It has become more and more common that companies in the service sector are beginning to understand their own effect on the environment and thus the need to contribute to a sustainable development through acting in a deliberate way. Serious environmental work can help a company to improve their image and in that way win competitive advantage that leads to improved profitability. In a short time perspective, adjustment to the environment is an opportunity to gain competitive advantage and an opportunity to develop a profile. In a long time perspective it is about survival. The environmental work has become a sequel to the work with quality. A company can not present themselves as a company that works with quality if they do not have an active environmental program.
It can be difficult for a company in the service sector to find relevant environmental aspects to work with. The obvious, such as managing paper, waste and energy, are relatively easy to measure. The company can evaluate their consumption of paper and from there reduce, for example printing on both sides. They can sort their waste in different containers and evaluate their consumption of energy in the purpose to minimize it and choose a “green” supplier of energy. When these measures are effectuated many companies in the service sector do not know what more they can do for the environment.
The aim with this study is to examine how companies in the service sector can work more actively with environmental questions, both internally and externally. Many companies in the service sector have noticed today’s discussions about environmental issues and they want to be a part in creating a need in the minds of the customer for the consideration of the environment. The aim will be drawn from the underlying questions: How can companies in the service sector work more actively with environmental issues? and How can companies in the service sector make their customers realize that the company is working actively with environmental questions?
The study is focused on Agria Djurförsäkringar AB. Agria’s focus today is on internal environmental aspects. Based on interviews and available information about Agria, an interpretation and analysis is presented on the environmental work that Agria has today. This empirical picture will be compared with theories and previous studies to address the aim with the study. During the course of the study, we have realized that Agria has visions for a very strong environmental work. What they lack is an environmental strategy that can help them fulfill their visions. Agria has a strategic goal, “the customer should consider Agria as a company that works actively with environmental questions”. Through complying with a well planned strategy, Agria will reach their strategic goal. When a company in the service sector has come a long way in the internal environmental work they should proceed with the external work by influencing their suppliers and customers. It is the external work that attracts attention on the market as something positive that will lead to competitive advantage. Agria should share their ...
