How small daily choices play a huge role in climate change
The research problem
In this article, Foteinis (2020) seeks to determine how small daily chores, such as using recyclable paper cups, bags, and other objects instead of their disposable counterparts, can positively impact climate change.
The theory to support the study
The author cites multiple studies conducted in the past few years, especially in the UK and the EU, regarding the impact of recycling products and its impact on reducing pollution and carbon footprint. These studies are based on the conceptual view that reducing the usage of paper bags, plastics, and other packaging products that are then disposed of as waste could help reduce carbon footprint at the household level.
The research population, sampling frame, sampling procedure, and sample size
Data were obtained from preliminary surveys and official reports on coffee cup recycling in the UK. In addition, similar data were obtained from the European Union (EU), from which only UK data were taken. It is important to note that the sampling frame consisted of official reports and literature data. Thus, the sample size was consumers of the 2.5 billion paper cups consumed annually in the UK. In addition, the databases that are included in this study were selected by a procedure during which consideration was given to the type of cups in previous studies and the investigation of the question of the estimated amount of carbon in kilograms of cups. Accordingly, the sampling procedure is a systematic sampling because the study required specific parameters.
The research design, unit of analysis, and methodology
In the research, an exploratory design was adopted in which the idea is to conduct a study in a field where very few studies have been conducted. Specifically, there are no other previous studies that have examined the actual impact of recycling coffee cups on reducing the carbon footprint in the UK. The unit of analysis was data on recyclable coffee cups produced and consumed every year in the country. An experimental methodology known as life cycle assessment (LCA) was used. Which evaluates the life cycle environmental impact of a product using the data obtained from the sources.
The study findings in relation to the research question
The research established that the annual carbon footprint from the consumption of paper cups is about 75 kt of carbon dioxide equivalents, which is similar to manufacturing about 11,500 passenger cars. In addition, it was established that recycling these products can reduce environmental footprint by about 40%. Therefore, the findings provide evidence that eco businesses, such as those using recyclable paper products like cups, have a significant and positive environmental impact.
The research in relation to its strengths, limitations, ethics, and issues related to diversity-fairness
This research has some strengths and weaknesses associated with its methodology. First, it uses data from credible sources known to be authorized to collect annual statistics on the number of products produced and consumed in the country. Secondly, the data is countrywide, which indicates that it is reliable as it reflects the entire population. Thirdly, multiple sources of data are searched, which makes it possible to identify errors and biases. However, it has some weaknesses in that no real fieldwork was done to obtain primary data, which means that if there were biases and errors in the database, then the study is also wrong. There are no ethical issues, especially because the data is not obtained from human participants or individual companies. Therefore, the research is less rigorous because it is not a primary study and does not use a fieldwork approach.
In addition, issues related to diversity and non-biasedness cannot be widely mentioned in the study since the data for the analysis are obtained from secondary sources. Although the target audience of the article is people all over the world, the sample for the study included information from the UK and, to some extent, the European context. Thus, it can be noted that the sample will only extend to some of the target audience, which is why it is not fair. Moreover, it does not support diversity, which is necessary to obtain comprehensive data. Although two Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) methods, IPCC 2013 and ReCiPe, were used, the study results are non-biased.
Conclusion of the article
Currently, it is understood that the problem of using non-recyclable products such as plastic coffee cups and bags is one of the behaviors that contribute to pollution and the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. After reading the article, I realized that individuals and households are also to blame for the extensive climate change we are experiencing, which changed my mind to consider recycling products and avoiding dumping plastic products as much as possible. There are gaps in the current understanding of the impact of human consumption behaviors and its impact on the environment. For example, people are not aware that the simple things they do at home, such as cooking and throwing away such products as plastic bags and cups, greatly contribute to climate change. I would propose that empirical studies be conducted to examine the amount of carbon that households release, on average, from dumping wastes, which can help people understand their environmental impacts. In this case, my preliminary research hypothesis would be that “in a year, an average household releases about 3 kt of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, which can be reduced by over 40% through recycling.”
How do companies reduce their carbon footprint?
The research problem
In the study, Penz and Polsa (2018) wanted to address two questions. First, they wanted to find out how companies reduce their carbon foot print. Secondly, the question was how the method of reducing carbon footprint is communicated to their stakeholders.
The theory to support the study
The research revolves around the concept of ecological sustainability as an aspect of corporate social responsibility (CSR), which modern businesses are adopting to ensure that they reduce their environmental impact while also improving social welfare of the community. The authors used the resource-based view and stakeholder theory to uncover specific activities that companies use to reduce greenhouse emissions and how they communicate these strategies to their stakeholders.
The research population, sampling frame, sampling procedure, and sample size
The population of interest is companies involved in international business in a region in the US. Some 14 companies were used as the study sample and a flexible pattern-matching approach was used as the sampling method. In addition, the same procedure was applied, according to which the companies were selected from a managed website by an environmental organization or through personal contacts.
The research design, unit of analysis, and methodology
The research is a descriptive study because its aim is to study the topic at hand, which has also been studied in other populations. In addition, open and inductive coding was used, which is a descriptive approach for exploring the issue. The unit of analysis is companies operating in the field of industrial business. The research method used was 30-to-90-minute interviews with company representatives.
The study findings in relation to the research question or hypothesis
The study identified CSR approaches as the most useful methods for companies to reduce their carbon footprints. Such methods include eco-friendly approaches such as recycling packaging materials, creating employee and customer awareness of pollution, and others. These findings respond directly to the research question as they show how companies should ensure that they have minimal impact on the environment.
The research in relation to its strengths, limitations, ethics, and issues related to diversity- -fairness
This research uses primary data collected from the field, which is important in reducing biases. In addition, it uses information obtained from companies about their strategies, which is a reliable data source that surveys. However, it only samples a few companies in a single industry, which means that it is difficult to generalize the results to the entire population of companies. There are minimal ethical issues as the companies used as samples revealed their own data at their own will after consenting.
Conclusion of the article
It is known that companies are the largest contributors to climate change. After reading the article, I learned that companies can efficiently and effectively reduce their carbon footprint by recycling and ensuring that they create awareness among their employees and customers. I will also consider advocating for similar strategies when I start working. However, failure to understand how companies can device and implement strategies on their own to reduce carbon footprint is a limitation on our progress. I propose that additional studies use samples from multiple industries and sectors to better understand the issue. My preliminary research hypothesis would be, “If all companies use CSR strategies that focus on reducing carbon footprint, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45%.”
References
Foteinis, S. (2020). How small daily choices play a huge role in climate change: The disposable paper cup environmental bane. Journal of Cleaner Production, 255, 120294. Web.
Penz, E., & Polsa, P. (2018). How do companies reduce their carbon footprint and how do they communicate these measures to stakeholders?. Journal of Cleaner Production, 195, 1125-1138. Web.