7.4c - Political and Legal (Scope and Effects of Labour Market Law)

Question 1

What are the costs of business on the environment?

Answer 1

• Use of finite resources
• Noise and pollution from manufacturing
• Loss of land resources

Question 2

What are the main environmental regulations?

Answer 2

• Store and treat waste safely and securely
• Protect employees and environment from air pollution
• Don’t produce excessive noise, smoke and fumes
• Comply with rules

Question 3

Who are the three main environmental regulators in the UK?

Answer 3

• Environment Agency in England and Wales
• Northern Ireland Environment Agency
• Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Question 4

Examples of specific environmental laws and directives that affect businesses:

Answer 4

• EU directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) forces businesses to increase recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment
• Landfill tax reduces amount of waste in landfill
• EU Packaging Waste Directive forces businesses to increase recycling of packaging
• Climate Change Act requires UK PLC’s to report greenhouse gas emissions in their annual reports

Question 5

What does the EU’s Emissions Trading System do?

Answer 5

It gives greenhouse gas emission allowances to businesses such as oil refineries and power stations (businesses can sell their allowance if they do not need it all)

Question 6

Advantages to a business of environmentally friendly actions:

Answer 6

• Lower raw material costs and waste disposal charges
• Longer life of recycled assets
• Trading opportunities
• Customer goodwill

Question 7

Disadvantages to a business of environmental influences:

Answer 7

• Damage to reputation if business doesn’t follow laws
• Increase in costs
• Fines for not following laws

Question 8

Sustainable business definition

Answer 8

A business that has no negative overall impact on the environment

Question 9

Sustainability definition

Answer 9

The ability to meet the needs of the current generation without sacrificing the ability of future generations to satisfy their own needs

Question 10

Examples of actions to promote sustainability:

Answer 10

• Recyclable packaging
• Working with suppliers to improve sustainability
• Using more energy-efficient equipment