Question

Find a recent article discussing an innovative way in which a corporation is helping the environment. Explain why the method is innovative and whether you believe the method will really help the environment or will only help the company promote its image as a good citizen.

• Summarize the article
• Explain and validate selection with examples
• Analyze and answer the all the questions asked

Answer 1

Zara

Indeed, many companies are adopting various measures and technologies to ensure sustainable environments. One such company is the Spanish giant clothing retailer Zara. Zara has adopted a different model of recycling where it buys and restores historic buildings in which to house its clothing stores. For example in Milan, the company has taken a classical theatre consisting of the gilded ceiling and marble floors and transformed it. Once inside, one cannot believe that it is the old and dilapidated building with such aesthetic beauty. In Salamanca Spain, the company has converted the former Baroque convent from the archaic 1700s look to a new design (Benson, 2013). Again in Rome, the company converted one of its stores which were a neoclassical palazzo dating in 1889 and is now waiting for a LEED certification.

Basically, these strategies by Zara are extremely innovative given that old buildings have become a menace for many cities across the world. Most often, the old buildings in main cities are dilapidated and are a great harbor of parasites and disease-causing organisms such as mosquitoes. Such buildings also when abandoned possess a great danger to humans and destroy the aesthetic beauty of cities. The strategy to use such structures for business by Zara is a good method to portray the company as a good corporate citizen given that they help re-build the aesthetic look of cities and also protect the environment and humans. The demand for new housing developing which often interferes with the natural ecosystem is reduced by reconstructing the old structural buildings in major cities. Many people would view the company as a good corporate citizen on this account that would enhance the reputation of the company.