Business Ethics

Michael Kowalski, the chairman and the CEO of Tiffany & Co. wrote to the government criticizing it for its continued use of an outdated law in the development of silver mine in Kootenai Forest in Montana. According to Wharton School (2004), the mine was to be developed in the forest was to be called Rock Creek Mine. Kowalski criticized the government for the reliance on an outdated law that was automatically going to cause massive environmental issues. In his letter, Kowalski noted that continued reliance on the outdated would pose serious environmental hazards such as high level of water accumulations and immense quantities of mine tailings. Notably, this was not the first time that Kowalski contradicted with the government’s laws and decisions concerning the environment. This would make the environment ugly and would not give a proper impression of the mining and jewelry industry. He reiterated the position that minerals used to make different jewelry could be mined using acceptable and effective processes that preserve the environment and promote the industry’s social responsibility towards the community. The mining and jewelry industry must be on the front line in the promotion of a green environment, as this would support its part of social responsibility to the community in which it operates. Therefore, the federal government’s reliance on an outdated law would lead to unnecessary environmental issues and this are not in line with the provision of social responsibility to the community.

The key ethical issue that needs urgent address is the environmental issue. The environment is a core part of human life and plays an instrumental role in supporting the life of other animals. The environment is significant for its provision of vital resources to human beings and other animals and must be guarded effectively in order to continue with effective productivity. Companies in the mining and the jewelry industry have to urgently address the environmental ethical issue without putting into consideration their self-interests. They should understand that the mining of minerals in adherence to environmental issues would still boost the quality of the precious items that they produce. Companies in the mining and jewelry industry must lay down strategies that would ensure that address the environmental issue without any fail. They should put into consideration that an effective environment would help them to operate effectively according to the required standards. They would still be appreciated in the market by consumers of the high quality products, which they produce. Companies must ensure that they put the environmental issue ahead as they try to put in place strategies that would lead to the achievement of their goals. The federal government must also revise its laws in order to put in place effective and current laws that would significantly promote environmental preservation. Companies must also work in collaboration in order to ensure that they support measures towards addressing the ethical environmental issues. The environmental issue must be addressed in order to guarantee for the wellness of society as well as future generations.

The Wharton School (2004) reiterates that the first key alternative to promote the address of the environmental issue is to encourage others to adhere to the environment through advocacy and education. Other Companies and individuals must be taught about the need to preserve the environment. In the course of teaching, the importance of the environment must be highlighted and emphasized. They must be convinced to see some sense in the preservation of the environment and the significance of ensuring that minerals are mined in an effective way. This will ensure that the issue is addressed gradually. The second alternative would involve the adoption and reinforcement of current laws relating to environmental conservation. The federal government should come up with modern environmental laws that would ensure the environment is protected. The laws must be in line with the needs of society relating to environmental protection. The laws must put into consideration the fact that the environment is vital for effective industrial performance. The last alternative to address this issue would involve the dedication of resources towards environmental conservation. Financial and other resources would play an instrumental role in ensuring that the environment is conserved. Companies must take collective responsibility in order to raise funds that would be used for the preservation of the environment. The key recommendation for the formulation of effective and current laws towards the environment is that the federal government must keep on revising its laws relating to the environment in order to ensure that they conform to the current environmental needs. Laws that become outdated must be continually replaced with current laws in order to ensure that the environment is guarded according to the required standards.

References

Wharton School. (2004). Tiffany & Co.: A Case Study in Diamonds and Social Responsibility.

Knowledge Wharton , 1-4.