Business Ethics Article Analysis 2022
Added on 2022-08-29
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Running head: BUSINESS ETHICS
Business Ethics
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Business Ethics
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BUSINESS ETHICS1
Article 1: “The beauty industry needs to wake up – you can’t be ‘ethical’ if you’re
exploiting people of c”lour"
Overview
Niellah Arboine have published a 877 words article on 7th July 2019, titled “The
beauty industry needs to wake up – you can’t be ‘ethical’ if you’re exploiting people of
colour” in the newspaper article named “The Independent” (Arboine 2020). In this article,
she have discussed on how badly the animals are harmed for the sake of cosmetic products
made for enhancing the beauty of human body. There is a double standard in what the
customers in the western society are deemed to be cruelty-free. Today, majority of the
youngsters are becoming environmental conscious. They often are seen to buy second hand
clothes, cycle them regularly. People are also introduced to plant based diet that they
incorporate in their lifestyle in order to ensure that they are not harming any animals for their
sake of their comfort, taste and safety. However, they are completely ignoring the cosmetics
that they purchase. As per the article, “with more brands pushing to create range of products
that are animal cruelty free, environmentally couscous and vegan friendly, being ethical and
still consuming beauty products might seem like an easier feat now that it ever has”. The
article has focused on the use of Mica, a reflective mineral that is used for the making of
shimmering cosmetics products like lipsticks, eye shadows, lip glosses etc. They are natural
but it is a high level of unethical nightmare that one can ever think of.
Niellah Arboine in this article have discussed about how Mica is sourced from the
poorest regions of India where the labours, mostly children, are paid at the lowest possible
wage and are forced to source Mica illegally through mining. About two-third of mica in this
world comes from illegal mining done in India. The research findings suggests that about
20,000 of child labourers in India are being involved in these illegal mining of the Mica
Article 1: “The beauty industry needs to wake up – you can’t be ‘ethical’ if you’re
exploiting people of c”lour"
Overview
Niellah Arboine have published a 877 words article on 7th July 2019, titled “The
beauty industry needs to wake up – you can’t be ‘ethical’ if you’re exploiting people of
colour” in the newspaper article named “The Independent” (Arboine 2020). In this article,
she have discussed on how badly the animals are harmed for the sake of cosmetic products
made for enhancing the beauty of human body. There is a double standard in what the
customers in the western society are deemed to be cruelty-free. Today, majority of the
youngsters are becoming environmental conscious. They often are seen to buy second hand
clothes, cycle them regularly. People are also introduced to plant based diet that they
incorporate in their lifestyle in order to ensure that they are not harming any animals for their
sake of their comfort, taste and safety. However, they are completely ignoring the cosmetics
that they purchase. As per the article, “with more brands pushing to create range of products
that are animal cruelty free, environmentally couscous and vegan friendly, being ethical and
still consuming beauty products might seem like an easier feat now that it ever has”. The
article has focused on the use of Mica, a reflective mineral that is used for the making of
shimmering cosmetics products like lipsticks, eye shadows, lip glosses etc. They are natural
but it is a high level of unethical nightmare that one can ever think of.
Niellah Arboine in this article have discussed about how Mica is sourced from the
poorest regions of India where the labours, mostly children, are paid at the lowest possible
wage and are forced to source Mica illegally through mining. About two-third of mica in this
world comes from illegal mining done in India. The research findings suggests that about
20,000 of child labourers in India are being involved in these illegal mining of the Mica
BUSINESS ETHICS2
mineral along the borders in between Bihar and Jharkhand in the Northern East part of Indian
continent. Furthermore, it is also to mention that twenty five per cent of the production of
Mica in world is sourced from different illegal mines. These children are forced to work
exhaustingly in hazardous condition and it jeopardise their health. With the same, in order to
do these work, these children cannot attend their school and gain education and in this way,
they are trapped in a cycle of exploitation that majority of the world’s population are
completely unaware of.
Apart from India, there are some women in Ghana who are reportedly being unpaid
for their work and labour of Shea butter, which is yet another significant ingredient, which is
associated on a regular basis with the “natural cosmetics” (Kuusaana 2017). Luckily there are
some organisations that support these women as well as their families by means of ensuring
that they are getting fair pay for their work, product and their labour. However, there are only
few companies that are found to be interested in fair trade. Majority of the companies make
use of the term “ethical” just as a marketing tool, but they do not comply with the fair or
ethics trade.
