In Chris Macdonald’s blog (canadianbussiness.ca), he explains how Target and McDonalds dropped egg supplier Sparboe Farms after concerns of the company’s egg production. Macdonald states that this decision has bring up two points. First, explains that it is difficult to say what is ethical or what is just being productive. He then explains that there are extremes on both spectrums of ethics in the business world but a business most cut the line somewhere. Second, Macdonald explains how McDonalds had a middle-man (Cargill Inc.) between them and Sparboe. Then he argues that there must be supply chain ethics by a company keeping their suppliers if they are ethical, but a company shouldn’t be responsible, if they are unaware, if their supplier is being ethical. Macdonald finishes by stating that a company can be considered ethical and unethical based on their supplier’s ethics if they are aware of the suppliers operation.
I agree with Macdonald’s opinion here. I think that a company with unethical suppliers is being unethical and vise-versa. I also agree that a company can not be in charge of their suppliers ethics but that a company can the be the “bigger person” by not working with unethical suppliers to keep their supply chain ethical.