Environmental damage can be seen as an unfortu-nate but inevitable outcome of our consumer-driven society. Without manufacturing industries processing raw materials, we would have no cutlery or cars, but such processes also pollute air, water and land with emissions and effluent. Damage can also arise when systems fail and human error occurs.
Industry is taking its responsibilities to protect the environment more seriously, partly driven by concerns to avoid negative PR consequences. However, not all businesses maintain the same standards and the efficacy of the environmental regulatory regime is therefore key to ensuring that environmental damage is rectified and there is sufficient incentive not to allow it to happen again.
