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Library Journal Review

In 1995, the United States will celebrate the "unofficial" 25th anniversary of the green movement in America, which began with Earth Day in 1970. Since that time, numerous books have been written about the duty of business organizations to co-exist responsibly with the physical environment. What is different about these two books is their assertion that it is profitable, as well as ethical, to be socially responsible. Denton, an expert in production systems, excels at offering specific suggestions for improving pollution control within the context of Total Quality Management (TQM). Romm, an official at the Department of Energy, utilizes government information to depict waste management techniques from the perspective of systems theory. While different in the specifics, these two volumes are remarkably similar in their overall thematic approach. Both utilize numerous corporate case examples that illustrate how companies have gleaned substantial profits from pollution reduction and waste management. Both books advocate a systemic, integrated approach to the management of the physical environment. As an added bonus, the work by Denton includes a reprint of the Federal Trade Commission's guidelines for businesses making environmental claims in their advertising or other promotions. Both books are recommended for business strategy and public policy collections.-Gene R. Laczniak, Marquette Univ., Milwaukee (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Publishers Weekly Review

Denton (The Production Game: A User's Guide) makes his case that ``there is money to be made in consumer environmentalism.'' Discussing scores of corporations (Home Depot; 3M), he illustrates how firms can think green, satisfy their customers' environmental concerns and turn waste into cash. He suggests that products be designed with fewer component parts and less variety of materials; that garbage be sorted-glass, cans, water-and sold as by-products; that consumers demand that products' environment claims be documented. His well-researched study demonstrates how eco-balance sheets, environmental audits and participation in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Green Lights Program encourages labor and industry to reduce waste. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Booklist Review

As witnessed here, systematic, integrated waste management and pollution control are characteristic of companies such as Mon~santo, Home Depot, 3M, and Dow, as well as many smaller companies, that regard profit and pollution elimination as complementary objectives. This proactive mode is achieved through a three-stage process, moving from compliance to cost reduction to, ultimately, a waste management program that generates revenue. In stage one, according to Denton, management seeks merely to avoid liability. A stage-three company, however, acquires an enhanced reputation and an increased competitiveness through better management of environmental resources. To advance to the third stage, senior-level leadership is essential in incorporating green factors into long-range planning and decision making on operational budgets; and high employee involvement is vital in identifying environmental opportunities. Denton outlines documented success that underscores the return-on-environmental-investment. In striving to transform environmental problems into assets, organizations will find helpful the various forms, checklists, and other graphics provided. ~--Brenda Grazis