Corporate Ethics

Corporations run much of the world we live in, whether we are aware or not. I often do not think about the ethical standards of corporations. I shop at publix about once a week, I stop to get gas usually once a week as well. Corporations are important in my life because I am a consumer. I could shop at local grocery stores but to be quite honest, it is not convienient, I hope eventually my attitude will change. I have no choice but to buy gas, even if the prices are high because I need my car to get around.

Ethical standards within a business are very important for not only human beings but also the environment. The discussion on where things come from in class the other day really opened my eyes to how much time and effort is put in to transferring our everyday needs. For example, a carton of orange juice, I never realized how much is involved in producing orange juice and how bad it actually is for our environment. It is important that corporations take the incentive and start using energy efficient methods to produce goods. We live in a consumer based world, and unfortunately I do not believe that is something that will change. Thus, the way things are produced must involve better ethical standards.

I chose to look at the ethical standards of Chevron because I get gas there about once a week because it is close to where I live. Chevron's website states that they lead the future in biofuels and other renewables. Chevron claims "Our design standards for new capital projects require consideration of environmental aspects and resource conservation." The website lists a plethora of environmental causes such as a new project that would make water safer when drilling oil, projects that would minimize emissions, discharges, and waste at their current locations, and their support of biodiversity. Chevron's websites and commericials make it seem as though Chevron is quite environmentally friendly, doing everything in their power to help the environment. But after taking a closer look, Chevron is not so innocent. There is the destruction caused in Ecuador's Amazon Rainforst because of the Chevron company drilling. There have also been claims that Chevron promotes off shore drilling, and tapped into the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

It seems that although big corporations may claim to be "green" and environmentally friendly, not all of them are. It is important that we look into the ehtical standards of the corporations we shop at, because although they may run much of our economy, we are the consumers, we can make a major difference if we come together.