Business Ethics, CSR and Sustainability

Assignment
Case study on Grey side of Green

Submitted by
Sachith gowda m k

Q.1) List the facts and then arrive at possible options based on them?

The facts of the case are:

1. Jan Soleul is the principal investigator of solar cell research.
2. Jan Soleul develops thin cell plastic solar cells.
3. These solar cells have the potential of replacing silicon cells in future.
4. These solar cells are flexible and lightweight and also have various
purposes of applications such as applied to windows and walls etc.,
5. These solar cells require a transparent conductive thin layer so Soleul
used Indium as the conductive layer.
6. Indium is mostly used in electronic displays worldwide today.
7. Jan Soleul also applied for a special grant in University energy innovation
fund and was denied.

Possible options for Jan Soleul are:

1. Jan Soleul can try and apply it in China as it has more amount of Indium
tin oxide (ITO) which is used in her solar cells.
2. Jan Soleul should try to remake the design and find solution to build the
solar cell without ITO as it is harmful and extracted only in China.
3. Jan Soleul can address the government and explain the advantages of the
project and make them to consider and ask for funding to the project.

Q.2) what are the possible options stakeholders can give? List the stakeholders?

Stakeholders are:
1. Investing parties, Funding organizations
2. Users and Manufacturers of solar cells
3. Government bodies
 4. Consumers and community
5. Jan Soleul

Possible options stake holders can give are:

1. In this case the university energy innovation fund can re-examine the
proposition and composition of elements used in solar cell and suggest
alternate resources.
2. They can also accept the research made by Jan soleul and accept the
composition and can release funds for production.
3. Government can intervene into this case and give permission for funding
as there is no ban on Indium tin oxide elements and also it is cheaper in
production and also government can get profits by funding to this project.
4. Manufacturers of solar cells can support Soleul as this reduce the cost of
production to higher extent and can thereby make it cheaper for buyers.
5. Soleul can look at this as a challenge and either take up a new design and
explicate why other methods may not be cost or environment efficient.

Q.3) what are the Options given by decision makers? (You need to derive the
possibilities based on the response given).

Options are:
1. Though the university is looking towards protecting the environment but
the fact is that most of the world is using Indium and china has gained
much from this utilisation.
2. Most of the world’s leading electronic gadget manufacturers are using
Indium in their displays as it has been the most available and easy to use.
3. While other options such as Graphene, Carbon nanotubes, Clevious, Silver,
metal meshes and other conductive polymers can be used, the purpose is
not served entirely.
4. The main reason is that in the process of making these materials highly
conductive polymers can be used, the purpose is not served entirely.
5. The main reason is that in the process of making these materials highly
conductive, they tend to lose their optical properties.
6. The argument can be made stating that why does a layer in the solar cell
need optical excellence, this is because, when we talk about optical
properties, we mainly refer to the passing of light or simply put its
transparency.
 7. A solar cell is only as good and as efficient as the amount of sunlight that
can pass through the outermost layer. Indium has been widely accepted in
displays due to this very reason, processed indium layers allow upto 90%
light to pass and since most devices have backlit screens, the loss of light
to pass and since most devices have backlit screens, the loss of light is
negligible.

Conclusion: Soleul must respond with the above mentioned facts and fight back
in her case with higher governing bodies. While Indium is a moderately toxic
metal by inhalation and mildly toxic by ingestion the exact nature the exact
nature of its human toxicity is not clearly understood. The university must re
consider all these factors and provide fund for production and development.
It could further have a clause stating that, this fund is also for developing cost
effective, energy efficient and nature preserving resources.