Ethical Issue
There are three main ethical issues that are prominent in this article. The very first is
that makeup brand does not cater to the people with a lighter complexion. Secondly, in order
to enhance beauty, many children are losing their lives and are working under age when they
are supposed to study and gain education. Child labour is against law (Hindman and
Hindman 2014). Thirdly, majority of the workers are not given fair pay for their work.
The world is more aware of the fact that animals are being harmed for the making of
cosmetics and at present, they are also quite concerned about the same. But, there are very
mineral along the borders in between Bihar and Jharkhand in the Northern East part of Indian
continent. Furthermore, it is also to mention that twenty five per cent of the production of
Mica in world is sourced from different illegal mines. These children are forced to work
exhaustingly in hazardous condition and it jeopardise their health. With the same, in order to
do these work, these children cannot attend their school and gain education and in this way,
they are trapped in a cycle of exploitation that majority of the world’s population are
completely unaware of.
Apart from India, there are some women in Ghana who are reportedly being unpaid
for their work and labour of Shea butter, which is yet another significant ingredient, which is
associated on a regular basis with the “natural cosmetics” (Kuusaana 2017). Luckily there are
some organisations that support these women as well as their families by means of ensuring
that they are getting fair pay for their work, product and their labour. However, there are only
few companies that are found to be interested in fair trade. Majority of the companies make
use of the term “ethical” just as a marketing tool, but they do not comply with the fair or
ethics trade.
Ethical Issue
There are three main ethical issues that are prominent in this article. The very first is
that makeup brand does not cater to the people with a lighter complexion. Secondly, in order
to enhance beauty, many children are losing their lives and are working under age when they
are supposed to study and gain education. Child labour is against law (Hindman and
Hindman 2014). Thirdly, majority of the workers are not given fair pay for their work.
The world is more aware of the fact that animals are being harmed for the making of
cosmetics and at present, they are also quite concerned about the same. But, there are very
BUSINESS ETHICS3
less people who know that brown and black workers are also supplying the ingredients.
Brands always have a responsibility of being honest and transparent in what they are selling
to the customers, but people too have to make some informed and smart decisions. In order to
improve and enhance the beauty of dark complexion, majority of the cosmetic brands are
making products. In these products, they make use of many different ingredients that can
harm their skin. Today, majority of the youngsters are becoming environmental conscious.
They often are seen to buy second hand clothes, cycle them regularly. People are also
introduced to plant based diet that they incorporate in their lifestyle in order to ensure that
they are not harming any animals for their sake of their comfort, taste and safety.
As per the data of SOMO, three fourth of the world’s production of mica comes from
the eastern part of India like Bihar and Jharkhand, where about 20,000 of children work in the
mines of mica. These mica mines in these states are illegal and are unregulated. It is very
common to see the children crouching on the dusty roads and floors in these laces and they
sift through the crumbling powder for several hours on an end in order to find out clusters of
mica. Also, in this process, there are many kinds who were kidnapped and were never found.
They were forced into child labour. However, it is to mention that in many cases, these
kidnapped kids are working alongside their parents, who have pulled them out of the schools
in order to support the poor family. As per Boyden (2015), it is poverty that actually forces
the people of Indian poor regions from the disadvantaged communities to take up such risky
works and depend upon the children in order to help them support the families instead of
sending them schools that are their right. As per the report of Bliss (2017), about seven
children die in the mica mines every month. As making children work in the mica mines is
illegal, people run these mines and operate under radar and also, there are very few
regulations on safety, like the reinforced walls or the protective equipment.
less people who know that brown and black workers are also supplying the ingredients.
Brands always have a responsibility of being honest and transparent in what they are selling
to the customers, but people too have to make some informed and smart decisions. In order to
improve and enhance the beauty of dark complexion, majority of the cosmetic brands are
making products. In these products, they make use of many different ingredients that can
harm their skin. Today, majority of the youngsters are becoming environmental conscious.
They often are seen to buy second hand clothes, cycle them regularly. People are also
introduced to plant based diet that they incorporate in their lifestyle in order to ensure that
they are not harming any animals for their sake of their comfort, taste and safety.
