Corporations Need to Get Over their Fear of Reporting Failure

Corporations, particularly those who purport to be interested in sustainability, need to bravely report where no reports have gone before. Many firms instinctively shield their failures from the public, however, forward looking corporations know that even here there is value to transparency.  

Although it is hard to avoid getting defensive about shortcomings, being forthcoming about weakness augurs transformative opportunities. Those who have the courage to honestly acknowledge the facts are in a position to change the paradigm. Problems are transformed into an exercise in problem-solving. Identifying weakness becomes an invitation to improve. 

PR guru Lou Hoffman says that transparency pays. Hoffman is the founder of PR firm The Hoffman Agency. "[A] company can garner goodwill from the public for being honest, transparent, and accountable," Hoffman said in an EcoBusiness interview at the recent Asia 360 conference in Singapore.

"In the earnest, fact-based world of sustainability communications there is no room for spin, but companies need to be brave enough to talk about failure." Companies hate talking about their failures, especially when it comes to sustainability. According to Hoffman, being open about their weaknesses as well their achievements might help firms avoid one of the biggest corporate communications sins - being boring. A company that has been forthright about their shortcomings will build trust so that consumers will be more forgiving if things go wrong.

Missteps are part of a good sustainability story. Having problems is not the problem while failing to report them in a clear and accurate way can be. However, disclosing weaknesses in the absence of corrective action is a recipe for disaster. Companies can redeem themselves if they are  prepared to respond. As explained by Hoffman.

"If a company doesn’t have a solution, it would be risky. But if the company has taken the right steps and has addressed the issue, then it’s no longer in question whether or not they will do the right thing."

The key proviso here is sincerity, an organization that is truly earnest will benefit from transparency. Hoffman says that by admitting mistakes companies can bank goodwill and that can pay lucrative dividends when something goes seriously wrong.

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List of Environmental and Conservation Issues

The number of environmental and conservation issues is vast and expanding. What all of these issues have in common is the fact that they relate to the anthropogenic effects on the natural environment. Here is an alphabetized list of 21 environmental and conservation issues and their 171 sub-categories (many of which are overlapping):

Air pollution

Environmental impact of fossil fuels • Smog • Tropospheric ozone • Ozone depletion resulting in UV exposure • Indoor air quality • Volatile organic compound • Atmospheric particulate matter• Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing

Climate change/Global warming

Global dimming • Fossil fuels • Sea level rise • Greenhouse gas • Ocean acidification • Shutdown of thermohaline circulation • Environmental impact of the coal industry • Urban Heat Islands

Conservation

Species extinction • Pollinator decline • Coral bleaching • Holocene extinction • Invasive species • Poaching • Endangered species

Ecosystems

Anoxic waters • Biodiversity • Biosecurity • Coral bleaching • Edge effect • Global warming • Habitat destruction • Habitat fragmentation • Illegal dumping

Energy 

Energy conservation • Renewable energy • Efficient energy use • Renewable energy commercialization • Environmental impact of the coal industry • Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing

Environmental degradation

Eutrophication • Habitat destruction • Invasive species • Soda lake

Environmental health

Asthma • Environmental impact of the fossil fuel industry • Electromagnetic fields • Electromagnetic radiation and health • Indoor air quality • Lead poisoning • Outdoor air quality • Sick Building Syndrome

Fishing

Blast fishing • Bottom trawling • By-catch • Cetacean bycatch • Gillnetting • Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing • Environmental effects of fishing • Overfishing • Marine pollution • Whaling

Genetic Engineering

Genetic pollution • Genetically modified food controversies

Intensive Farming

Overgrazing • Irrigation • Monoculture • Environmental effects of meat production • Slash and burn • Pesticide drift • Plasticulture

Land Issues

Land pollution • Desertification • Soil erosion • Soil contamination • Soil salination • Alkali soils * Residual Sodium Carbonate Index Urban sprawl • Habitat fragmentation • Habitat destruction

Logging and Forests

Clearcutting • Deforestation • Illegal logging

Mining

Acid mine drainage • Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing • Mountaintop removal mining • Slurry impoundments

Natural Resources

Resource depletion • Exploitation of natural resources • Exploitation of natural resources • Overdrafting Consumerism — Consumer capitalism • Planned obsolescence • Over-consumption

Nuclear Issues 

Nuclear fallout  • Nuclear meltdown • Nuclear power • Nuclear weapons • Nuclear and radiation accidents • Nuclear safety •  radioactive waste

Overpopulation

Burial • Water crisis • Overpopulation in companion animals • Tragedy of the commons • Gender Imbalance in Developing Countries •

Pollution

Environmental impact of fossil fuels • Nonpoint source pollution • Point source pollution • Light pollution • Noise pollution • Visual pollution

Species

Habitat destruction • Holocene extinction • Invasive species • Poaching • Pollinator decline • Red-listed species • Species extinction • Wildlife trade • Genetic diversity

Toxins

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) • DDT • Endocrine disruptors • Dioxin • Toxic heavy metals • Environmental impact of the coal industry • Herbicides • Pesticides • Toxic waste • PCB • Bioaccumulation • Biomagnification • Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing

Waste

Electronic waste (e-waste) • Litter • Waste disposal incidents • Marine debris • Medical waste • Landfill • Leachate • Environmental impact of the coal industry • Incineration • Great Pacific Garbage Patch • Exporting of hazardous waste• Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing Conservation Issues

Water Pollution

Environmental impact of fossil fuels • Acid rain • Eutrophication • Marine pollution • Ocean dumping • Oil spills • Thermal pollution • Urban runoff • Water crisis • Marine debris • Microplastics • Ocean acidification • Ship pollution • Wastewater • Fish kill • Algal bloom • Mercury in fish • Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing

What would you add to the list?

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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A Positive Environmental Message

It is easy to be overwhelmed with the plethora of fear inspiring environmental news. That is why it is so important to craft messages that encourage people to do something positive rather than merely ruminate on all the bad news. This simple message from the Mississippi Valley Conservancy is a positive message for those who want to prevent environmental catastrophe and save precious natural areas.

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