Business Ethics, Responsibility, and Sustainability Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of business ethics, corporate responsibility, and sustainability within the UK clothing industry. It begins by examining key challenges such as high investment costs, enhanced customer interest, working conditions, demand for more disclosure, changing staff behavior, and governmental laws. The report then delves into best practices, emphasizing the importance of ethical and moral considerations, including labor practices, environmental protection, and sustainable materials. Examples of companies like H&M and ZARA are used to illustrate these practices. Finally, the report offers recommendations for businesses in the sector to enhance their corporate social responsibility by taking into account global considerations such as ethical sourcing, supply chain transparency, and environmental impact reduction. The report highlights the importance of integrating CSR and sustainability practices to enhance competitiveness and brand value.

Business Ethics, Responsibility
and Sustainability
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
1. Examine and discuss the key challenges relating to corporate responsibility and
sustainability relating to your chosen sector................................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................6
2. Analyse and explain what you consider to be 'best practice' within the sector, making
references to ethical and moral issues.........................................................................................6
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................7
3. Make recommendations for businesses in the sector to show they are being more
responsible by taking into account global considerations...........................................................7
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11
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INTRODUCTION
Corporate social responsibility is considered as a self- regulating model of business which
facilitates aids to entity for performing its enterprises while undertaking social responsibility
towards their stakeholders, people as well as themselves. Through considering respective aspects
within its activities, firms may have optimistic affect on environment and society. This further
helps firm to enhance its value of brand in market area (Abad-Segura, Cortés-García and
Belmonte-Ureña, 2019). As corporate social practices facilitates guidance to entities in order to
develop effective bond among customers and firm. This report is based on Clothing industry of
UK that is developing continuously from past various years with utilisation of lower production
cost as well as violent campaign of marketing which have been considering through firms for
improving its sales ratio. The topics that are going to be discussed in this report are key
challenges in respect of corporate accountability and sustainability. Best practices for clothing
industry through considering its ethical as well as moral problems. Apart from this, some
recommendation is facilitated particular industry are also described in this report.
TASK 1
1. Examine and discuss the key challenges relating to corporate responsibility and sustainability
relating to your chosen sector.
Corporate responsibility is concerned with sustainability of firm over longer period. As
their core, it seeks towards adding value to entities practices through assuring that it has
affirmative affect upon economy, surroundings and society. This has been determined that the
competition is enhancing to develop social accountability as well as environmental affects. It
enhances practices of CSR contemplation in respective industry. It has been indentified that
internationalisation also permit sectors within this segment to be very much geographically
dispersed as well as provides products or services to various countries across the world (Arnold,
Beauchamp and Bowie, 2019) .This is vital for international retailers to engage into this industry
for emphasizing towards standards of CSR to appropriate sustainability, safety and others for
serving environment and society at their effective way. In addition to this, it is vital for firm who
are performing its offering into respective sector has to concentrate on CSR term for strengthen
its competitive reputation nationally and internationally. However, this has been determined that
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there are various kinds of challenges which faced through respective sector at the time of
executing CSR and sustainability in its work framework.
Higher investment cost: This has been determine that for executing the practices of CSR
as well as social accountability in firm, the requirement cost of investment is quite higher that
entity has to mad while operating into clothing industry. It perform as a huge challenge as this is
vital for firm to appropriately focused upon 3 aspects in respect of corporate social
responsibility, environmental, economic etc. for performing its practices (Beckmann,
Schaltegger and Landrum, 2020). This has been also analyses that the entity which is operating
into this industry has to continuously involved into the procedures of creativity a well as
provides products or services to clients for assuring effective competitive edge and sustainability
for longer period, it needs higher investment through firms. Sometimes, this becomes tough for
firm to invest more amount of money on CSR as well as sustainability practices. Therefore, this
is crucial for companies to effective manage as well as formulate its budget for undertaking all
aspects and assure more profitable benefits.
Enhanced customer interest: Client sis also called as the king within market area. Firms
who are operating into clothing industry needs to know about the actual requirements as well as
demands of consumers and make them satisfied consequently. In respect of particular sector,
clients is undertaken as the most vital components for management as they are main source of
obtaining revenue for sector. This has been identified that at present times audiences not only
looking for standard quality product but also seek that firm is involved into some CSR as well as
sustainable practices or not. Along with this, it has been also analysed that in about 50%
audiences judge firms on the basis of its action towards society (Burukina and et. al, 2019).