As per the data of SOMO, three fourth of the world’s production of mica comes from
the eastern part of India like Bihar and Jharkhand, where about 20,000 of children work in the
mines of mica. These mica mines in these states are illegal and are unregulated. It is very
common to see the children crouching on the dusty roads and floors in these laces and they
sift through the crumbling powder for several hours on an end in order to find out clusters of
mica. Also, in this process, there are many kinds who were kidnapped and were never found.
They were forced into child labour. However, it is to mention that in many cases, these
kidnapped kids are working alongside their parents, who have pulled them out of the schools
in order to support the poor family. As per Boyden (2015), it is poverty that actually forces
the people of Indian poor regions from the disadvantaged communities to take up such risky
works and depend upon the children in order to help them support the families instead of
sending them schools that are their right. As per the report of Bliss (2017), about seven
children die in the mica mines every month. As making children work in the mica mines is
illegal, people run these mines and operate under radar and also, there are very few
regulations on safety, like the reinforced walls or the protective equipment.
BUSINESS ETHICS4
The third ethical issue surrounds around the fact that majority of these workers are
underpaid. Their poverty compels them to work under such condition where they give all
their lives and all that they have and in return, only get a handful of money to survive a day.
There is not transparency in the beauty brands or beauty industry. These children and women
are forced to work exhaustingly in hazardous condition and it jeopardise their health. With
the same, in order to do these work, these children cannot attend their school and gain
education and in this way, they are trapped in a cycle of exploitation that majority of the
world’s population are completely unaware of.
Stakeholders
As per the analysis of the article, the main group of stakeholders who were most
affected are the children, the poor families, the women, customers, beauty brands and the
society as a whole. It is very important for the government to implement sustainable and fair
mica collection, sourcing practices and processing and at the same time, improving the
traceability in the mica supply chain of India.
Recommendation
Beauty brands should take actions to become more transparent in their supply chains.
There are many charities that are working for stopping down the child labour in the mica
mines. Some of these charities include “Kailash Satyarthi Children’s foundation”, “Anti-
Slavery International”, “Terre des Hommes”. Brands must look into it and no living being can
suffer for their own good. Some of the largest brands like L’Oreal Paris, Procter & Gamble
etc. use mica and they sell about 500 different products containing mica. But they always do
it in legal way. These companies claim that majority of the mica comes from America and as
of the year 2017 to 2019, the supply chain in India is mostly secured. All the other brands
The third ethical issue surrounds around the fact that majority of these workers are
underpaid. Their poverty compels them to work under such condition where they give all
their lives and all that they have and in return, only get a handful of money to survive a day.
There is not transparency in the beauty brands or beauty industry. These children and women
are forced to work exhaustingly in hazardous condition and it jeopardise their health. With
the same, in order to do these work, these children cannot attend their school and gain
education and in this way, they are trapped in a cycle of exploitation that majority of the
world’s population are completely unaware of.
Stakeholders
As per the analysis of the article, the main group of stakeholders who were most
affected are the children, the poor families, the women, customers, beauty brands and the
society as a whole. It is very important for the government to implement sustainable and fair
mica collection, sourcing practices and processing and at the same time, improving the
traceability in the mica supply chain of India.
Recommendation
Beauty brands should take actions to become more transparent in their supply chains.
There are many charities that are working for stopping down the child labour in the mica
mines. Some of these charities include “Kailash Satyarthi Children’s foundation”, “Anti-
Slavery International”, “Terre des Hommes”. Brands must look into it and no living being can
suffer for their own good. Some of the largest brands like L’Oreal Paris, Procter & Gamble
etc. use mica and they sell about 500 different products containing mica. But they always do
it in legal way. These companies claim that majority of the mica comes from America and as
of the year 2017 to 2019, the supply chain in India is mostly secured. All the other brands
BUSINESS ETHICS5
must make use of this path. Government has always a significant role to play in the ethical
business practice of businesses. They should empower the local communities to make sure
that there is a long lasting change in place. The government worldwide must work together
with the government of India and the other local authorities for building some legal
frameworks and some liveable environment for the mica communities of India.
must make use of this path. Government has always a significant role to play in the ethical
business practice of businesses. They should empower the local communities to make sure
that there is a long lasting change in place. The government worldwide must work together
with the government of India and the other local authorities for building some legal
frameworks and some liveable environment for the mica communities of India.
End of preview
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