Over the past year, Ethical Corporation has published a series of nine case studies analysing some of the biggest corporate responsibility stories of the past 25 years. Now this insight is available in a new single volume, published today.
From the toxic release of chemicals from Union Carbide’s plant in Bhopal, to Toyota’s recall of millions of its cars, Ethical Corporation’s expert writers have focused on the lessons that other companies can learn from these classic examples of corporate error - and their consequences.
While business environments change, it is striking how companies continue to make very similar tactical errors when confronted with a major ethical problem.
When companies behave badly, even accidentally, they then have to spend years, in some cases decades, repairing the damage to reputation and credibility.
The good news is that many of the worst offenders took heed from their mistakes and became industry leaders. We can all learn from them.
This new compilation includes case studies from a wide range of nine companies and sectors.
Over 35 pages you will read detailed analysis from:
The Bhopal disaster – Union Carbide cut costs at its Bhopal chemical plant in India, with deadly consequences in 1984. Over 3,800 people were killed and thousands permanently disabled.
Exxon Valdez – The 1989 oil spill in Alaska, while by no means the worst incident of its kind, remains the benchmark by which all such disasters are judged.
McLibel – When McDonald’s sued two UK activists for libel it wasn’t expecting all its business practices, savoury or otherwise, to be laid bare in court. The case may have, partially, been eventually won, but the damage to corporate reputation was stark.
Brent Spar – Modern activism came of age in 1995 when direct action from Greenpeace brought the world’s attention Shell’s plans to dump an old oil storage buoy in the North Sea, sludge and all.
Monsanto – Genetic engineering wasn’t something that Europeans were happy about in the late-1990s, and US agribusiness Monsanto seriously underestimated the public reaction to the companies attempts to expand GM technology.
Kimberley Process – The trade in blood diamonds, that financed military insurgency and warlords in Africa, has been largely curtailed by one of the most successful genuinely multistakeholder initiatives: the Kimberley Process.
Big Pharma and HIV – International pharmaceutical companies now go out of their way to highlight programmes providing cheap live-saving drugs in the developing world. This has not always been the case. Only a decade ago a group of big companies decided to sue South Africa for making generic HIV drugs available.
Trafigura – When toxic waste was dumped in the Ivory Coast in 2006, oil and metals trader Trafigura denied responsibility. Through the course of a long campaign for compensation, and a legal battle involving writs and super injunctions, the company became synonymous with bad corporate behaviour.
Toyota – Safety concerns saw the reputation of one of the most highly regarded automakers take a big hit. A dash for growth was blamed, with Toyota’s quality control systems questioned.
This in-depth management briefing will provide great reading for anyone that is looking to learn from previous companies' mistakes. The report costs £395. To purchase this briefing simply click here
If you have any questions concerning the briefing please contact:
Liam Dowd
Marketing Manager
Ethical Corporation
+44 (0)207 375 7238