The Legal and Ethical Environment of Business
Recent events in the news have indicated that the environment is suffering, and this is having an obvious effect on your own company's international operations. Between pollution, natural disasters, and neglect, your facilities are rapidly eroding. However, you have identified a potential market for your products; unfortunately, it is located in a country that does not have a good track record for adhering to the legal and ethical guidelines concerning sustainability. Assess the risk involved, and decide whether you should recommend doing business in this country.
Write up to 3 paragraphs that respond to the following questions with your thoughts, ideas, and comments. This will be the foundation for future discussions by your classmates. Be substantive and clear, and use examples to reinforce your ideas:
• What legal and ethical responsibilities do companies have regarding the protection of the environment?
• Cite a legal or ethical guideline that has been enacted to protect the environment and the circumstances under which or reasons why it was written.
• Should firms invest money in sustainability efforts? Why or why not? Who are the stakeholders affected by this?