Two for the Environment

IT can prove to be very useful in implementing and achieving company goals and missions. Two companies that have set clear goals and use IT in achieving them are Patagonia and Interface. Both companies strive to increase shareholders earnings while also protecting the environment.

Information used was obtained from:
http://www.patagonia.com/ and http://www.interfaceinc.com/


Patagonia's Mission Statement:

"Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis." (http://www.patagonia.com/)

Interface's Mission Statement:

"Interface will become the first name in commercial and institutional interiors worldwide through its commitment to people, process, product, place and profits. We will strive to create an organization wherein all people are accorded unconditional respect and dignity; one that allows each person to continuously learn and develop. We will focus on product (which includes service) through constant emphasis on process quality and engineering, which we will combine with careful attention to our customers' needs so as always to deliver superior value to our customers, thereby maximizing all stakeholders' satisfaction. We will honor the places where we do business by endeavoring to become the first name in industrial ecology, a corporation that cherishes nature and restores the environment. Interface will lead by example and validate by results, including profits, leaving the world a better place than when we began, and we will be restorative through the power of our influence in the world." (http://www.interfaceinc.com/)

Patagonia's Plans

Patagonia produces some of its clothing from organic and/or eco-friendly materials. Some items may also be recycled once the customer is finished using them. Patagonia also sponsors different environmental initiatives both monetarily and by also granting employees time away to work as activists. Some programs sponsored by Patagonia are Freedom to Roam, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and Oceans as Wilderness. Patagonia also co founded the Conservation Alliance and gives money annually to other activists.

Interface's Plans

Interface's current plan is titled Mission 0. By the year 2020, Interface plans to have zero negative impact on the environment.

Strategic, Management, and Operations Activities help achieve goals....

In order to be effective plans, goals, and initiatives must be communicated throughout all levels of the company.

Patagonia

Environmentalism was built into Patagonia's business strategy and thus is a vital part of the mission statement. Its founders believe that Patagonia can be a successful company and help the environment simultaneously. Thus all employees from management to product development and manufacturing share the same goals and ensure its implementation throughout all activities. Steps are taken from the design process all the way through manufacturing to protect the environment, and Patagonia constantly strives to find new methods and materials that are less harmful. In order to achieve their common goal.

"We know that our business activity – from lighting stores to dyeing shirts – creates pollution as a by-product. So we work steadily to reduce those harms. We use recycled polyester in many of our clothes and only organic, rather than pesticide-intensive, cotton." (www.patagonia.com)

Interface

While Patagonia's mission and goals were implemented by the traditional "trickle-down" method, Interface's mission and goals were initiated from the ground up. the employees of Interface wanted to do more to protect the environment and formed their own groups to implement change to operations. This made management aware and inspired the CEO, Ray Anderson to adopt these operational practices permanently and continue the efforts for cleaner manufacturing. This idea is now reflected in the mission statement as well as project Mission 0.

Listen to Interface CEO, Ray Anderson on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUG4JXE6K4A

How does IT enhance company activities?

Patagonia and Interface use IT to carry out daily activities and contribute to company goals. The manner in which these two companies use IT is very similar. Both companies use their websites to communicate their mission and environmental concerns to their customers and employees, as well as to advertise their merchandise. Patagonia also has a blog for employees to post environmental concerns and reports. Both companies use their websites to post strides made to achieve their goals. IT also assists in everyday operations. Customers can use the websites to place and track orders. It is also probable that an IT system is used internally to track merchandise and ensure efficiency. IT may also be used to source more environmentally friendly materials to be used in production like organic cotton and recycled polyester. IT can also be used in R&D research to develop better manufacturing and recycling methods.