Unit 20 - Investigating Corporate Social Responsibility
P1 - Explain the concept of business ethics and how they are embedded in industry
and professional codes of practice
In this report, I will explore new career opportunities by looking into the businesses'
corporate social responsibility and how they are managed within the industry. I will consider
the risks of CSR not being maintained, the effects on the stakeholders, and the benefits of
these policies. In this report, I will look closely at public, private and non-profit businesses. I
will provide a justified conclusion at the end that is backed up by my research and facts.
What is ethics?
Ethics in the business environment are standards for morally acceptable and wrong
behaviour and conduct in business
The Body Shop
This business is a worldwide retail company with around 3,000 stores in 70 countries (The
Body Shop). They went public in April 1984 (Roddick) and now have millions of customers
globally. The Body Shop has always promoted ethical business behaviour and continues to
create programmes that encourage movements and the rights of humans and animals. One
of their ethical stances stated in their 2021 Sustainability Report is that they aim to achieve a
net zero status by 2030. Within their stance on environmental impact, they aim to reduce
energy consumption to zero where renewable alternatives are available (The Body Shop #).
Therefore, reducing their carbon footprint and saving the environment that businesses
continue to exploit. This is a signal to their customers that they are environmentally
conscious, as well as the statistics stated in the report.
They are also highlighting to customers that they are taking “strides in reducing packaging
and incorporating more recyclable and recycled content.” which are easy and simple ways
that a customer can see their ethical considerations physically. This promise and empirical
, research will encourage customers to buy from The Body Shop as they believe that they are
doing the right thing ethically. Therefore, gaining the business more profit due to their pledge
to the environment.
Another ethical consideration by The Body Shop is that they consider their employees and
workers with a “people first approach” that aims to take care of them. They do this by
offering mental health support, creating a good relationship with workers, and focusing on
salaries and benefits. They also prioritise more inclusive recruitment strategies to support
the community that they work in as well as make the business more diverse. This strategy
makes employees feel as though they hold an important role in the business and makes it
feel almost family-like. The approach means that the business is able to have a more
beneficial and productive relationship with its employees. Therefore, making the business
ethically moral as they care more about every shareholder in the business and it does not
just focus on the customers and their income. The Body Shop has been able to identify that
having a good relationship with employees means that this will be translated through their
presentation of the business and ultimately help them financially.
Denby Pottery
This business serves worldwide and is a private limited company which has many ethical
considerations. Since 1809, Denby Pottery has grown rapidly as you can now find them in
John Lewis and on their online stores which are accessible to everyone (Pegden). Found on
their “conscious credentials,”, we know they are ethically involved in how their business
operates (Denby Pottery). One ethical standpoint is their environmental impact as they are
actively finding ways to improve their “sustainable approach” by hiring an Environmental
Officer that constantly creates ideas of how they can improve. They have also stated that
they are the “first UK tableware manufacturer to be able to claim ‘zero to landfill’ for all our
process waste” highlighting they are not passive in their contribution to fighting the
environmental crisis. This shows customers that they can source items off their website
without it damaging the environment during the process. Therefore, this is a positive ethical
consideration taken by the business.
Building on being environmentally friendly, Denby Pottery sends off its products in recyclable
packaging and is even investigating alternatives for plastic air fill in packaging. This
continues to build on environmental considerations builds the image of the business as well
as shows that they genuinely care for the environment.
Greenpeace
P1 - Explain the concept of business ethics and how they are embedded in industry
and professional codes of practice
In this report, I will explore new career opportunities by looking into the businesses'
corporate social responsibility and how they are managed within the industry. I will consider
the risks of CSR not being maintained, the effects on the stakeholders, and the benefits of
these policies. In this report, I will look closely at public, private and non-profit businesses. I
will provide a justified conclusion at the end that is backed up by my research and facts.
What is ethics?
Ethics in the business environment are standards for morally acceptable and wrong
behaviour and conduct in business
The Body Shop
This business is a worldwide retail company with around 3,000 stores in 70 countries (The
Body Shop). They went public in April 1984 (Roddick) and now have millions of customers
globally. The Body Shop has always promoted ethical business behaviour and continues to
create programmes that encourage movements and the rights of humans and animals. One
of their ethical stances stated in their 2021 Sustainability Report is that they aim to achieve a
net zero status by 2030. Within their stance on environmental impact, they aim to reduce
energy consumption to zero where renewable alternatives are available (The Body Shop #).
Therefore, reducing their carbon footprint and saving the environment that businesses
continue to exploit. This is a signal to their customers that they are environmentally
conscious, as well as the statistics stated in the report.
They are also highlighting to customers that they are taking “strides in reducing packaging
and incorporating more recyclable and recycled content.” which are easy and simple ways
that a customer can see their ethical considerations physically. This promise and empirical
, research will encourage customers to buy from The Body Shop as they believe that they are
doing the right thing ethically. Therefore, gaining the business more profit due to their pledge
to the environment.
Another ethical consideration by The Body Shop is that they consider their employees and
workers with a “people first approach” that aims to take care of them. They do this by
offering mental health support, creating a good relationship with workers, and focusing on
salaries and benefits. They also prioritise more inclusive recruitment strategies to support
the community that they work in as well as make the business more diverse. This strategy
makes employees feel as though they hold an important role in the business and makes it
feel almost family-like. The approach means that the business is able to have a more
beneficial and productive relationship with its employees. Therefore, making the business
ethically moral as they care more about every shareholder in the business and it does not
just focus on the customers and their income. The Body Shop has been able to identify that
having a good relationship with employees means that this will be translated through their
presentation of the business and ultimately help them financially.
Denby Pottery
This business serves worldwide and is a private limited company which has many ethical
considerations. Since 1809, Denby Pottery has grown rapidly as you can now find them in
John Lewis and on their online stores which are accessible to everyone (Pegden). Found on
their “conscious credentials,”, we know they are ethically involved in how their business
operates (Denby Pottery). One ethical standpoint is their environmental impact as they are
actively finding ways to improve their “sustainable approach” by hiring an Environmental
Officer that constantly creates ideas of how they can improve. They have also stated that
they are the “first UK tableware manufacturer to be able to claim ‘zero to landfill’ for all our
process waste” highlighting they are not passive in their contribution to fighting the
environmental crisis. This shows customers that they can source items off their website
without it damaging the environment during the process. Therefore, this is a positive ethical
consideration taken by the business.
Building on being environmentally friendly, Denby Pottery sends off its products in recyclable
packaging and is even investigating alternatives for plastic air fill in packaging. This
continues to build on environmental considerations builds the image of the business as well
as shows that they genuinely care for the environment.
Greenpeace
