Corporations’ behaviours are shown to be major contributors to pollution and energy use as compared to individuals’ behaviours. A study done in 2015 found that the energy demand in Southeast Asia has gone up by 70% from 2013 to a projection till 2040 due to urbanisation and the industrial and services sector. With higher energy consumption, an increase in pollution (water, air and land) is without a doubt.
Since corporations are partly and quite hugely responsible for environmental degradation, they should do their part by engaging actively in pro-environmental programmes.They could also invent more environmentally friendly production systems. This would possibly label the corporations as having Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
One benefit of CSR is the balancing out of the negative impacts on the environment that the corporations have caused. Although it sounds ironical, but there is a limit to impacting the environment negatively while trying to balance out. To be environmentally responsible is expensive. Corporations would not be able to sustain their CSR programs in the long run if, meanwhile, they heavily degrade the environment with their businesses.
Secondly, consumers are now more aware and concern with environmental issues. By engaging in CSR programs, corporations could be recognised by consumers as a socially responsible corporation. This could lead consumers to choose their products over others, making it a win-win situation for the corporations, consumers and definitely, the environment.
One leading example of a corporation being involved in giant clams conservation is: