Environmental problems are human problems too. And it is that much is mentioned that there are various factors that have very aggressively affected the balance that exists in nature, altering the cycles that exist such as water, carbon, nitrogen, such as waste that is generated by Human activities that have the potential to pollute water, land and air, even more, it has been proven that due to some projects of companies and organizations, “space debris” has been generated, referring to satellites or debris of them that gravitate around the Earth.
And what is the problem with all this? Very simple, that if the planet does not maintain its balance due to the alterations that it suffers by the human being, problems such as those that are beginning to be experienced today can appear more constantly, that is, devastating natural phenomena, resistant diseases and very strong contagions, extreme climates, disappearance of animal and plant species, which from a predictive approach, can put at risk the continuity of human existence on Earth.
That is why new ideas and trends have been implemented that can create a positive impact in all these situations, concepts such as sustainability, green technology, sustainable development, environmental care regulations, etc. Unfortunately, the planet is so big that most people think that what each one of them does, will not significantly affect the balance of the planet, however, if the collective factor is taken into account, it can be observed that the change is it could be carried out more easily with the participation of each person.
Then, as positive change comes from people, the panorama can be broadened if a group of people has this mentality, and that is where the systems implemented by companies and organizations are born, who seek to generate that change of mentality that can help the caring for the environment, in any area in which they are involved, such as systems for obtaining raw materials, transportation, manufacturing, distribution, sales and purchases, and even more in the finished product that they offer.
Historical antecedents of sustainability.
Some of the most important points in the development of sustainability and sustainable systems over time can be mentioned:
1962.- In this year the biologist Rachel Carson published her book "Silent Spring" where she refers to a predictive analysis, mentioning the problems that could arise in the future if the emissions of pollutants to the environment were not controlled. This generated a change in mentality and a revolution around caring for the environment, giving rise to the environmental movement.
1970.- The first government agency that is exclusively responsible for caring for the environment is created in the United States, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).
1972.- The United Nations Conference on Human Environment is held in Stockholm, Sweden, where the most solid foundations of what is currently known as sustainability are established. Well, they did not only deal with issues related to caring for the environment, but also the relationship that should exist between the business environment, employment and business capital, and the environment.
One of the most visible results of this conference was the development and implementation of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
1983.- The World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) is created by the United Nations, where it was given the necessary importance to evaluate any action or initiative from three perspectives: economic, environmental and social.
1987.- Various studies, dissertations, analyzes, debates and public consultations are carried out. The report called "Our Common Fruit" better known as "The Brudtland Report."
1992.- The so-called “Earth Summit” is held in Brazil, where the United Nations consolidates the action plan in relation to concepts related to sustainable development and care for the environment.
Sustainability and Sustainable Development.
There are some definitions of the concept of sustainability, since different approaches can be referenced, which delimit in a more particular way, the concepts that it can cover, some definitions are shown below:
The author Calvente (2007) mentions that a process is sustainable when it has been possible to develop the capacity to produce indefinitely at a rate in which it does not reduce the resources that are used and that it needs to be able to function, not emitting more pollutants than it can. absorb the environment in which they carry out their activities.
Sustainable development refers to development that meets the needs of the present generation, without compromising the capacity of future generations, satisfying their own needs. (Treviño, Sánchez, 2003) That is why the point of view and the approach that sustainability will have will be affected by economic and social development.
That is why sustainability is based on four principles that refer to the raw materials that are currently handled in the industry:
- Substances that are extracted from the earth's crust (such as oil, coal, metals, and minerals) cannot be systematically accumulated in the ecosphere.
This principle refers to the fact that the speed at which the human being extracts this type of materials should not be higher than the speed at which they return to their original position in the Earth's crust.
- Substances produced by society cannot be continuously accumulated in the ecosphere.
Synthetically produced substances must not exceed the production rate of their breakdown and reintegration in natural cycles.
