British Airways is an international aviation company that offers both passenger and cargo transport services. The company has its headquarters located in London, England, at Heathrow Airport. It is the second largest airline in the UK based on the size of its fleet. Since the beginning of its operation, the business organization has undertaken a number of flights across the globe. The need to build a proper image in the communities where it conducts its activities has made the firm formulate and implement several practices to facilitate the protection of the environment (British Airways Plc, 2022). However, in the fight to protect the planet from the increasing rate of carbon emission, aviation company has made less effort to thwart the threat.
Currently, most airlines in the aviation industry, including Alaska, have adopted the use of fuel-efficient aircraft to enable them to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide gas released into the atmosphere. The approach is aimed at lowering the impact of the companies on the well-being of the planet (Guan et al., 2022). However, in the case of British Airways, the business organization is still using planes that consume a large amount of fuel, making them release more carbon into the atmosphere (Baxter, 2021). The failure of British Airways to implement the use of aircraft that utilize low petroleum products indicates less concern of the corporation on matters of corporate social responsibility (CSR). The business organization is not acting because the focus is to maximize profit through lowering expenditure on new aircrafts.
The company’s failure to adopt the use of such fuel-efficient aircraft has made it have a poor record of CSR in the aviation industry. It is expected that any company should take an initiative that allows it to manage and control possible risks that might impact the environment where it operates (Baumeister, 2020). British Airways does not behave as expected to protect the environment because the management do not regard the responsibility as part of their accountability. Therefore, they are not willing to release part of the incomes to manage the consequences of the operations in the environment.
The poor record in CSR practices is contributed to several reasons. For instance, the company is aiming to generate a large amount of revenue for its shareholders. To achieve this, it must rely on airplanes that carry more cargo which requires adequate power. This makes the firm use aircraft operating on four engines (Cui et al., 2022). The approach is to enable to receive high income from the transportation of passengers and cargo. The technique is making the business organization self-interested, thus, ignoring the needs of the people it is serving.
Furthermore, the management of British Airways Company has a number of policies that prevent it from engaging in projects that might require intensive capital. For instance, acquiring fuel-efficient airplanes will imply investing heavily in the project, which can lower the returns. This might lower the shareholders’ reward making the company attract fewer investors (Yang et al., 2020). Such fear prohibits the business organization from undertaking appropriate actions that improve its CSR. If the firm would purchase and implement the use of aircraft that consume less petroleum, it will be contributing effectively to lowering the carbon footprint in the atmosphere, which is essential for society.
In order for British Airways to improve its CRS practices, the management team should formulate effective policies and guidelines. When a company has proper procedures for determining its operations, it becomes easier for the organization to undertake some projects without considering the effects on investors (Saxena et al., 2021). For instance, guidelines on acquiring fuel-efficient aircraft will be essential in enabling the firm to increase its focus on obtaining such resources that allow it to protect the surrounding environment.
The other viable approach to minimize the excessive emission of carbon in the atmosphere is to define optimal flight paths. British Airways is operating in several countries across the world, making it to cover long distances from one point to another. The management should configure proper routes that will allow the airline to pass in regions that are less occupied by people (Parast, 2021). Even though the approach might be insignificant, to some extent, it will enable the company to reduce the impact of direct carbon dioxide in society, such as acidic rain.
Similarly, the company should expand its engagement in green projects such as planting trees and preservation of water bodies. The management body should set aside enough funds to finance programs such as protecting and establishing various forest covers in areas that are adjacent to its flight paths (De Stefano et al., 2018). The practice will ensure the company compensates for the respective communities its operations affect (Rehman et al., 2022). Conserving the ecosystem will be essential in enabling the planet to withstand the severe impacts of carbon emissions.
In addition, the company should channel more funds into projects such as turning wood and household waste into aviation fuel. When such programs are implemented, the company will be able to curb and reduce the emission of carbon into the atmosphere. The practice will enhance the sustainability of the firm’s operation and its concern in protecting the overall surrounding (Lee, 2019). Such activities will ensure the business organization promotes the objective of zero carbon in the atmosphere and thus promoting its reputation.
The operations of business organizations affect the well-being of the surrounding communities in different ways. It is upon the company to create and implement effective CSR practices and policies to manage the impacts due to the business activities. However, in most cases, firms may not act accordingly to facilitate the execution of CSR, making them have a poor record. It is necessary for the corporation to formulate proper approaches to enhance its sustainability in the market. For instance, British Airways should engage in buying fuel-efficient aircraft to enable it to reduce the carbon footprint that affects the climate. When companies embrace their consequences in society and take appropriate measures, they become productive due to a high reputation.
References
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