Businesses are being held to greater ethical standards as consumers’ awareness of how their purchases affect the world around them grows. This is particularly true for businesses in the food and beverage sector, where everything from environmental policies to employee treatment is closely examined. So, is Second Cup, a nationwide chain of coffee shops in Canada, moral?
The solution is difficult, just like so many other things. On the one hand, Second Cup has worked to advance its sustainable business practices. The business has introduced compostable cups and lids as well as partnered with businesses that recycle coffee grounds as part of its waste reduction efforts. A commitment to purchasing ethical coffee beans has also been made by Second Cup, with a focus on fair trade and direct trade choices. This indicates that the business collaborates with vendors who pay their staff fairly and place an emphasis on their welfare.
But there are certain issues with Second Cup’s moral standards. The business received criticism in 2019 for how it handled franchisees. The Globe and Mail reported that some franchise owners claimed Second Cup had engaged in dishonest business practices, including deceiving them about the profitability of specific goods and demanding exorbitant fees. A class-action lawsuit was filed against the firm as a result of these claims.
So, Second Cup is it moral? The response is not a simple yes or no. Although the business has made progress in terms of sustainability and moral sourcing, there remain issues with how it treats franchisees. Consumers must ultimately determine whether Second Cup’s business methods are consistent with their own ideals.
Now let’s talk about some other coffee shops. How about Starbucks? The business has previously been under fire for a number of things, including tax evasion and claims of racial discrimination. Nevertheless, Starbucks has worked hard to enhance its sustainability procedures and is firmly committed to ethical sourcing. The corporation has made large investments in renewable energy and water conservation, and has set aggressive goals for decreasing its environmental effect. Additionally, Starbucks purchases its coffee beans from growers who receive respect and fair compensation.
Regarding McDonald’s coffee, the fast-food restaurant giant has come under fire for how it treats its employees and for not adhering to fair trade principles. The business has taken some attempts to enhance its environmental practices, though, such putting in place a plan to cut down on waste in its coffee cups. A portion of McDonald’s coffee beans are sourced from farms that are recognized as sustainable.
What will Starbucks be like in 2021? With an emphasis on lowering waste and carbon emissions, the corporation has kept up its efforts to enhance sustainability and moral behavior. Starbucks stated in January 2021 that it will be adopting a new “Greener Stores” framework that places an emphasis on eco-friendly construction methods. Additionally, the business has pledged to source all of its coffee beans ethically by 2022.
In conclusion, it is not always easy to determine whether a corporation is moral. Second Cup has made attempts to strengthen its ethical and sustainable business procedures, but has come under fire for how it treats franchisees. Despite facing its own ethical difficulties, Starbucks has nonetheless achieved tremendous progress in the areas of sustainability and moral sourcing. Despite receiving criticism for how it treats its employees, McDonald’s has introduced several environmental efforts. In the end, consumers must determine whether businesses share their beliefs and then make decisions about their purchases appropriately.