- The natural capacity of the different ecosystems to absorb and reintegrate the substances or waste generated cannot be diminished. That is to say, naturally, the environment has the capacity to reintegrate the wastes that are generated by any living being, including pollution generated by humans, however, this capacity is reduced on the scale in which species are reduced. animals and plants on the planet The resources that exist are limited.
It is necessary to look for the most efficient methodologies and processes to reduce the consumption of raw materials and natural resources, and with it the reduction of the waste generated. Business organizations have implemented the restriction of non-essential resources since otherwise, instability is created between countries or business sectors.
There are some necessary points to be able to efficiently implement a sustainability system, since the concept or the ideas is not enough to be able to generate an impact on the manufacturing systems or processes, and on the collaborators who are involved. Looking at a company or any type of organization, an achievement with the following points is necessary:
- A top management political system that allows the people involved an effective participation in decision-making by contributing ideas or proposals from their own point of view. An economic system capable of generating a surplus and technical knowledge on an autonomous and constant basis. A production or manufacturing system that complies with the regulations and specifications that the certifying agencies indicate regarding the care of the environment The use of technology in any area that can be implemented capable of researching, developing or proposing different ways to meet needs with new and innovative ideas. A flexible management system that can be corrected, depending on the given specifications.
Technology and Green Growth.
As a historical precedent, it can be mentioned that in June 2009 the ministers of 34 countries signed the Declaration on Green Growth, in which it was agreed to generate an effort of greater impact that relates economic, environmental, technological and development aspects in a full frame.
Which is intended to strengthen efforts to work together to find green growth strategies.
The definition of green growth can be mentioned as:
Encourage economic growth and development and at the same time, ensure that natural resources continue to meet the needs that human beings have, the resources and services that the environment offers for the well-being of the human being. In order to achieve this, investment and innovation must be channeled that are focused on sustained growth and that may have the necessary strength to generate new and greater economic opportunities. Green and sustainable growth is necessary due to the risks that are generated at all times due to the damage generated to natural capital. These problems can weaken the opportunities that a company or organization may have. Mention is made of two reasons why the use of green technology is increasingly important:
- More difficulties arise every day, to be able to substitute physical capital for natural capital. That is, if in the metropolitan area of Mexico City there is a company where its manufacturing processes take up water, and it is scarce or contaminated to a higher degree, it will need more infrastructure, budget and personnel, to be able to transport it and purify it The change in the environmental environment is not always gradual and predictable. For example, there are numerous species of animals and plants, which for years were gradually reducing, however, in a few years the remaining reserves were exponentially depleted, which led to the extinction of the species, before humans could do something about it.
Now, these are some of the factors that must be taken into account, because like many other concepts that have arisen from the problems that have been generated in the environment, one of the problems that are faced with greater The frequency of application within companies or organizations is the economic factor, since very few entrepreneurs manage to see the benefits that investments around the use of green technology or sustainable systems can generate. In general terms, it can be mentioned that the application of this technology, or the acquisition or development of equipment or systems that support the environment, is an investment that will not only bring benefits to the planet, but also to society in general and also to certain way to the same company,since systems have begun to be implemented in which they seek to create an economic benefit, through governmental or private dependencies.
Business factors that facilitate the implementation of green technology
However, there are elements or aspects that abruptly stop any attempt to generate innovative ideas, with a positive approach to the environment. This is because the vast majority of companies were formed with the foundations of years ago, where the negative impact that waste can generate on the environment was not taken into account in any way, and where there were no regulations that emphasize the importance of generating a positive impact on the market and on society, developing products or processes that could serve as the basis for sustainable development. Therefore, any change or innovation that a company of this type wishes to make will undoubtedly be reflected as an investment or an expense,that with difficulty will generate a net profit or that will take longer than usual to recover the invested capital. Some of the limitations that stop any type of innovation for sustainable development are:
- Inadequate infrastructure Insufficient human and social capital as well as poor institutional quality Regulatory uncertainty Divided incentives and problems in the organization's communication systems Barriers to competition Problems due to environmental externalities Negative effects on the network Low o No demand for green innovation Lack of knowledge or training for innovation Lack of budget and funding Barriers due to regulations for newly created companies Non-technological innovation Intentional transfer of technology.