Change into consumer perception considered to be the main challenge for respective sector.
Therefore, this is determined that companies has to undertake practices in context of CSR and
sustainability as this perform as marketing aspects which influences buying behaviour of
customers effectively. So, for assuring more satisfaction from the side of clients they have to
facilitate immense satisfaction to audiences by investing into CSR activities and assuring
sustainability for longer duration.
Working condition: Working condition is considered as the policies of corporate which
are being developed through entity for staff. This is vital for firm to have appropriate work
conditions as it is very vital term of social accountability. Within it, this is crucial for companies
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to solve staff problems as well as manage them effective and formally with having measures of
regulatory bodies fro strengthening relation among firms and employees. Moreover, working
condition develops numerous challenges for entity at the time of executing sustainability and
CSR as in it they has to inspire their staff members with various benefits. With assistance of it,
firm may effectually become competent to facilitate efficient quality of job as well as affirmative
work condition to staff.
Demand for more disclosure: This is considered as the most serious term which gives
adverse challenges within clothing sector at the time of adapting sustainability as well as
initiative related to corporate social responsibility into work structure (Crane and et. al., 2019).
This has been determined that there is essential enhancement into corporate disclosure within
clients, investors, suppliers, stakeholders and many more. As few times disclosure of data
develops risky hindrance for firms which in future impact its market share and profit as well.
Changing behaviour of staff: Because of globalisation, there is vital maximisation into
the cost of labour within huge number of geographical areas. In respect of UK, it has higher
labour cots in comparison to another location or country. This has been determined that at
present staff are also seeking for extra benefits which are providing through firm for satisfying
their desires. In respect of clothing sector, this is significant for entity gain high competent,
skilled staff as respective sector is going through with intense competition and workers are
regarded to be the main source of higher productivity. Therefore, this is vital for organisation to
influence its management behaviour as changing attitudes if staff is undertaken as the major
challenge for firms which may pessimistically impact its whole productivity. Within it,
organisation has to satisfy as well as retain their staff through proving extra benefits.
Governmental laws: There are furious competitions which is enhancing into clothing
sector where various entities that provides products or service at lower rates for gaining higher
profitability margins. Along with this, this has been determined that for remaining competitive
into respective industry firm can provides low cost services to their clients for certain time
duration in order to bind them towards its offerings (Ferrell and et. al., 2019). It have been
identified that for executing corporate social responsibility as well as sustainable activities,
organisation has to goes through various challenges. For overcoming from them, there are
numerous kind of trading agreements, among two different countries that are being formed as
well as amended through UK government for assuring ethical competition within market area.
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Now a day’s organisation needs to invest upon sustainable as well as CSR activities for
performing the operations effectively. Through considering government regulation, firms may
assure environmental as well as social concern in appropriate manner.
Based upon the above analysis this have been determined that, there are various kinds of
challenges in respect of CSR as well as sustainability within clothing sector. So, it is vital for
them to overcome from these through executing its practices effectively as this enhances their
competitive reputation into market area. Moreover, this has been also identified that execution of
sustainability as well as CSR in its work framework, it may able to face two types of challenges
such as reconstructing and subcontracting. It forms various obstacles into self interest to attain
expected results.
TASK 2
2. Analyse and explain what you consider to be 'best practice' within the sector, making
references to ethical and moral issues.
At present times, firms into any industry has to undertake ethics as well as moral as very
crucial aspects as by this they may able to operates its business activities ethically. It not only
maximise entity brand value into market area but also motivate them to facilitate effective
activities in order to provide staff an affirmative as well as ethical work culture. Moreover, entity
have to assure appropriate communication with strategic leadership activities as well as render
proper training to personnel by which it can assure ethical performance from its staff. In respect
of clothing industry, this is vital firm operating into respective sector to obviate unethical
activities as it directly impact upon their consumer preferences (James, 2019). This have been
determined that various firm are undertaking the benefits of techniques related to labour
intensive where it consider beneficiary of huge number of manpower with low capital for
stimulation its manufacturing procedures. With the benefits of corporate social responsibility
practices, firm performing into respective industry may perform at larger scale effectively as well
as may also promote the opportunities of employment which further increase individuals’ living
standards. Through providing this kind of opportunities at boarder level, companies can ethically
serve economy optimistically. This will helpful for them to assure capital as well as formation of
innovative competencies which outcomes into enhanced competitive edge as well as consumer
satisfaction at huge extent while serving economy effectually. In addition to this, ethical
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consideration in respect of facilitating important data regarding products may also permit entity
to differentiate its offering value within market area.
