Green initiatives may have negative side effects, even if the net results are positive 
In a recently published ARC Brief, “’Green’ Asbestos,” Adrian Gonzalez, ARC Advisory Group’s Director of the Logistics Executive Council, highlights an inconvenient truth of many 'green' products and initiatives: there are tradeoffs that companies and consumers must acknowledge and address. In other words, many “green” initiatives have negative side effects, even if the net results are positive.
“Tradeoffs exist because most products, manufacturing processes, and supply chains were not designed with sustainability in mind,” says Gonzalez. “Although sustainability is weaving its way into the industrial world, change will occur slowly, so companies and consumers will have to manage these tradeoffs for many years to come.”
Examples of tradeoffs include the increase in food prices caused by increased demand for corn-based ethanol, and balancing the energy saving benefits of compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) with proper handling and disposal of these mercury-containing products. Gonzalez believes that the benefits of most “green” initiatives far outweigh the negatives. But if these negatives are not recognized and dealt with effectively, are we really making progress?
“Taking five steps forward and one step back keeps you moving in the right direction,” says Gonzalez, “but eliminating the backward step will get you to the final destination faster and with less negative impact on the environment.”
Related categories: Biofuels and biomass Climate change and global warming Environmental technologies for offices and commercial Environmental technologies for Residential and Green homes Glass recycling Pollution control technologies
