Read the overview below and complete the activities that follow.

In this exercise you will examine and analyze the environmental sustainability practices at google.com. Read Chapter 9, particularly the information on corporate responsibility and environmental sustainability.

Environmental sustainability is concerned with the relationship of a company to its environment and its use of finite natural resources. Since corporations are the biggest users of natural resources, managing and maintaining these resources is critical for the long-term economic interests of corporations. All companies are part of a business ecosystem whose economic health depends on the availability of natural resources. In response, most major companies have begun to change how they do business, emphasizing the use of sustainable business practices. Many have also begun to incorporate a consideration of environmental sustainability into their strategy-making activities, involving deliberate and concerted actions to operate businesses in a manner that protects natural resources and ecological support systems. Environmental sustainability strategies that both provide valuable social benefits and fulfill customer needs in a superior fashion may also contribute to a companys competitive advantage. Not all companies choose to link their corporate environmental or social agendas to their value chain, their business model, or their industry. However, unless a companys social responsibility initiatives become part of the way it operates its business every day, the initiatives are unlikely to catch fire and be fully effective.

Case:

Go to www.google.com/green and read about the companys latest initiatives surrounding sustainability. Then answer the questions below.

What are Googles key policies and actions that help it reduce its environmental footprint?