Greening a Brazilian cotton seed processing company. From challenges to strategic opportunities
| Date | 01 February 2013 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/20425941311323127 |
| Published date | 01 February 2013 |
| Pages | 123-130 |
| Author | Adriano Alves Teixeira,Vinicius Fernando Bello,Talita Borges Teixeira,Charbel José Chiappetta Jabbour,Jorge Henrique Caldeira de Oliveira |
| Subject Matter | Public policy & environmental management |
Greening a Brazilian cotton seed
processing company
From challenges to strategic opportunities
Adriano Alves Teixeira
Industrial Engineering and Management,
UNESP – Univ Estadual Paulista (Sao Paulo State University), Bauru, Brazil
Vinicius Fernando Bello
University Center “Toledo”,Arac¸atuba, Brazil
Talita Borges Teixeira and Charbel Jose
´Chiappetta Jabbour
Industrial Engineering and Management,
UNESP – Univ Estadual Paulista (Sao Paulo State University),
Bauru, Brazil, and
Jorge Henrique Caldeira de Oliveira
Management, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
Abstract
Purpose – This paper aims to shed light on a current and important theme that has been gaining
increasing importance for governments, society and companies: the greening of agricultural
companies in developing countries. The research objective is to classify a Brazilian cotton seed
processing company in the evolutionary stages of environmental management: reactive, preventive
or proactive.
Design/methodology/approach – A case study was conducted in a Brazilian cotton seed
processing company.
Findings – The main results are: the studied company is positioned in the preventive stage of
environmental management; this company is investing in operational green practices; environmental
management in this company is motivated by various factors aiming at an increased competitive
advantage. Finally, it can be concluded that this company is looking for green opportunities towards
the proactive environmental management stage.
Originality/value – This paper explores a scarce theme: green issues in the cotton seed processing
industry.
Keywords Agricultural management, Cottonseed processing, Green management,
Environmental management, Brazil, Agriculture
Paper type Case study
1. Introduction
Over recent decades, concer ns about the environment in which we live have become
more latent. This concern stemmed from the discovery that our natural resources are
finite, from the growing occurrence of unprecedented natural catastrophes and from the
growing awareness of society, organizations and governments that something must be
done to guarantee environmental sustainability (Teixeira et al., 2011).
According to Jabbour and Santos (2006) some historical milestones can be cited on
behalf of environmental concerns: the Club of Rome’s “growth limits;” the United
Nations report “Our Common Future”; Agenda 21; ratification of the Kyoto Protocol
and the reports on climate change published by the Inter national Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC).
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/2042-5945.htm
WorldJour nal of Science, Technology
and Sustainable Development
Vol.10 No. 2, 2013
pp. 123-130
rEmeraldGroup Publishing Limited
2042-5945
DOI 10.1108/20425941311323127
123
Greening a
cotton seed
company
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