Deck 14: Green Accounting and Alternative Indicators of Sustainability

Question 1

Eco-efficiency focuses entirely on pollution mitigation.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

With respect to eco-efficiency, regulation, is regarded important because
businesses are unlikely to protect the natural environment on their own.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Pollution Prevention Pays (3P) is a pollution reduction program.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

3M's record shows that as of 2014, the pollution pays program has resulted in the prevention of some waste, saving the company no more than a few million dollars since its inception 39 years ago.

Question 5

Like 3M environmental sustainability at Coca Cola is pursued on a company-wide
basis.

Question 6

Eco-efficiency requires long-term strategies.

Question 7

As a general rule, the focus of environmental sustainability has been
intergenerational equity.

Question 8

There are some who argue that the real motivation of many corporations in
claiming that they are committed to producing eco-friendly products is to enhance their public image.

Question 9

Coca Cola has been accused of using its water conservation projects to hide
environmental damages arising from other resource use and production activities.

Question 10

Eco-effectiveness and eco-efficiency are synonymous terms.

Question 11

Eco-effectiveness' ultimate goal is to eliminate waste.

Question 12

Industrial metabolism focuses primary on energy use.

Question 13

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) has
members only in the United States, Canada, and the U.K.

Question 14

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) promotes
the notion of eco-efficiency to business enterprises throughout the globe.

Question 15

Life cycle assessment (LCA) deals with qualitative and quantitative assessments
of the consequences to the environment.

Question 16

Which one of the following is not an example of Design for the Environment (DfE)?

A) Non-toxic production material use.
B) Massive clean-up fund for pesticide run-off.
C) Reduction of toxic material use.
D) Minimization of packaging material.
E) All of the above are examples of DfE.

Question 17

In order for corporations to embrace eco-efficiency, they must do which of the following?

A) Investment in material choices that are front loaded with short-term costs.
B) Consider short-term opportunities.
C) Reduce their desire to change their corporate culture.
D) Move away from the idea of the 'triple-bottom-line.'
E) They must do all of the above.

Question 18

Coca Cola's commitment to environmentally sustainable resource use is different from that of 3M's in what way?

A) 3M has been of appropriating water in ways that would adversely affect the inhabitants of
Some countries with a very low water supply.
B) 3M is lagging behind Coca Cola in their no desire to change their corporate culture.
C) Coca Cola's commitment is to reducing waste company-wide, including all the aspects of
The company's operation.
D) Waste prevention has become one of the enduring cultural norms of 3M, but not of Coca
Cola.
E) All of the above.

Question 19

Which of the following is not one of the four Rs that are the guiding principles of eco- efficiency?

A) Reuse.
B) Reduce.
C) Reprocess.
D) Recycle.
E) Regulation.

Question 20

In which way does the linear industrial system differ from a closed-loop cyclical system?

A) In the latter system, production processes are designed such that they are independent on
Each other.
B) In the latter system, organized processes or activities damaging wastes are discharged
Into the environment.
C) In the latter system, the role of industrial ecology is less significant.
D) In the latter system, products must be designed in such a way that byproduct and wastes
Are minimized.
E) Differences between the two systems are negligible.

Question 21

What practical steps can be taken to eliminate the use of synthetic substances that are either suspected or known to be toxic to the environment and human health?

A) Nothing can be done.
B) Design and redesign products and manufacturing processes so that they do not create
Hazardous and biologically useless waste in the first place.
C) Increase income taxes so that less income is available for the consumption of toxic
Substances.
D) "b" and "c".
E) Remove regulations so it is less expensive for firms to dispose of toxic wastes.

Question 22

Which of the following is not one of the six criteria (questions) laid out by Dr. Karl-Henrik Robert used to identify substances that are persistent toxins?

A) Is it possible to predict the acceptable tolerances?
B) Can we continue to place the substance into the environment?
C) Can it be recycled?
D) Is the substance natural?
E) Is it stable?

Question 23

Over-reliance on fossil fuels for some industries can lead to which of the following?

A) Firms can operate, on average, at an energy efficiency level far less than the theoretical
thermodynamic potential.
B) Firms can operate, on average, at an energy efficiency level far higher than the theoretical
thermodynamic potential.
C) Decreases in atmospheric oxygen levels.
D) Both "a" and "b".
E) Both "b" and "c".

Question 24

Which of the following should be a lesson to human industrial systems based on nature as
Model?

A) Be prudent of symbiotic interdependence as they increase pressure on resource use.
B) Situate diverse firms are within close proximity to water.
C) Use innovations that are inspired by nature.
D) Today, we have a problem of violations of the first and second laws of thermodynamics.
E) Both "c" and "d".

Question 25

What is implied by someone who states, "development should be eco-effective rather than eco-efficient"?

A) Total elimination of waste should be the abiding goal of an industrial production system.
B) One should recycle any toxic wastes produced during process development.
C) Process development should not rely too heavily on non-renewable resources.
D) All of the above.
E) None of the above.