Evaluation of the Corporate Entity’s Environmental Stewardship in Business Practice: A Case of Lafarge Company Plc.

Abstract

The research sought to evaluate Lafarge’s environmental stewardship responsibilities due to the nature of its production business that may have negative impact in terms of footprint on the environment. The research was qualitative in nature and collected data from a sample of fifteen respondents. The data was analysed using the statistical package for social sciences to produce charts that were thereafter analysed and interpreted after coding into similar themes through a process of content analysis. The study revealed that the company upholds its environmental stewardship responsibilities through investment in new technologies and seasonal scheduled shutdowns to repair and maintain equipment for improvement of efficiency and minimisation of environmental footprint. The research concludes that the company makes significant strides in ensuring that it upholds its environmental stewardship responsibilities with regard to the management of environmental footprint on the local environment resulting from its production processes. The company has demonstrated this through its environmental reporting of how it accounts for any negative impacts it may have on the environment and how its addresses them in the annual reports. The company also invests in regular training of its personnel to cope with latest developments in the management of the environment due to the constant interaction of the production processes with the environment. Further, the company’s deliberate policy of investing in new technologies and equipment and schedule maintenance shut downs in managing the production processes, is also demonstrable of its efforts in upholding its environmental stewardship