Holtrachem Company Case Study

I think we should be proactive, but it is easier to be reactive. We have had the opportunity to be proactive with things like electric or hybrid vehicles or increasing fuel efficiency, but people still choose to buy big trucks or SUVs and ignore the present and future consequences. They prefer the feeling of safety in a larger vehicle or the way the engine sounds, things you do not normally get with an electric or hybrid vehicle. When the price of gas drops drastically, you may hear that SUV sales have gone up. This is how people react to the low prices of gas. The gas is cheaper which means they can afford more, leading them to buy a vehicle that uses more gas, because they can afford to pay for more gas. As the prices reach high levels, there …show more content…
The problem comes when materials decades ago were not know to have dangerous effects and were not dealt with properly. These materials can have lasting effects on the environment and the people that live near or use the contaminated resources. These hazardous materials should be cleaned up, but who should pay for it? In the case with HoltraChem, I do not think Mallinckrodt should have to pay for the cleanup, because they bought out HoltraChem and did not have anything to do with the disposal of the company’s waste prior to their acquisition of HoltraChem. If Mallinckrodt should not be responsible for the cleanup, then who? Mallinckrodt did buy HoltraChem, accepting responsibility for the company’s actions in the past, making them a good candidate to be forced to pay. This type of situation is one where a strong case could be made for either side and I do not have a specific side I would choose to be on. If Mallinckrodt is willing to pay for the cleanup, that is great, but I am sure there are other places facing the same problems that have no one willing to pay, causing the issue to come to a standstill for years before anything is