In respect with practical problems, this is vital for firm who are operating into clothing
industry to have its main focused towards protecting environment at the time o providing
consumer satisfaction. This has been determined that, at present times firm must put attention
upon environment where it assure that they has less carbon footprints by its production
procedures (Lund-Durlacher and et. al., 2019). Along with this, by utilisation of cloth with
biodegradable fibre is considered to be the best practices into respective sector as this is helpful
in stimulating high positioning within market segment. Moreover, it has been analysed there are
some entity who perform into respective industry such as Zara, H&M and many more consider
the utilisation of sustainable measures.
For example:
H&M which is one of the leading firm marked their presence into the list of FORBES as
most sustainable entity in year 2016. As respective organisation utilised recycle material which
not only enable them to minimise useless costing but also permit them to represent its huge
concern towards surroundings. ZARA, this is the firm that shows its more concern towards
carbon footprints which has a pessimistic affects upon environment. For instance, firm has to
consider utilisation of eco- friendly measures for using renewable energy. As per the analysis,
this has been determined that it is vital for clothing sector to undertaken benefits of best practices
for performing the operations sustainably.
TASK 3
3. Make recommendations for businesses in the sector to show they are being more responsible
by taking into account global considerations.
In clothing industry, because of enhancing competition there are numerous firm that are
performing into respective sector and are concentrate about undertaking corporate social
responsibility practices as well as sustainable accountability for showing its concern towards
person, environment and may others (McWilliam, and et. al., 2019). So, this has been determined
that firm effectually enhance its potential for motivating clients towards firm’s offerings while
considering they are accountable nature in the direction of international consideration. This have
been determined that firms through having effectual concentration towards social
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accountabilities may appropriately assure effective satisfaction from clients as well as
stakeholders which further impact them optimistically. The social responsible policies
constitution, firm may become competent to retain its consumers for longer duration as it is the
most essential term for entity which motivates them towards long term growth. Along with this,
it has been determined that more number of consumer into regional as well as global market
eagerly pay premium for goods or services for that, entity contributes its specific profit ration
towards societal cause. It does not only enhance the ways of firm clients’ satisfaction but also
maximise its brand reputation within society at huge extent (Mena and Rintamäki, 2020).
Because of enhancement into social corporate social responsibility practices within clothing
industry, this become vital for entity to know about significance of sustainability as well as CSR
in administration and supply chain as it has increase ability to add extra value into firm’s product
or services which further produce profit as well as satisfaction in clients effectively. Moreover,
this is also crucial for entity to consider some corporate strategy for executing CSR and
sustainability for maximising productivity through reduction into wastage as well as contributes
towards surroundings. So, some recommendations are provided underneath:
Integrate corporate social responsibility: This is vital for firm to assure that, they has
better inter connectivity into Higher level to lower level management for assuring effective
results. Herein, this is crucial for firm to determine the mission statement of entity as well as
further inspire all staff towards particular accomplishment. For integrating CSR as well as
sustainability activities, entity needs to analyses its vision statement and strategies measure by
which it can able to represent more concentration upon optimistically attributes (Rendtorff,
2019). Along with this, it have been determined that firm has to upgraded its practices in respect
of CSR continuously for satisfying their investors, suppliers, clients and many more as per the
new enhancing trends. Also, audit is helpful for firm to appropriately deliver its business
objectives as well as mission associated with people which enhances transparency within them.
Formalise social an environmental justice: This is considered as the most vital aspects
where firms are suggested to motivate its whole staff within their work structure for
accomplishing their objectives. Within it, companies do not only has to satisfy their staff with
regular pay but also facilitates them some facilities such as medical and others. It is some kind of
crucial aspects by which entity may assure its high profit as well as may retain workers for
longer duration in business. Through considering practices, organisation may represent its caring
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and responsible nature towards staff effectively. In this respect, firms are recommended to
undertake the utilisation of reflection, recharging as well as replacement for inspiring workers
with various facilities which further motivates them to be loyal towards firm. Moreover, this also
assures that entity has long term competitiveness within market area as stronger personnel may
stimulate high organisational profitability.
Motivate staff to turn off: This is crucial for firms that it has to integrate sustainable as
well as CSR activities into its work culture as it helps them to obtain effective outcomes.
