they show a try effort, their words and intentions are meaningless drivel.
Environmental Impact
While the company has done well to make an overall positive social impact, the impact they are making on the environment is not as positive. The company produces fertilizer which generates a lot of toxins. Simplot stores these toxins in an unlined stockpile that leaks arsenics and nitrate into the Portneuf River and has contaminated both the river and the ground water that runs beneath the factory.
Simplot also mines the phosphate ore that is used to make fertilizer. This practice has polluted southeastern Idaho with mining waste and selenium; too much of these chemicals can be lethal. After several unheeded warnings from The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Simplot was finally fined in 2004 for $500,000 by the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to control its life-threatening toxins.
