Month: September 2012

The new Toyota Prius – image from toyota.ca (http://mediapv4.toyota.ca.s3.amazonaws.com/media/lang/main_prius_plugin.jpg)

Toyota Motor Corp has been among the market leaders in hybrid car production. However, after the disappointing reception of the eQ since its launch two years ago, the auto giant is reducing the rollout plans for this model, with an aim to sell 100 eQ’s in the US and Japan this next year, and a total of 2600 electric cars over the next three years.

There is a shortage in demand for environmentally friendly cars. Goods priced relatively high (compared to their alternatives) must provide extra value equivalent to their excess price – cost-benefit analysis. Hybrids have two major selling points: trendiness and quality. They are environmentally friendly alternatives (trendiness) that save you running costs (quality). Although I support the environment, the additional $10,000 price tag to “hybrid” a car doesn’t appeal to me, but, the amount of money this investment could save me does. Well, the breakeven point of Toyota hybrids, where gas price plus car price is equal for standard and hybrid cars, often ranges between 47 and 142 thousand miles (the average US driver travels about 14 thousand miles a year), meaning a hybrid won’t save you money for a few years. If Toyota wants to expand their hybrid market, they must make the cost-benefit analysis of buying a hybrid equal that of a standard car.

Picture of Team GB – Image from independent.co.uk (http://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/article7644006.ece/ALTERNATES/w460/IA14-4-Olympic-stars.jpg)

The word “sustainable” is becoming increasingly common in our society. From bottled water companies donating proceeds towards developing countries, to airlines designing new aircraft to reduce emissions, sustainability is a trend, and the key to a sustainable workplace lies in the maintenance of ethical business practices, especially in regards to employee health.

So naturally, you’d think that the hosts of the most globally renowned sporting event would aim to align with this trend. In the recent summer Olympics, Team Great Britain sported fashionable Adidas athletic wear. However, it was later revealed that the Team GB kits were manufactured in sweatshop-like conditions in Indonesia, where the sports apparel giant contracted nine locally managed factories. Employees claimed to work up to 65 hours per week for wages under $0.60 hour while enduring physical and verbal abuse.

Additionally, these allegations contradicted the promises made by the London Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG): “to deliver a world class sporting event… in a sustainable way,” and violated the Sustainable Sourcing Code’s core principle of “responsible sourcing,” to ensure that products are “produced under a set of internationally acceptable environmental, social and ethical guidelines and standards.” For hosts of the Olympic Games, an event that was founded upon the ideals of unity and equitable treatment for all the world’s citizens, this is a disappointing contradiction.

To view the article and get more information click here.

To view the Sustainable Sourcing Code click here.