Part 2.

Hawkens (1992) states that corporations can function in whichever way they wish. They are like an organism that can function by destructing the environment, but, made with interchangeable parts, they can be also useful to the environment if taught how. Rather, therefore, then demanding that corporations cease to exist, we should encourage them to reorganize their parts and become more socially responsible. The way to do this is by adopting some of the following principles:

Firstly, by reducing absolute consumption of energy and natural resources in the North by 80% during the next century. Businesses can do this in a painless way.

The next step, Hawkens recommends is to provide secure, stable, and meaningful employment for people everywhere. Businesses need employees. Gainfully employing helps the world become a happier place.

Businesses need to be self-actuating. What this means is that we want to flourish and prosper and we should work towards that end. Other voices may urge competition which may seem to involve despoiling the environment. We should step aside and consider the results of our actions in doing so.

Honor market principles...

-- we have to recognize that people won't pay more in order to save the planet but we should cater to what people desire. Many times industries that follow 'green 'principles charge more for their products. This is off-putting to clients and detrimental to the industry.
Similarly, too, therefore, businesses should show that ways of caring for the environment can be more rewarding than our present way of life; environmental limits need to be seen as opportunities. Again returning to his allegory of organism (something that Hawkens does through his book), he tells us that human communities should act like natural ones. Everything that we gain from the earth should spring back into it. In short, industries can and should be fun and engaging: Looking after the environment can be fun.

This last part of Hawken's book is generally prescriptive giving us ways of how we can make businesses more socially responsible. Realizing that we are part of an integrated whole, makes us realize our responsibility in helping businesses practice the concept of industrial ecology.

Source

Hawken, P. (1993) the ecology of Commerce Harper Business, USA