Critical Analysis of Google Sustainability Report

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Google Sustainability Report

Google Company is a multinational company specializing in the provision of internet-based services and products. Some of the products provided by the company include cloud computing, search engine, software, hardware, and technology used in online advertisements. The company is among the big four multinationals, including Apple, Facebook, and Amazon. In 1998, Larry Page founded Google and is has its headquarters in California, United States. Over the past ten years, Google has experienced tremendous growth after its incorporation.

For instance, Google Company has had multiple acquisitions and partnerships with other organizations. The company’s website is the most visited by users around the globe. The company’s code of conduct guides processes such as the discharge of duties whereby all the employees are required to ensure due diligence in service delivery. The company reported a net income of about $110.8 billion in 2018, thus signifying the continued influence it has on the world’s economy. The company undertakes various sustainability measures as it executes its mandates.

Environmental Efforts Undertaken by the Google Company

The company uses renewable energy to undertake their operations. For instance, Google Company has sustained the use of carbon-neutral energy since 2017. The company has purchased enough renewable energy to maintain its activities for the foreseeable future. The company relies on the core values of operating businesses using approaches that foster environmental sustainability. Moreover, the company remains committed to promoting a better and cleaner environment for future generations.

The use of data centers is critical in promoting sustainability in the company. For instance, in the last decade, the centers have been voted as a global leader in ensuring there are improved environmental performances. The performances by the centers have led to increased demands for having better sustainability measures among other organizations. The attainment of this success occurs through ensuring there is effectiveness in the use of water, energy, and water. Furthermore, the organization strives to reduce the energy used by providing the computing network is efficient. For instance, Google centers use less than 50% energy compared to other data centers (Galpin, Whitttington & Bell, 2015). The availability of energy management system has been critical towards ensuring the company uses energy efficiently. Additionally, the company has better technology which helps in protecting the environment. For instance, through the use of technology, the company can achieve zero wastes. The company meets the goal by ensuring there are minimum wastes generated by undertaking measures such as hardware remanufacturing and refurbishing. Also, the Google Company provides there is better waste disposal through fostering various initiatives such as reselling and recycling.

Key Environmental Challenge

The company is affected by various environmental problems which lead to the loss of working hours and business efficiency. For instance, the issue of pollution is apparent in the business. Employees face exposure to various types of pollution, mainly from gases that arise due to combustion. The problem of proper waste disposal is a significant issue affecting the business. For instance, the company is forced to come up with strategies that foster recycling.

Furthermore, the business has to ensure they abide by the federal government’s regulations relating to waste disposal. Therefore, there is a need for having improved waste disposal mechanism due to the nature of some of the byproducts resulting from the manufacturing process. The company has to work on promoting efficiency, which comes at the expense of pursuing sustainability measures. For instance, it has adopted cost-effectiveness in improving manufacturing since it is cheap; however, in the long term; the measure turns out to be resource-intensive.

Moreover, the problem of climate change is a major environmental issue affecting the company. Typically, climate change leads to high energy demand as the organization works to discharge their duties. For instance, in cases where the climate gets warm, there is high consumption of electricity to help in air conditioning. The use of power means that the business incurs high operational costs. Additionally, it leads to high consumption of natural resources such as water, which may reduce the resources available for the company in the long term.

Sustainability/design Philosophy

The organization’s environmental design borrows from the idea of ensuring that operations are designed utilizing technology and reducing the use of resources. The business achieves the aim through creating data centers and creating a sustainable working environment. Moreover, the company empowers staff on the need for maintaining a clean environment and creates a transition that helps in ensuring the utilization of renewable energy.

How Google uses Big Data to Protect the Environment

The Google Company is using its wealth to help in reducing wastage and carbon footprints. For instance, the company is undertaking initiatives that can help in generating profits in the long term by upholding the environment. The company is undertaking projects that involve analyses and data collection. The measure helps in ensuring that the company comes up with strategies that foster the use of sustainable materials in the operations. Therefore, it helps in reducing the impact of environmental pollution through lowering emissions.

Moreover, the company has heavily invested in both solar and wind energy projects. For instance, the company is willing and ready to invest in renewable energy programs by donating up to $2.5 billion (Hilbert, 2016). The firm plan on investing in energy storage experiments which are relatively new in the country. The measure showcases the commitment that the firm has towards fostering environmental sustainability.