Moreover, it is vital for entity to undertake social justice and changing climate as this acts as an
essential aspects for industrial success. This has been determined that at present firm has to leads
its business towards smooth performing of practices. Therefore, it has to consider utilisation of
driving factors for equalising the sexual preferences, problems associated with family and others.
Along with this, for developing the social justice, firms should set fix percentage of women into
their board of directors.
Tech as well as deploy story telling: Firms are recommended to develop effectual
communication with targeted set of customers for promoting corporate social responsibility
practices which has been consider through them. With assistance of vivid story telling which
involves the described points as well as information but do not aids story. In addition to this,
through undertaking benefits of monthly internal communication meeting with audiences, entity
can aware them regarding the upgraded organisational report in respect of their undertaken CSR
practices as well as sustainable measures (Schaltegger, Hörisch and Freeman, 2019). So, with
stronger communication, firm may deliver information and statistics effectively through
considering usages of verified data by which staff may effectually involves itself with entity’s
Corporate social responsibility practices which further assure appropriate ending results as well
as accomplishment of firm’s goal.
Based upon the above, this is vital for entity to undertake suggested attributes as for
effective inspire sustainable activities as well as measures of corporate social responsibility
within work area framework in order to assure longer competitive image into clothing industry.
In respect of clothing sector, it has been determined that respective industry is going through
numerous competition where entity consider benefits of aggressive creation, marketing and
others to grab the attention of huge consumer base. This has been analyses that firms must not
only needs to concentrate its attention towards creativity but it also has to focus upon CSR and
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sustainability for being competitive for longer duration. This further enables entities to perform
its task ethically which may maximise its goodwill into potential market area as well as also
assures their consumers loyalty effectively.
CONCLUSION
From the above report, this has been concluded that corporate social responsibility is
essential aspects for all entity by which it can enhance its value of brand within particular
industry. Moreover, this is also vital for organisation to know about the challenges which may be
tackling through them. Through adoption of CSR measures in its business activities is helpful to
operate its business smoothly. Also, with assistance of corporate social responsibility as well as
sustainability, the firm not only able to provide customer satisfaction but they can enhance staff,
stakeholders, suppliers and others interest towards firm’s values. In addition to this, through
considering benefits of best practices, organisation may effectually be competent for solving
moral as well as ethical problems appropriately which further boost those towards assuring
longer term sustainability as well as enhancing profit into market area.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Abad-Segura, E., Cortés-García, F. J. and Belmonte-Ureña, L .J., 2019. The sustainable approach
to corporate social responsibility: A global analysis and future
trends. Sustainability. 11(19). p.5382.
Arnold, D. G., Beauchamp, T. L. and Bowie, N. E., 2019. Ethical theory and business.
Cambridge University Press.
Beckmann, M., Schaltegger, S. and Landrum, N. E., 2020. Sustainability management from a
responsible management perspective. In Research Handbook of Responsible
Management. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Burukina, O. A. and et. al., 2019. Interrelation Between the University's Social Responsibility
and Sustainability. In 11th International conference on education and new learning
technologies, Palma, Spain. Edulearn Proceedings: IATED Publ (pp. 10030-10039).
Crane, A. and et. al., 2019. Business ethics: Managing corporate citizenship and sustainability in
the age of globalization. Oxford University Press, USA.
Ferrell, O. C. and et. al., 2019. Business ethics, corporate social responsibility, and brand
attitudes: An exploratory study. Journal of Business Research, 95, pp.491-501.
James, W., 2019. Business Ethics.
Lund-Durlacher, D. and et. al., 2019. Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility in Tourism.
Springer.
McWilliams, A. and et. al., 2019. The Oxford handbook of corporate social responsibility:
Psychological and organizational perspectives. Oxford University Press.
Mena, S. and Rintamäki, J., 2020. Managing the past responsibly: a collective memory
perspective on responsibility, sustainability and ethics. In Research Handbook of
Responsible Management. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Rendtorff, J. D., 2019. Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainability, and Stakeholder
Management. Philosophy of Management and Sustainability: Rethinking Business Ethics
and Social Responsibility in Sustainable Development, pp.43-52.
Schaltegger, S., Hörisch, J. and Freeman, R. E., 2019. Business cases for sustainability: A
stakeholder theory perspective. Organization & Environment. 32(3). pp.191-212.
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