Despite corporate-culture becoming increasingly eco-friendly – many companies are still disposing of waste materials by pumping them into sewers, rivers and the sea. This can result in water pollution that can have a devastating impact on plant, animal and human life. Contaminated water can have a grave impact upon the planet’s freshwater supply – which is especially serious at a time when natural resources are becoming increasingly scarce.
As well as being intentional, water can sometimes be contaminated by industrial accidents and spillages – so it’s essential that organisations ensure that equipment and machinery is regularly maintained and monitored to safeguard against such errors.
It is also essential that companies and businesses strictly adhere to protocol regarding the safe disposal of toxic wastes. Failure to do this can result in chemicals and associated toxins being introduced to the water-table, which can have serious consequences for the environment and the reputation of the company responsible for it. This can result in the possibility of significant fines being imposed on organisations who engage in improper ethical conduct – which can be disastrous in these ever-competitive times. The expulsion of toxins into the local environment can have a disastrous effect on the lives of people who rely on it to maintain their livelihoods, such as fishermen or people who work at coastal resorts.
Unfortunately, it’s not just toxins that cause pollution – it can also by produced by waste-items such as plastics being dumped. This can have adverse consequences for the biosphere as plastics are non-biodegradable and will tend to accumulate – becoming an eyesore within the natural world, as well as having a negative effect on the health of wildlife.
In order to avoid this – it’s essential that companies do not only comply with – but positively embrace legislation that is intended to make the world – safer, greener and more sustainable.