Is a Business's Sole Responsibility to Make a Buck?

Going green seems like the right thing to do from both an economic and environmental standpoint for a business. When a business goes green, the argument is that they are helping the environment by reducing carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere, but most importantly are improving their bottom line by reducing their electrical utility costs. Upon first glance, it appears going green is solely about well, as a businessman, "Can I earn money to doing it? If not, then why should I go green?" As a result, the extent to which a business will go green seems more to do with looking at their bottom line or profit making ability as opposed to whether they have a social responsibility to do so or not. However, businesses must think beyond green simply in economic terms.

Even if a business' principal responsibility is to ensure they are making money off their product or service, they also do have an obligation to others. In particular, the issue of manmade climate change is important from a quality of life standpoint and a business certainly has to play a part in ensuring they are doing their part not to pollute and dirty the environment we all inhabit. For example, in highlighting the importance of corporate social responsibility, Chris Deri writes, "But what must be understood is that the business of business is now everyone's business. We should not think of 'CSR' or 'Sustainability' as a separate program or box on a company's org-chart." Clearly, therefore, making a buck or maximizing profit is not the sole responsibility for a business. If a business' sole responsibility was to make a buck, then they would be all about their own self-interest and there would be no concern or view that 'the business of business is now everyone's business.'

In the case of climate change at least, Chris Deri is correct. A business' actions have profound impacts on everyone and not simply their bottom line. Climate change with its many potential consequences such as stronger storms, droughts, and overall warmer temperatures will affect everyone. As a result, if a business decides to continue polluting carbon dioxide emissions, then it is everyone's business since their actions will potentially affect both you and me in terms of putting us at risk for more dangerous and extreme weather events.

In summary, a business cannot simply think about making a buck at the expense of everything else. Rather, a business must look at how their actions affect all of society since increasingly what they do will in some small way affect you and me as well as future generations of individuals. A business, therefore, is increasingly becoming more connected to society as a whole in this day and age.