Perform an analysis of the social / demographic, technological, economic, environmental / geographic, and political / legal / governmental segments to understand the general environment facing Great Lakes. Describe how Great Lakes will be affected by each of these external factors. When performing an analysis of the social and demographic segments to understand the general environment facing Great Lakes Chemical Corporation. The external factors affecting Great Lakes the most are the population size, in which are using the leaded gas, and the geographic distribution. A great deal of the lead additive that is being produced by Great Lakes is exported to many developing countries, in which are unable to obtain unleaded gasoline. The lead additive’s demand continuously grows in these developing countries and promotes Great Lakes to continue producing this poisonous toxin release upon lead additive production. Upon these developing countries turning into more developed ones it will become simpler form these countries to switch from leaded to unleaded gasoline supply. In return, this will eventually allow Great Lakes to completely phase out their production of the lead additives all together. The technological factors that would affect Great Lakes are the changes in the making of automobiles and other gasoline engines. As these autos and engines only require unleaded gasoline, Great Lakes will have no need of being a lead additive supplier in those countries that are using unleaded fuel. It would be in Great Lakes best interest to continuing making changes to stay ahead of their competitor, by meeting the supply and demand needs of their consumers and by making technological advancements as needed. As Great Lakes competitors are producing far less harmful chemicals, they really should consider changing their methods of production to stay competitive and not become obsolete in the industry. Gross domestic product, inflation rates and trade deficits would be the economic factors to affect Great Lakes, in which all of these factors would considerably reduce their potential profits. As the developing countries purchasing Great Lakes products grow into more developed countries they will have greater resources to meet their supply and demand needs and more money to spend on imported products. Therefore, the lead additive products become no longer useful to them as they can afford to purchase unleaded gasoline from one of Great Lakes competitors, in the unleaded gasoline industry. The environmental factors that will affect Great Lakes are influencing the industry environment and sustaining the quality of the world’s physical environment. Environmentalists constantly are protesting that Great Lakes must stop the production of lead chemicals due to their harmful nature to the earth’s atmosphere, people, animals and land. If bromine was no longer available Great Lakes would have great difficulty in continuing their lead production. Great Lakes lead production will be affected by the political, legal and governmental segments as stronger laws and regulations are put into place. In many developed countries there are laws and regulations, in which govern the use of hazardous chemicals in the production of lead-based products. For example, in America there are laws enforced to ban all lead-based fuel and paint or other lead product productions. The Great Lakes must go outside the U.S. to undeveloped countries in order to produce lead-based products and leaded fuel additive. In many developing countries no ban has been placed on the production of these lead-based products. As many of their governments see no logical explanation for changing their policies or laws regarding lead, as its productions considerably continues to strengthen their economy.