Business is any kind of activities, company or enterprises that makes money by producing or buying or selling. Whereas environment is the surrounding where we live and are the rich source for inputs. Whatever input the business requires is fulfilled by the environment and every output produced from business is returned to the environment. The produced output may produce positive or negative impact on the environment (most of the result being harmful to the environment either during the processing or the output itself). Hence we can conclude with a line that there is give and take relationship between business and environment.

Environmental factor may affect the business decisions. These environmental factors may be determined using the tool named PESTLE Analysis which is sometime referred as PEST Analysis. This helps in determining the circumstances of business. The environmental factor includes the climatic factors, consumers’ health, and availability of the inputs. Talking about the business effect to environment, the manufacture of the products requires lots of inputs like timber, metals, minerals etc. this may lead to loss in forest counts and pollution. Many constructions of building have been occurred for business purpose. Addition of the waste produced, papers used, traffic jams, poisonous atmosphere etc. are some common effects caused by the business caused by the environment.

We have a perfect example that shows the relationship between business and environment is the Phareni Bazaar that occurs every Wednesday and Saturday, near Paklihawa Krishi Campus (exactly where we study). Generally, Consumers do not prefer visiting to the market because of the existing air pollution and the unbearable smell of the Dande River. The buying and selling activity from the market leads to the distribution of polythene, air pollutions and the extra use of the vehicles.

Many products and business activities having positive effects of business in improving the environment condition has been recorded. Some of the examples are LED bulb that reduces the energy use, some of the companies fill their offices with indoor plants, and some has switched to eco-friendly business. HP Company developed Design for Sustainability program during 1992. In order to reduce environmental impact of its operation different steps have been proceeding. 14 HP sites around the world are today LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified. Similarly the activities by Johnson & Johnson have set an example that not all business is harmful to environment by accomplishing their commitment by 2017, to reformulate their product to remove plastic.

Although these two terms are different, they are related.

References

1.      https://www.businessmanagementideas.com/management/strategic-planning/relationship-between-environment-and-business/4787

2.      https://pestleanalysis.com/environmental-factors-affecting-business/

3.      https://www.responsiblebusiness.com/news/asia-pacific-news/hp-works-reduce-environmental-impact-worldwide-operations/