Question

Do some research on corporate sustainability reports. Research at least three corporations that issue annual reports on their progress towards sustainability. Can you research one company that does not and explain why not? Can you discover whether or not if has plans to change?

THIS IS A BUINESS ETHICS CLASS

Answer 1

Sustainability reporting is exhaustive in clearly stating the company’s initiatives towards sustainability and various measures that project the firm’s sustainability results. In the last 20 years, more and more companies are joining the sustainability bandwagon not only to face the regulatory pressures and criticism but also to project a clean image to the customers. But, there are few companies which are not issuing any sustainability report.

Amazon, the US-based world's largest e-commerce firm never produced a Sustainability report. Amazon’s prime focus is customer satisfaction, increasing sales and expansion to various countries across the world. Its 14 core leadership principles are centered on the business aspects and none of these point sustainability or social responsibility perspective. Neither does Amazon invested in the corporate social responsibility activities like charity, environmental sustainability, public welfare etc. Amazon had never disclosed the information related to greenhouse gas emissions, carbon footprint, any activities aimed at sustainability etc. In fact, many of its facilities have hard to worse working conditions and there are many complaints from the employees regarding exploitation. Amazon is able to sustain threats and complaints on its social responsibility profile due to its aggressive nature where it retracted its plans whenever an opposition was faced but never bowed down to the pressure.

Though Amazon’s willful ignorance to corporate social responsibility didn’t cost it much in terms of its business, its reputation was questioned by critics multiple times and its activities are compared to the competitors which are the reason why the firm has started its journey towards sustainable initiatives. Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s CEO has proposed to build Air conditioning warehouses to its employees and make working conditions better. It has invested in wind energy and solar energy to produce renewable sources of energy for electricity. It started promoting recyclable packaging to reduce industrial waste generation.