Is Tesla Really Ethical?
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Ethics is the essential behavior and moral standard for every company, firm, and business; it can be environmental, cultural, political, and social. A proper business ethic does not only increase its profit, but also benefit all stakeholders, including the employees, government, consumers and the society. Tesla, an automaker that builds one of the best electric cars in the world claimed, “to accelerate the advent of sustainable transport by bringing compelling mass market electric cars to market as soon as possible,” US government and environmental lists supported Tesla’s idea where electric vehicles are the key to alleviate climate change. However, the Washington Post has found that the materials of lithium-ion-batteries for electric cars can cause environmental problems such as air pollution, furthermore, the production line is linked to child labor in Congo.
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Gasoline transportation such as cars has massively contributed to green house gas emission that stimulates global warming and climate change. The market and development of electric vehicles have rapidly grown in recent years since electric vehicles are the best substitutes and government provides the incentive for purchasing by subsidizing and broadly advertising. Telsa devoted to creating the best and most sustainable electric cars, their business ethics are established by protecting the environment and has ensured a great level of trust with consumers. However, the news indicates the way they maintain ethical potentially involved in child laboring and pollutions. In my point of view, if protecting the environment involved other environmental problems and even social issues, it will no longer be considered ethical, but immoral to the society, environment, and also the consumer.
Tesla’s key to success heavily depends on maintaining their business ethics. To solve Tesla’s problem, I recommend the business to ensure their business ethics did not involve other ethical issues. First, the development of batteries must avoid materials that are considered unfriendly to the environment, which indicated development is needed. Secondly, the production line must avoid child labor problem which can be done by moving into more developed countries and cities. However, the cost of production will increase due to more investment and higher wages.
In conclusion, in order to maintain positive brand awareness and business ethics, they must eliminate potential possibilities that threaten the environment of pollution from the production of batteries, and also avoid child labor issue.
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Resources:
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/business-ethics.asp
https://blogs.ubc.ca/hsiuchenglin/files/2014/11/gasoline-vs_-hybrid-cars-800X800.jpg
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