Reading the the SMG book reading thread, brought up the Nestle boycott. Which other companies do you view as being unethical and why do you class them as being unethical. Also which companies do you see as being ethical companies?
Ethical Companies
- Thread starter nightshade
- Start date
Does Planned Parenthood count?
Z
zobothehobo
I was going to be good and not say anything, but I can't. They do a lot more than abortions and help A LOT of women. Seeing this on the list makes me want to cry.
zobothehobo
Scooby
Wal-Mart. I refuse to buy anything from there. Also Exxon and BP. I will not buy gas at either station.
kittenpoker
Raising penguins in Guam
I'm pretty sure if you buy anything in the states that you didn't purchase on the side of the road from a farmer or grow yourself, you are participating in something affected by unethical business.
Goby
Brb, shipping Snoyce
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's so fashionable to bash Wal-Mart (and there is reason to bash them), but I live in a very small town and many small businesses totally screw their customers and employees. I actually travel an hour down the mountain to go to Wal-Mart because they are much less evil than our local supermarket.
brinkster130
ITA about Wal-Mart. Yes, they do some shady things but much worse is being done.
Do you mean to say you find them unethical? (Or ethical? Since Nightshade asked for both I wasn't sure which you meant...) If you did mean it as unethical would you mind explaining why? (I tried to understand it on my own but simply could not)
Goby
:)
Tintaglia
Bubblegoth♥
I would rank Unilever as an unethical company, because at the same time as promoting Dove, and their 'real beauty' campaign, they promote Lynx deodorants in a manner that degrades and objectifies women.
For ethical companies, I would definitely count LUSH (my favourite brand for body/facial care), because, at the same time as actively supporting and promoting various charities (from Sea Sheperds to Oscar's Law etc.), they are scrupulous in using only vegetarian - and vegan, if possible - ingredients in ALL their products, refuse to test on animals, and only just recently did a massive overhaul of their soap line, to use a base other than palm oil, because the excessive consumption of palm oil is threatening the natural habitats of orangutangs, amongst other rainforest creatures. All their stuff is fresh, organic, and they use as little packaging as possible, and recycle where they can.
I'm sure I can think of others, but my brain is all melt-y atm. I need to schleeeeep!
For ethical companies, I would definitely count LUSH (my favourite brand for body/facial care), because, at the same time as actively supporting and promoting various charities (from Sea Sheperds to Oscar's Law etc.), they are scrupulous in using only vegetarian - and vegan, if possible - ingredients in ALL their products, refuse to test on animals, and only just recently did a massive overhaul of their soap line, to use a base other than palm oil, because the excessive consumption of palm oil is threatening the natural habitats of orangutangs, amongst other rainforest creatures. All their stuff is fresh, organic, and they use as little packaging as possible, and recycle where they can.
I'm sure I can think of others, but my brain is all melt-y atm. I need to schleeeeep!
Achromatic Hue
The Magnificent Robot E37
All businesses seem pretty unethical to me. They all have skeletons in their closet.
But here's a a company that does stuff that most people don't know about.
Shell
Even though they give you those great discounts to Giant Shoppers,
They have their own share of skeletons, some that seem to me much more atrocious than Exxon's and BP's.
They have soiled important drinking water, killed people to keep 'em quiet, AND helped corrupt the Nigerian government... D:
As far as Exxon and BP go, My family doesn't get gas there because Sunoco is always cheaper. c:
But here's a a company that does stuff that most people don't know about.
Shell
Even though they give you those great discounts to Giant Shoppers,
They have their own share of skeletons, some that seem to me much more atrocious than Exxon's and BP's.
They have soiled important drinking water, killed people to keep 'em quiet, AND helped corrupt the Nigerian government... D:
As far as Exxon and BP go, My family doesn't get gas there because Sunoco is always cheaper. c:
Goby
Brb, shipping Snoyce
Crazy Flakes
Velma
Oh, come ON. Don't tell me you fall for that Tea Party/Andrew Breitbart vitriol - they already ruined Shirley Sherrod and ACORN with their false accusations and Planned Parenthood is just their next target.
And "unnecessary?" Tell that to the thousands of people whose lives have been saved because they got treatment for an STD or a type of cancer that they couldn't otherwise afford to take care of. They're also a source of invaluable sex ed for young people that public schools have miserably failed to provide.
Anyway, back to original topic...
Good luck finding a single large corporation that hasn't engaged in unethical business practices. That's the game of capitalism - you're either born into corruption or get to the top because you're unconscionable enough to wipe out your competition by all means necessary.
I've come to realize that large corporations are so ubiquitous that it's impossible to avoid buying from them altogether, but I do refuse to buy Koch Industries products.
Goby
You new name should be "Makes Sense Flakes"! Totally agree!
VisionGirl
ITA on the Koch Industries! (& the rest of your post)
Z
zobothehobo
Thank you!
VisionGirl
Newly Human
This one is especially interesting to me, as my father worked for Caterpillar Tractor Company for 40+ years:
Enemies
*insert user title here*
as far as ethical products go I use eco tools make-up brushes and hair brushes. Most large companies are unethical for various different reasons. It'd be hard to choose really.
Ok, first off, rude much? Second, I didn't "fall" for anything. I disliked PP before I'd even heard of the Tea Party (to whom, btw, I don't hold any political allegiance to) and I have no idea who Andrew Breitbart is.
I don't like PP because I have personal experience with them as well as reading testimonials from real, unbiased women and how they've been lied to and manipulated. I've worked at a pregnancy crisis center and the horror stories were enough to make me sick. Here's an example of a place you can read what I'm talking about: Abortion Survivors - Inside the Abortion Clinic
As far as the "thousands of people whose lives have been saved", there are other places where people can get the exact same treatment at little to no cost to them. Also, there are plenty of women who go to PP and still have to pay high cost out of pocket. It's not like they're the lone trailblazers for low cost health services.
Why do you assume I was originally talking about abortions? I don't actually think I mentioned those at all. And I'm sorry that my opinion hurts your feelings that much.
Taake
that story made me sad. I remember when I was sick and in the hospital and you're in such a vulnerable place and you meet people who REALLY shouldn't be doctors. Kindness and comfort anyone?
Z
zobothehobo
[No message]
VisionGirl
Newly Human
Are there specific stories about PP there? I just glanced at the 1st 2 pages (in a 43-page thread, yowza!) and it was not clear that these were PP clinics.
I am pro-choice, but I can understand why someone who is anti-abortion would dislike PP. That being said, you don't have to use their services. It's a little bit different than boycotting a multinational company like Nestle, for example, whose goods are everywhere.