Two months ago we noted how environmental measures are now less important to the general public:
Washing hands frequently with soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds is recommended by State and Federal authorities, with nary a peep from local water districts, and everyone does this 10 to 20 times a day.
Chemical wipes are used all the time on public surfaces, and no one disapproves. No one frowns at the extra amount of trash.
If driving a car to work or school is at all an option, have you seen anyone choosing to put themselves or their kids on a filthy bus or train?
For years Starbucks and other coffee shops offered discounts to customers who bring in reusable (hard plastic, ceramic, metal) cups to reduce trash. The coronavirus has caused Starbucks to suspend this policy for sanitary reasons.
Now it's business' turn. Corporations who have touted their
Environmental, Social, and Governance cred realize that ESG is secondary to survival: [bold added]
Today, every occupant of every C-suite is trying to figure out what they’re willing to throw overboard as the economic storm spawned by the pandemic is swamping their ships. Businesses that were planning to help save the world are now simply saving themselves...
“Belief in a new ‘sustainability’ model of capitalism is growing but will it endure?” Paul Pellizzari, the sustainability chief for Hard Rock International, wrote in a piece published Monday on the environmental media site GreenBiz. “Will mad scrambles to save profitability and market capitalization stall or kill a new paradigm?”
History suggests this new paradigm is probably on the back burner.
“Depend upon it, sir, when a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully."---Samuel Johnson
No comments:
Post a Comment