"Business should provide goods and services that are safe and contribute to sustainability throughout the life cycle". In the light of this statement explain the core elements recommended by the National Voluntary Guidel

The National Voluntary Guidelines on Social, Environmental and Economic Responsibility of Business was released by the the MCA in July, 2011. The Guidelines enunciated 9 Principles and among these Principles, one of the Principle is that 'Businesses should provide goods and services that are safe and contribute to sustainability throughout their life cycle'. This principle recognizes that all stages of the product life cycle, right from design to final disposal of the goods and services after use, have an impact on society and the environment. Responsible businesses, therefore, should engineer value in their goods and services by keeping in mind the following impacts: Businesses should assure safety and optimal resource use over the life-cycle of the product - from design to disposal - and ensure that everyone connected with it- designers, producers, value chain members, customers and recyclers are aware of their responsibilities. Businesses should raise the consumer's awareness of their rights through education, product labelling, appropriate and helpful marketing communication, full details of contents and composition and promotion of safe usage and disposal of their products and services. In designing the product, businesses should ensure that the manufacturing processes and technologies required to produce it are resource efficient and sustainable. Businesses should regularly review and improve upon the process of new technology development, deployment and commercialization, incorporating social, ethical, and environmental considerations. Businesses should recognize and respect the rights of people who may be owners of traditional knowledge, and other forms of intellectual property. Businesses should recognize that over-consumption results in unsustainable exploitation of our planet's resources, and should therefore promote sustainable consumption, including recycling of resources.