Ethical Issues, Code of Conduct, Professional Bodies, and CSR Analysis

This report delves into the realm of business ethics, focusing on the ethical issues faced by companies like Unilever within the global business environment. It explores the significance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and its impact on sustainable practices. The report elucidates the importance of a code of conduct in addressing ethical dilemmas and examines the roles of professional bodies, such as the Carbon Trust and EIRIS, in providing guidance and support. It further analyzes how these bodies and the code of conduct can collectively influence and mitigate ethical challenges. The report also includes a CPD plan, demonstrating a commitment to continuous professional development in the field of business ethics. The conclusion emphasizes the crucial role of business ethics in fostering societal well-being, sound decision-making, and a positive market image.

Preparing for a
Professional Career

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................1
PART-A...........................................................................................................................................1
Introduction and meaning of ethical issue..............................................................................1
Elucidate the code of conduct which will be helpful in solving the issue..............................2
Evaluate the aid and support from the professional bodies....................................................2
Provide conclusion by which the professional bodies and code of conduct could impact the
issue........................................................................................................................................3
PART- B..........................................................................................................................................3
CPD plan (Appendix).............................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3
References:.......................................................................................................................................4
Books and Journals.................................................................................................................4
Appendix: CPD PLAN...........................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
Business ethics are the guidelines for the companies which they have to adhere to in
identifying what is right and what is wrong. In short, business ethics are the principles in guiding
the business to carry on their work with some proper ethics(Frost, 2021). Business ethics are
helpful in making stronger collaboration of the employees in the work place and generates in
successful implementation of goals of the company. But some ethical business issues arise which
result in conflict either in the workplace and it might hinder the society even. Unilever is a
consumer goods company which was established on 2 September, 1929 and headquartered in
London, UK. The company is producing all sought of consumer goods like food products,
personal and beauty care and also for kids. This report will cover ethical issue within the global
business environment and implementation of code of conduct and support from the government
bodies and with this the CPD plan.
PART-A
Introduction and meaning of ethical issue
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) means the responsibilities which the companies have to
follow in a correct manner to contribute for the society and for the public. Not just this,
companies have to follow some rules and regulations which will impact the environment and the
economy positively. The companies are following the CSR programs which make them to follow
the ethical practices and helps in taking into account the external factors which are also
important for carrying out the activities. Unilever is also following the CSR activities which aim
to generate the sustainable place for living. The company is taking care of the nature by
protecting the plants and trees and are on the mission to reduce the deforestation and to revive
the trees and plants and forests. They are also focusing on the climate action as they are working
on following net zero emission by the year 2039 (Diem, Carpenter, and Lewis-Durham,2019) .
Unilever is taking action and also calling the bodies, big businesses to follow the climate
protection activities as the planet is facing number of difficulties for example- COVID- 19. The
company is also working to recycle the waste which the humans have created a lot. The company
have already cut the use of plastic and also telling the society to stop using such waste. But, the
company has not been able to work for the social issues which are faced by the people living in
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the society. Climate change is the main aim of the company but still they are not working for it in
a right manner.
Elucidate the code of conduct which will be helpful in solving the issue
Code of conduct is the rules and regulations which are expected from the employees to be
followed in the organisation(Monticelli, Bernardon and Trez, 2020). This means the standard
criteria which are required to be met by the employees of the company to help in achieving the
aim and objectives of the company. The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) which is
mentioned above need to be done by the employees and the employers of the company. They
have to be loyal and motivated for the company and have to work for the changes which the
company aims for to bring in the society and for sustainable development. Climate change and
protecting the trees and forests are very important issues which need to be done and in the
company it is the responsibility of the employees. Code of conduct is important because it will
help the company to grow in long run and the issues can be handled by the employees in a better
way.
Evaluate the aid and support from the professional bodies
Carbon trust is the professional body which is helping the organisations which covers the
business and companies to reduce and cut their carbon emissions and to save the energy which
will be helpful in low carbon technologies(Bridgstock 2019). This organisation in its website
gives the information regarding the changes in climate legislation and the technologies which are
