The programming committee for the 77th Annual SAM International Business Conference is pleased to announce the acceptance of the panel presentation The Realities of U.S. Port Environmental Sustainability Initiatives, authored by Paul Ewell of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.
Presentation Abstract: American corporations have for years been talking about the triple bottom-line of financial profitability, environmental sustainability, and social initiatives. Some however have noted that for many of these organizations, the talk has been just that, talk. Evidence now seems to support the notion that the tide may be turning as many companies are starting to recognize that consumers often value environmental and social initiatives as significant factors driving purchase decisions for both goods and services. Hence, valid environmental and social efforts can indeed lead to financial profitability, the initial (and to many the most important) bottom-line.
U.S. Ports certainly seem to fall into this category of entities that tout triple bottom-line aspirations, and they are quick to highlight their environmental programs and strategic plans on promotional materials, websites, and through other forms of media talking points. Many of these private, government, and quasi-government port operators have hired chief sustainability officers who are prominently positioned members of their organizational c-suites.
The global pandemic, along with other myriad factors such as labor and equipment shortages, weather, political upheaval, excessive post-pandemic consumer demand, as well as manufacturing backlogs, has resulted in the current consumer focus on supply chain disruptions. American households who were happily oblivious to the tremendous significance of the supply chain and all its complexities have now shifted their aggregate attention to just that. And, at the center of this attention are U.S. Ports with their bottlenecks, ship backlogs, union issues, and labor shortages. There is little doubt that these facilities will continue to come under increased scrutiny in future decades and that port environmental strategies and subsequent results will closely be examined as a result.
The purpose of this research effort is to investigate ports in the context of the triple bottom-line, specifically their environmental sustainability efforts. Two questions will be considered. First, are U.S. Ports simply providing lip service to their sustainability efforts? Second, what actual on-the-ground initiatives are ports engaging in to protect the natural environments of their working waterfronts and what have been the outcomes of those initiatives? It is hoped that this research will shed light on the important role U.S. Ports play in preserving and protecting our coastline resources.
Join us online to see this great paper and many more March 31 – April 2, 2022. For registration information visit www.samnational.org/conference.