A study of the barriers to the implementation of environmentally responsible practices in Indiana manufacturing businesses

Dylan N Schmitter, Purdue University

Abstract

With the increase of environmental awareness, government legislation, and demand for 'green' products, more manufacturing businesses have begun to adopt environmental responsibility initiatives. The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify and understand the barriers that Indiana manufacturing businesses face when implementing environmentally responsible practices. Through the literature review, eight environmentally responsible practices and eight inhibiting barriers were identified. A survey was designed and administered to manufacturing businesses and aimed to understand which of the barriers inhibited implementation of the environmentally responsible practices. The survey was sent to 56 key personnel at manufacturing businesses in a 100 mi radius of West Lafayette, IN and 26 detailed responses were received. For environmentally responsible practices overall, the largest barriers found were high implementation cost, lack of incentive and having no known alternative. However, for each of the environmentally responsible practices, different sets of barriers were identified. Businesses who make the investment and identify the alternatives and incentives find that employee training, employee commitment or motivation and lack of senior management commitment as the largest barriers. The implications of this research is that while there are many businesses who have successfully implemented environmentally responsible practices, there are many others who are hesitant due to high implementation cost, lack of incentive and not being aware of an alternative. With an increase of environmentally responsible manufacturing, Indiana can become a more `green' and economically competitive state.

Degree

M.S.

Advisors

Handy, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Environmental management|Industrial engineering|Sustainability

COinS