French Fries and French Fries and Sneakers: Pure EvilSneakers: Pure Evil

Thomas MaceThomas MaceTracy HerbageTracy Herbage

Ashley BerrevoetsAshley Berrevoets

Frazier ConsultancyFrazier Consultancy

British-based research firmBritish-based research firm Released report on corporate ethicsReleased report on corporate ethics

McDonald’s named world’s most McDonald’s named world’s most unethical companyunethical company

Others making the list include Nike, Others making the list include Nike, Adidas, Coca-Cola, American Express Adidas, Coca-Cola, American Express and BPand BP

Report based on response from Report based on response from British publicBritish public

Nike and AdidasNike and Adidas

Manufactures shoes and clothes for Manufactures shoes and clothes for North American and European North American and European ‘hipsters’ in Third World factories‘hipsters’ in Third World factories Lax labor standardsLax labor standards Working conditions are abysmalWorking conditions are abysmal Children sometimes are pressed into a Children sometimes are pressed into a

miserable life working on the sweatshop floormiserable life working on the sweatshop floor

BPBP

Massive oil companyMassive oil company They “rape the earth and destroy the They “rape the earth and destroy the

atmosphere”atmosphere” Satiates the West’s unquenchable thirst Satiates the West’s unquenchable thirst

for energyfor energy Makes “yuppies feel guilty whenever Makes “yuppies feel guilty whenever

they pump another $80 into the tanks of they pump another $80 into the tanks of their mammoth SUVs”their mammoth SUVs”

McDonald’sMcDonald’s

A “charter member of the Cabal of A “charter member of the Cabal of Business Villainy”Business Villainy” Makes unhealthy food and sells it in Makes unhealthy food and sells it in

vast quantitiesvast quantities ““make it [food] so darn tasty, mere make it [food] so darn tasty, mere

mortals are powerless to resist”mortals are powerless to resist” Super Size Me guy ate 3 meals a day Super Size Me guy ate 3 meals a day

there for a month and almost died; there for a month and almost died; “That just can’t be right”“That just can’t be right”

In reality…In reality…

Nearly every major company now has a code of Nearly every major company now has a code of conduct and an entire department dedicated to conduct and an entire department dedicated to enforcing ethical standardsenforcing ethical standards Enforcement spans from environmental policy all the Enforcement spans from environmental policy all the

way to philanthropyway to philanthropy

The public is being fed a steady diet of “anti-The public is being fed a steady diet of “anti-corporate polemics” portraying business as a corporate polemics” portraying business as a hostile forcehostile force Examples include The Corporation, Super Size Me and Examples include The Corporation, Super Size Me and

No LogoNo Logo

Nike and AdidasNike and Adidas

Labor advocates widely accept Nike as one of the Labor advocates widely accept Nike as one of the best companies in North America for ensuring best companies in North America for ensuring that standards are met at its Asian suppliersthat standards are met at its Asian suppliers In 2005 a list was released of more than 7,000 suppliers In 2005 a list was released of more than 7,000 suppliers

for Watchdog groups to scrutinizefor Watchdog groups to scrutinize Nike is one of the biggest donors to Third World Nike is one of the biggest donors to Third World

charitiescharities In a recent ethics audit by Jantzi Research, the only In a recent ethics audit by Jantzi Research, the only

apparel company to score higher was Adidasapparel company to score higher was Adidas

BPBP

Amongst the world’s leaders in Amongst the world’s leaders in development of alternative energy development of alternative energy technology technology In 2002, changed its branding from British In 2002, changed its branding from British

Petroleum to Beyond PetroleumPetroleum to Beyond Petroleum Was one of the first major energy Was one of the first major energy

companies to admit the threat posed by companies to admit the threat posed by global warmingglobal warming Pledged to fight it Pledged to fight it

McDonald’sMcDonald’s

Has introduced dozens of reforms to Has introduced dozens of reforms to its supplier agreements and menuits supplier agreements and menu Aimed to assuage its bad public imageAimed to assuage its bad public image

In the Jantzi audit, scored second In the Jantzi audit, scored second only to Starbucks in the ranking of only to Starbucks in the ranking of most socially responsible food most socially responsible food companiescompanies

What does it really mean to What does it really mean to have good corporate ethics?have good corporate ethics?

““What started out as a well-meaning movement, What started out as a well-meaning movement, aimed at getting business to promote the greater aimed at getting business to promote the greater good, has morphed into an industry unto itself: good, has morphed into an industry unto itself: it’s the discontent industry”it’s the discontent industry” Driven by image consultants and professional lobbyistsDriven by image consultants and professional lobbyists

““None of whom can present a coherent vision of what it None of whom can present a coherent vision of what it means to be ethical”means to be ethical”

““Warps society into a bleak dystopia driven by endless Warps society into a bleak dystopia driven by endless greed”greed”

What does it really mean to What does it really mean to have good corporate ethics?have good corporate ethics?

Skewed public perception as to what constitutes Skewed public perception as to what constitutes strong corporate ethics; many strange absences strong corporate ethics; many strange absences from the listfrom the list Mining companiesMining companies Defense contractorsDefense contractors Tobacco merchantsTobacco merchants

Numerous positive changes have been made by Numerous positive changes have been made by major corporations yet they are still given a nasty major corporations yet they are still given a nasty labellabel

Something is wrong when “supposedly intelligent Something is wrong when “supposedly intelligent people seriously believe the world’s most unethical people seriously believe the world’s most unethical corporation sells hamburgers”corporation sells hamburgers”

SourceSource

Maclean’s, 5/1/2006, Vol. 119 Issue Maclean’s, 5/1/2006, Vol. 119 Issue 18, p29, 1p18, p29, 1p