But at present, different ways of attacking these problems are being handled that, although they continue to attack the formation of sustainable systems in the market, increase the possibility of gradually improving the production of goods and services that minimize the impact on the environment.
Applications of green technology.
Returning a little to the given definitions of green technology, seen as the set of methods, systems or processes that reduce or minimize the computer impact on the environment, favoring the recycling of elements or components used in these processes allowing other people to profit from these technologies. This was designed to reduce costs while improving the conditions in which the environment is related to business activities. Some of these technologies favor the reduction of energy consumption or the emission of carbon monoxide or greenhouse gases in general.
There is a classification in which the main elements of which what is now known as green technology is composed can be identified, the main ones are:
-Cloud Computing.
It is about implementing a solution in which the different computing resources are involved, to be able to be provided quickly as the demand determines. The resources and services provided are controllable in order to ensure issues such as availability, safety and quality. This system allows access to servers and storage spaces and software without the need to occupy sophisticated equipment to support them.
-Grid computing.
It is a type of technology that facilitates the daily use of all types of computer resources and that are not subject to centralized control. In this way, it is a new form of computing in which all resources can have different tasks but are linked by a wide area network, such as the internet.
It can be defined as a mesh that links the computational resources of an organization, such as PCs, workstations, servers, multifunctional devices, storage elements and facilitates the way in which they can be accessed.
-Virtualization.
It is the technology that shares the computing resources of different environments, allowing different systems to work on the same physical machine, a single physical resource can be created for servers, storage and applications.
This system allows reducing the carbon footprint produced in data centers by reducing the number of servers, which directly means reducing energy consumption and cooling systems that must be implemented. This promotes a higher rate of resource utilization and space savings.
Conclusion.
The use of wireless networks is increasingly used by cell phone systems, and with this degree of progress, ideas and technologies have also emerged that facilitate communication that exists in companies.
There are networks that allow different information management devices to be intertwined, wirelessly, considering the amount of computer equipment that may exist in a company administration department, such as computers, printers, scanners, faxes, telephones, etc. And the interconnection facilities of these elements would mean a greater use of cabling, space, and control and protection systems. All of this can be avoided by using online storage or control systems, or through networks that can be implemented in the company.
In the same way, thinking about the systems of production, shipment, reception of materials or in any area of a company, where, with the use of green technology, focused on a sustainability system, the relationship between the environment can be improved. environment and the company, at the same time that monetary benefits and image of an organization can be generated.
Thesis proposal.
Quantification of the positive impact generated on the environment, by the use of green technologies, with a focus on sustainability.
Objective.
Determine what is the benefit that the use of green technologies produces for a company in the region, and what is the investment that is being made to have a sustainable system.
Thanks.
Special thanks to the Technological Institute of Orizaba, to Professor Dr. Fernando Aguirre y Hernández, who teaches the subject of Fundamentals of Administrative Engineering, for all the knowledge he shares with his students and to the Master in Administrative Engineering that promotes the culture of learning. As well as to thank CONACYT for the support provided and for the areas of opportunity that it generates, with its different programs, to the Postgraduate students.
Bibliography.
- Ramírez Treviño, Alfredo; Sánchez Núñez, Juan Manuel; García Camacho, Alejandro. (December, 2004). Sustainable Development: Interpretation and Analysis. Journal of the Research Center, 6, pp. 55-59 Angel Gurría. (2011). Towards green growth. Paris, France: OECD, Dolores Barrientos. (2012). GREEN ECONOMY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. Mexico City: UNEP.JOSÉ LUIS SOTELO SANCHO. (2003). TECHNOLOGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. Rev.R.Acad.Cienc.Exact.Fís.Nat. (Esp), 97, PP. 303-318.
