Creating-entrepreneurial-mindset

H. KrukOther principles connected with the above-mentioned issues also may be cited, forinstance: the necessity of land reclamation after finishing the activity or compulsorylicensing of selected natural resources exploitation being among such ones [Borys,Śleszyński 1999, p. 84, 91].Enterprise operation should be performed in compliance with the aforementionedprinciples. It is also worth mentioning that environmental law in developed countries isbecoming stricter and all business entities must obey it. Apart from adapting their activityto obligatory regulations, enterprises also conduct voluntary actions resulting inimproving environmental state or the quality of life (social welfare). There are usuallyactions taken within the limits of corporate social responsibility (CSR) or implementationof environmental management systems, including ecological certification.Review of the above-mentioned principles allows to prepare a short list of essentialknowledge for the managers and the individuals managing their own business. Thereare several issues related to greening the economy, namely: jurisprudence (especiallyenvironmental regulations, for instance: conditions of license granting for exploitationof resources, license for pollution emissions, noise, water usage, waste storing etc.),product standards, implementations of environmental management systems (or, formicro- and small enterprises: knowledge about possible low-energy and raw materialsaving solutions), at least basic knowledge about relationship in ecosystems, methodsof estimation and economic evaluation of environment and natural resources, cognizanceof environmental impact assessment procedure, possibility of financing ecologicalsolutions and innovations from external sources, CSR strategies etc. Relatively fewuniversities pass such working knowledge to the students during economics or managementfields of study.3. Effects of pro-ecological solutions at the enterprises’ levelEnterprises have several opportunities for actions resulting in a more effective useof natural resources and improving the state of the environment. Some authors believethat such activity influences enhanced enterprises’ competitiveness [Porter, van derLinde 1995, p. 120-122, 129, 133-134].Several benefits from ecological modernisations in firms may be listed, namely[Elliott, 2013, p. 49-50; Ejdys 2007, p. 294-295; Porter, van der Linde 1995, s.120,126]:1. compliance of economic activities with applicable environmental law,2. improvement of the product quality and their safety enhancement with simultaneousproduction costs’ decrease,3. heightened effectiveness of resource usage during production process (includingtheir re-use and recycling), energy use reduction,4. improved utilisation of by-products,105