Furthermore, the company uses a decentralized approach in addressing issues relating to sustainability. For instance, there is a team in charge of coming up with initiatives that can help in reducing emissions, wastage, and energy usage. Also, there is a team that undertakes on boosting the business productivity and revenues generated. The sustainability manager has the responsibility of developing strategies that foster the successful implementation of sustainability initiatives. For instance, the sustainability officer identifies the right partnership that can help in dealing the environmental issues. Therefore, the organization ensures there is collective responsibility among the companies operating within a particular market.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Over the years, Google Company remains a perfect example of how businesses should run corporate social responsibility. For instance, the company has various programs and initiatives that help in ensuring there are new applications. The new apps have helped to make business and life easier for people. Some of the notable innovations include Google Drive, Google Maps, and Gmail. The company remains the pioneer search engine for most people around the globe. Therefore, Google products are everywhere, thus making life more comfortable and pushing people to more significant life achievements (Valet, 2019). Also, the company is well recognized and respected due to the promotion of transparency, corporate ethics, and openness.

Moreover, the firm examines the workplace and offers employees better treatment which is characterized by equal opportunities to advance their careers. There are various incentives for employees working within the firm. Therefore, several economic experts view the company as the number one employer in the world. Most job seekers are willing to join the company and enjoy a comfortable working environment (Miceli, 2015). Having this reputation has helped the institution in attracting highly-skilled persons to assist in executing duties. The presence of skilled personnel helps in promoting innovation due to diversity. Eventually, the business gains a competitive advantage, which makes it remain competitive when compared to other firms in the tech industry.

Furthermore, the organization is ambitious in undertaking activities that have environmental impacts. For instance, by 20I7, the company has become carbon neutral and has started the green programs. The primary aim of the program is promoting the use of sustainable energy in business operations (Google and the corporate social responsibility of companies, 2019). The green energy has various creative components such as the presence of Google maps which is critical in directing a car in the right direction. Thus, Google has reduced carbon footprint emissions through the use of efficient vehicles that have better gas mileage and lower emissions.

Regulations that impact Google Company

Google Company has been dramatically affected by the rules relating to technology. The company views there are biases and calls for proper dialogue to mitigate the issues raised. For instance, the business calls for collaboration among the various government urgencies’ responsibility in the implementation of the regulations. Having proper dialogue would help the company in having a joint roadmap before they undertake on implementing the rules. The fragmented approach adopted by the various governments in regulation technology from taxation and privacy needs streamlining(Pollman & Barry, 2016). There is a need for convergence among all the parties involved in critical decision making. The measure is likely to have a massive impact on the company since it has experienced growth over the years without having any form of control from the government.

The company’s activities are also affected by employment regulations. For instance, the company has to ensure them employee people at the right age blanket. It is forbidden for any company to employ children since it amount ton infringement of fundamental rights. Moreover, the law makes it illegal for the company to hire any immigrants knowingly. The government has the right to impose sanctions on the company through designating penalties when they are found guilty of committing the offense (Pollman & Barry, 2016). Therefore, Google has the ability to conducting due diligence before making decisions on the people they hire. For instance, the firm should ensure they have proof that a person has then valid documents to show they are permanent residents in the country. However, failure to observe the rules would have detrimental effects that can tarnish the business reputation.

Moreover, the age and discrimination Act regulated the firm’s activities. The Act forbids any form of discrimination for a person under the age of 40 years when it comes to various employment aspects. Some of the elements include fringe benefits, promotions, layoff, training, job assignments, hiring, and firing. The law makes it illegal for the organization to harass any persons due to their age primarily through making offensive remarks. Therefore, the company has to ensure they respect the employment laws or risk having sanctions imposed. The violation of the rules would significantly affect business operations and undermine any future progress.

Cost Savings Realized by Google Company since Implementing Sustainability Initiatives

The company has accrued various cost-savings benefits due to the implementation of sustainability initiatives. For instance, the company is in a position to attract a pool of talented individuals. The availability of skilled personnel presents the business with a unique opportunity to gain a competitive advantage. The firm does not have to undertake expensive measures when looking for people with the right skills. Also, they have creative persons drawn from the pool of highly talented people. The company, therefore, uses fewer resources in promoting innovative initiatives. For instance, through innovations, the company has come up with various applications such as Google apps and search engines. The applications have been critical towards fostering the company towards success.

The implementation of sustainable initiatives helps in boosting the company’s image. For instance, the company is recognized globally as the number one advocate for promoting sustainable practices. Therefore, most of the customers like having a close association with the company due to its impeccable reputation (Galpin, Whitttington & Bell, 2015). It provides the organization with a perfect opportunity to prize their products based on their reputable brand. Moreover, the company has significantly saved on the advertisement cost since most people are aware of the products they offer. Therefore, the business uses the advertisement cost to run other critical services that are integral to better operations.

Moreover, through implementing sustainability initiatives, Google firm has gained multiple partnerships with other businesses. The connection is tailored towards the improvement of service delivery by the company. The organization helps the firm in sharing the cost, thus reducing the cost associated with starting an investment in certain areas.