emerging. Ethical Investment Research Service (EIRS) is the other organisation which provides
the research work for social, governance and environment and ethical work to the companies.
Carbon trust advices the companies regarding the carbon emission which comes out in the
process of manufacturing the products. EIRS helps the companies including Unilever to use the
ethical criteria for the investment and also to identify the alternatives of it. Carbon trust provides
the business advices for the sustainability challenges and helps in developing clean technology to
the Unilever(Li and Li, 2021). Unilever always takes the advice of the carbon trust for reduction
in the carbon for manufacturing the products as the company deals in many. On the other hand,
EIRIS helps the companies to help in sustainable wealth development for the companies which
will be done by doing investment.
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Provide conclusion by which the professional bodies and code of conduct could impact the issue
The professional bodies can help the organisations in the ethical issues by means of
providing them proper guidance and advice in how they can work towards it(Leshner, 2018).
Because they have full knowledge of what are the different factors which are going on in the
economy and society by which companies can take steps in their reduction. Unilever is the
biggest manufacturer of the production of products which are needed by the consumers and they
are also following the guidelines required for the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and for
this they need the help of the professional bodies. On the other hand, code of conduct tells the
employees regarding their duty which needs to be followed while they are doing their job.
Employees have to work hard in the factors in which the company is working which includes the
climate change, deforestation, positive nutrition, health and wellbeing and many more(Ufere and
Lai, 2021).
PART- B
CPD plan (Appendix)
CONCLUSION
From the above it can be concluded that business ethics are very essential to be followed by
the companies as it satisfies the human needs who are staying in the society and helps in making
better decisions for the employees and for the society. Because when the business follows the
ethics then they are respected by the people living in the society and this also helps in their
development of good image in the market.
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References:
Books and Journals
Bridgstock, R., 2019. Graduate employability 2.0: Learning for life and work in a socially
networked world. In Education for Employability (Volume 1) (pp. 97-106). Brill Sense.
Diem, S., Carpenter, B.W. and Lewis-Durham, T., 2019. Preparing antiracist school leaders in a
school choice context. Urban Education. 54(5). pp.706-731.
Frost, D.J., 2021. Athletes First Preparing for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Paralympic Games.
In More Than Medals (pp. 201-237). Cornell University Press.
Leshner, A.I., 2018. Student-centered, modernized graduate STEM
education. Science. 360(6392). pp.969-970.
Li, D. and Li, Y., 2021. Preparing for RAE 2020 in Hong Kong: academics’ research, writing
and publishing trajectories in a neoliberal governance landscape. Studies in Higher
Education, pp.1-13.
Monticelli, J.M., Bernardon, R. and Trez, G., 2020. Family as an institution: the influence of
institutional forces in transgenerational family businesses. International Journal of
Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research. 26(1). pp.54-75.
Ufere, N.N. and Lai, J.C., 2021. Advance Care Planning in Liver Transplant—Preparing for
Both Life and Death. JAMA Internal Medicine. 181(5). pp.660-661.
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Appendix: CPD PLAN
CPD PLAN
Area of Learning Reflection of Learning Future Implications Action
(Identify topics of
learning from module)
Detail what you have
learnt about the topic)
(identify how
learning will
assist in future studies and career)
(SMART target
identifying how learning
will be implemented)
Code of conduct Earlier while writing this report
I was not aware about the code
of conduct but later on I got to
know about the actual meaning
of the topic. It is the values
which needs to be developed by
the employees as this helps in
the achievement of the goals
of the organisation. When
different issues will be identified
by the company, then it is the
responsibility of the employees
to work hard for it because these
things helps in improving the
image.
For my future
the code of
conduct will
be helpful as
I will be doing
the job in some
company. There
I will know
what
responsibility I
have to follow
so that my
company is at
the top.
This learning will be
developed by working
on SMART basis.
I have to be specific
in the things which I
have learned. I have
to measure the what
I have learned. I will
work hard in learning
the code of conduct.
Ethical issues Ethics are the rules which have to
be followed in the company both
internally and externally. This I
This will help in
taking care of
the issues which
I will have to work on
the guideline of
SMART methodology
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acquired while writing this report.are important
for the society
as well as for
economy.
to achieve my
objectives.
Professional bodies I have learnt that there are certain ‘
are certain bodies which are
made for handling the ethical
issues.
In future I might
take help of
such big bodies.
While working with
Big organisation I
Have to be full
Knowledgeable
So that I can work on
SMART objectives.
Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR)
This topic is all about the
duty which has to be
followed by the
companies in order to
protect the society and
the environment. The
companies follow some
responsibility which
relates to solving and
working for social and
environmental issues.
This learning will be helpful
for me in knowing how can
we conserve the
environment. There are
various social issues which
the country is facing which
includes hunger, poverty.
by understanding this ,
I would be able to help the
society and the
environment.
This thing will be
implemented when I
work with full
dedication and
hard work. I could
also give some ideas
In the company in
which I will be working
in future time regarding
the changes which can
be brought.
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