The Once-ler is a business man that sees the needs and wants of the consumers (people buying products). He understands that he has to provide enough of the product to meet the demand of those buying. Although he doesn't intend to hurt the environment, he is not really worried because he must produce his products. What happens to the environment is only an after- thought. There is a lot of money to be made in this business and he was excited to earn his part. You are going to look at other businesses that have a direct effect on the environment and how they justify what they do. It is important to see the benefits to society and how much these products have helped improve the human standard of living.
Oil companies and the environment http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1272/is_n2640_v127/ai_21114542
Cruise ships and the environment http://www.jaxport.com/sea/c_enviro.cfm
Processing electricity and the environment http://www.eei.org/industry_issues/environment/index.htm
Making paper and saving the environment http://www.china.org.cn/english/2006/Jan/156691.htm
An anti-environmentalist perspective http://econot.com/index.html