The strategy helps in ensuring the firm penetrates in other ventures and market bases. The move provides the business with a competitive advantage and makes ita leading tech giant.

Sustainability Partnership between Google and other Urgencies

Google Company enters into various partnerships with other firms to promote sustainability. For instance, in 2016, Google and the United Nations announced a collaboration that was aimed towards improving awareness of how human activities affect the environment. The partnership showcases that both Google and the UN have shared vision which is tailored towards improving the environment(Biermann, Kanie & Kim, 2017). Also, the collaboration enables countries with equal access to technology access critical information relating to sustainable development and climate change. Also, cooperation between the two organizations has demonstrated the importance of collective efforts towards improving sustainability. For instance, the two people view the two entities as credible enough to foster change within society. Therefore, they serve as a leading example for other companies to follow suit.

Water-Energy-Materials Requirements

The specific measures for the reduction of waste on water, energy, and materials concerning enterprise operation in product manufacturing and service provision are under the business orientation of going green and lean. In order to reduce the wastage of water n enterprise operation, one needs to identify the affected section in the production line. The best remedy in the reduction of water that the company wastes in the production process and other complementary uses is the use of technologies that support adequate water consumption (Szymańska-Brałkowska&Malinowska, 2017). Wastes in energy consumption are universal in the production process and running of administrative affairs.

The best remedy to curb the challenge of energy wastage in enterprises includes energy management programs such as enrolling employees in educational programs and investing in current energy-efficient equipment as well as using green energy and renewable sources of energy. The wastage of materials is common during the production process of products (Szymańska-Brałkowska&Malinowska, 2017). The improvement of material usage in enterprises is the introduction of a recycling program which is an innovative method for reusing materials. The redesigning of product packaging to be ecofriendly is another method of curbing material wastage which eases the process of recycling and reusing of the materials in question.

LCA Conducted by Google Company

Google Company conducts Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) for its products and services in order to identify the preferable options that are beneficial. There is a great challenge from the presence of numerous indicators of LCA in products and services. To manage the challenge presented, practitioners of LCAs apply external normalization in identifying the most appropriate indicator (Prado, Wender&Seager, 2017). Normalized references or comparative performance of alternatives typically determines the types of data collected. The selection of standardized benchmarks also comes from the benefits it renders Google Company in the long run.

Changes made in Google Company’s Supply Chain Networks

Alphabet has been in charge of the running of Google’s supply chain program alongside the company’s hardware systems. Google operates with more than 400 hardware manufacturing suppliers across the globe for the purposes of manufacturing devices, hardware parts, and relevant products. Consumer devices like Google Home, phones, and thermostats are some of the standard devices that the suppliers are in charge of producing.

The supplier base is continuously growing with the expansion of services the company provides, which as well supports the company’s data centers. The supply chain undertakes several manufacturing models that vary from licensing software to the direct contracting of manufacturing companies that build and design the desired products. The significant distinction in the joint venture with suppliers of Google in comparison to other companies in the singular alignment of operations towards fulfilling the company’s values and standards. The responsibility in the supply chain program involves the Google workers and employees of suppliers over the subcontracted companies in more than 20 countries abroad

References

Biermann, F., Kanie, N., & Kim, R. E. (2017). Global governance by goal-setting: the novel approach of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 26, 26-31.
Galpin, T., Whitttington, J. L., & Bell, G. (2015). Is your sustainability strategy sustainable? Creating a culture of sustainability. Corporate Governance, 15(1), 1-17.
Google and the corporate social responsibility of companies – 602 Communications. (2019). Retrieved 1 October 2019, from http://602communications.com/google-corporate-social-responsibility-of-companies/
Hilbert, M. (2016). Big data for development: A review of promises and challenges. Development Policy Review, 34(1), 135-174.
Miceli, M. (2015). Google tops reputation rankings for corporate responsibility. U. S News.
Pollman, E., & Barry, J. M. (2016). Regulatory entrepreneurship. S. Cal. L. Rev., 90, 383.
Prado, V., Wender, B. A., &Seager, T. P. (2017). Interpretation of comparative LCAs: external normalization and a method of mutual differences. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 22(12), 2018-2029.
Szymańska-Brałkowska, M., &Malinowska, E. (2017).The improvement of the company’s environmental performance through the application of Green Lean/Lean and Green approach.
Valet, V. (2019). The World’s Most Reputable Companies For Corporate Responsibility 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2019, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/vickyvalet/2018/10/11/the-worlds-most-reputable-companies-for-corporate-responsibility-2018/#7f9c3db3371e

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