“It is important for businesses to pinpoint the right ways their brand can source products sustainably, leverage green initiatives to enhance their marketing, and continue to generate profit.” – Cresco Market Research (U.K.), March 2021
Good ethics and business practices are quite compatible, and as a business ethics motivational speaker, business ethics consultant and book author, it is possible to point out numerous examples from soap companies to apparel manufacturers. However, the issue isn’t one of pinpointing examples but in maintaining consistency of action.
What are some examples of good ethics in business?
Not long ago, I received a frantic call from someone who insisted he remain anonymous (it happens more than I can count), who was a marketing manager at a fairly substantial food company in the Midwest. The company had a product line of certified organic products and touted its packaging, ingredients, charitable giving and its undying commitment to the planet.
The manager confided that he found out “through the grapevine (presumably organic grapes)” that during the pandemic, when the supply chain was tightening, the production people snuck in non-organic beans, veggies and such into the products. The move was allegedly green-lit by management.
“What should I do?” he asked.
The well-intended manager had run into an ethical buzz-saw. The company, claiming to be ethical in all things, was unethical in most things. As a business ethics motivational speaker I will share that one of the toughest forces for an ethical employee to battle is a company culture that refuses to be ethically mindful and is instead, ethically hypocritical.
“I feel betrayed,” he admitted.
His ultimate move was to walk out the door and find employment elsewhere.
On the other hand, we shouldn’t be cynical in judging a company that is “simply quiet.” In a recent listing of ethical companies, Green Citizen featured 44 companies that had consistently made great progress in sustainability and corporate social responsibility.
Go beyond the name
As I viewed the above link, plus many other listings of companies striving to be more sociably responsible, more green, more diverse and better world citizens please note the list includes many quietly unexpected companies who are usually not thought of in that light.
It is why I stress to many of my audiences and consulting clients to not get carried away by what a company (or someone) says, but what the organization does. The loudest braggards are often the biggest frauds
The marketing manager who placed the anonymous call ultimately understood me when I spoke of the elements of fraud.
With the lack of oversite during the pandemic, unethical individuals in the company (tacitly approved by the CEO) took advantage of a situation. They seized upon an opportunity. Why? They had a need to make money and to increase profits. Mind you, the company could have found the proper ingredients, they made the decision not to do so.
How did they rationalize this move? Perhaps by believing that good ethical behavior can be an on and off phenomenon; that you can build up ethical credits as in a bank and when unethical opportunities come along good ethics can slide for a while.
What are some examples of good ethics in business?
While singling out a company is tricky, we can speak in generalities that the most ethical and socially responsible companies are committed to ethics. If it sounds somewhat circular, it isn’t. A commitment to ethics is as much about ethical training, monitoring, and allowing whistleblowers to have the power to stand up and be protected.
While as an ethics speaker and business ethics consultant I understand that we don’t live in a perfect world, we can strive to be better every day. Without commitment, it is simply posturing and greenwash.
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