Well, its part of the high price that comes with growth. Normally developing countries leave environmental issues aside when speaking about growth. Even developing countries had that issue and it's now that they are concerned about the impact it causes on the environment.
I think the company is looking to improve PR and publicity through this rather than being truly environment friendly. As far as China is concerned, the situation is not so simple. Besides environment, there are lots of other aspects to see before we can assess if the company is truly pursuing ethical policies. Issues such as work timings, working conditions, underage labor are just some of them. The example of Foxconn and the subsequent events that followed should be remembered before Chinese companies are analyzed.
Environment degradation is so severe in China that pollution has made cancer China’s leading cause of death. There is no magic formula that will stop such issues unless Chinese authorities start taking actions to compel industries to adopt environmental policies.
I hope that's what they are doing. Growth always comes with some issues. China's government is trying to balance growth with inflation, etc. and maybe they added the environment to it now, good for them!
I think that China is actually starting to take a look at their environmental impacts due to the large increase in manufacturing plants, and making sure they don't have any long lasting environmental disasters. Though their tolerances for certain pollutants might not be as strict as the U.S. or some European countries, China has realized if they don't start to control some of the pollutants they could have some serious issues in the future.
Jeniffer, as you mentioned Johnson control as a “good green company” , how this happens. Why they had not taken care about the said lead quota? What’s their plan for next quarter and how they can be in production environments are big questions.
"Johnson Controls' ie:3 demonstrates a solution to the challenge of packaging an energy storage system in a fully electric B-segment vehicle without compromising comfort."
Thanks for the question. Pasted below is what I know, based on the latest statement from Johnson Controls dated Sept 22. It appears that local govt authorities requested a hold on lead-related production. If their claim is true that they are in compliance with Chinese environmental law, maybe the question for Chinese regulators is: Are China's environmental regulations in line with the other world-class standards Johnson mentions, and is this incident a hint that Chinese authorities will start upping the compliance issue and moving ahead with tougher requirements.
And here's an argument not just for Johnson Controls, but for the entire industry: Do you have a good environmental track record/reputation because you operate within the legal limits of those green standards, or is it because being a green company is a core part of the company's value statement?
" Some local Chinese media are reporting that our Shanghai plant is being held responsible for lead contamination in the local community. Johnson Controls has received no official notification from the government that this is the case. We stand by our own data which shows that the plant is operating in full compliance with Chinese environmental regulations and to the world class standards Johnson Controls applies to all of our battery plants globally. Based on the information we have at this time, we do not believe that emissions from our plant could have caused the level of lead contamination in the surrounding area. We recognize and share the community’s concerns regarding the source of lead contamination in the region. We will continue to fully cooperate with the government and industry experts to understand and help address this issue.
On Sept. 13, the Pudong New Area government requested that Johnson Controls suspend lead-related production in our Shanghai plant as we have achieved our lead quota for the year, and we have complied with this request. Johnson Controls is taking immediate steps to minimize the impact of this action on our employees. We are also working with our customers and suppliers to minimize the disruptions this will cause to their business.
Globally and across all of our businesses, Johnson Controls has a strong reputation as a responsible corporate citizen. We take pride and participate fully in the communities in which we work and live to realize our vision of a more safe, comfortable and sustainable world. The company remains committed to being a market leader in the automotive battery industry in China."
I appreciate the responsibility of the chinese government toward the health and safety of their citizens. These regulations shall be strictly followed by all the companies and Johnson controls is no exception from this. But I wonder what Johnson control would do with factory if the lead quota of this year is already finished?
Good on China if its taking a keen interest on its environmental and safety standards. About time too!
@Anna, I agree with you. Good to see countries like China which is major polluter taking steps to curb the environment pollution. I hope steps like this will help us to realise the dream of green earth.
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Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Peter Drucker famously said "Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window." Yet in the razor's-edge world of electronics—with a lean supply chain and just-in-time demands—the need to know the future is vital.
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You've heard the saying "the No. 1 supply chain risk is your people." That hasn't always been the case. But today's complex global supply chain requires a new type of multitalented employee. It's one who understands, finance, marketing, economics, is savvy with technology, graceful with relationships and can think analytically.
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