International Business and Ethical Consumerism in Canada - Article Example

In a news article in the New York Times, also discussed in the Canadian online business news magazine, Canadian Business, multinational business corporates such as Coca-Cola and Starbucks are adjusting their social responsibility agendas to cut down pollution in the Canadian manufacturing environments. This paper discusses how international business corporates have to conduct their business in Canada. According to the Canadian Business article, The Right Amount of Pollution, by McDonald (2012), corporations are taking on added responsibility with regard to recycling waste.

Initially considered a costly undertaking by many corporations, companies are now finding ways to turn a profit in the process. One of the principal strategies by the companies is making packaging that is easier to recycle in the first place, which translates into less wastage, recycling energy, and less pollution to the environment. Analysts concede that business ethics, pushed aggressively by ethical moralists, and a plausible number of economists, have inspired this business revolution for international companies in their Canadian operations.

  Moralists in support of ethical consumerism argue the unfairness of innocent people suffering at the expense of a company’s pollution, an inefficiency that costs the affected people directly and indirectly. Debate ensues as to the socially acceptable level of pollution, as most analysts admit that a zero level of pollution is not feasible. What is necessary for the international business players is the realization that their efforts at curbing pollution and elucidating the perception that has an unswerving commitment to rolling back the specter of a deteriorating global climate is consistent with the expectations of the Canadian consumer.

  Conclusion International businesses wishing to penetrate and get a portion of the Canadian consumer market need to rethink their take on pollution. Business ethics in Canada greatly affects consumer behavior. Many international corporations are privy to this fact and are adjusting accordingly, for instance, Coca-Cola and Starbucks. It is still debatable what level of pollution is ethically acceptable for the Canadian market.