In general, increased personal wealth leads to an attitude of indifference
toward those who have less. Although many poor societies have less, rich societies
have never chosen to halt growth and productivity.
Industry is naturally dirty because it consumes energy and resources, and
produces waste that must be discarded. Proper waste disposal and energy consumption
can be costly, and ultimately reduce profits for the company. Many companies
choose to pollute in order to cut costs in exchange for higher profits.
Normal economic forces encourage profitability by cutting costs. In general,
pollution controls are an expensive cost to any industry, especially older
and more polluting forms of manufacturing. In some cases, it is unrealistic
to expect some companies to install pollution controls because it would drastically
reduce profitability. Newer industry is incorporating pollution controls
into their building and manufacturing plans.
The production of waste is inevitable when processing raw materials. The
by-product of processing needs to be considered a residue rather than a waste,
and the residues need to be recycled or a new use should be found. While it
is probably not reasonable to expect a totally unpolluted environment, manufacturers
should consider it a goal, which they should attempt to achieve.
The dominant societal attitude toward resource use has been one of growth
and exploitation. Society continues to consume without regard for the future.
The development ethic is based on using the earth's resources for human
benefit. The preservation ethic is based on the inherent value and aesthetic
value of nature. The conservation ethic works toward a balance between resource
use and preservation. There is an inherent conflict between preservation
and development because one believes in the destruction of a resource for
human benefit and the other believes in the rights of all creatures to live.
The conservation ethic, however, balances resource use and aesthetics.
The major motivating force of corporate management is profitability because
stockholders expect immediate return on their investment. This often leads
to decisions based on short-term profitability rather than long-term benefit
to society.
The actions of corporations are viewed differently than those of the individual
because continual corporate expansion yields more power and influence over
decision-makers.
