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Oct. 17th, 2013 08:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stormdogThis is interesting. Patagonia has become California's first "benefit corporation." These "benefit corporations" must:
1) Have a corporate purpose to create a material positive impact on society and the environment.
2) Redefine fiduciary duty to require consideration of the interests of workers, community and the environment.
3) Publicly report annually on its overall social and environmental performance using a comprehensive, credible, independent, and transparent third party standard.
I particularly like number 2. Do you realize that CEOs of publicly owned companies are subject to legal action if they consider things like interests of workers, communities, and the environment over profits? It's because they are legally beholden to the interests of their stakeholders.
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Also, I just sent Timberland an email telling them that a significant portion of my motivation for choosing to buy Timberland boots are their attempts to move toward responsible corporate citizenship. We should encourage these things where we can. If I buy wool socks as I've been thinking about doing, I may buy them from Patagonia even though my budget is limited and they are more expensive. If I do, I'll send them a letter to tell them why.
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I'm thinking more about sustainability with the class I'm taking on environmental anthropology and the presentation I'm getting ready for on environmental sustainability and farmers markets.
Sustainability, as defined by both the UN and the EPA has three primary components; pillars if you will. They are environmental, social, and financial sustainability. In each of those three categories, sustainability requires providing for the needs of the present without compromising the ability to provide for the needs of the future. Keeping in mind social and financial aspects, charts like this one that show the billions of dollars in government assistance to families of the working poor are frustrating. It's really not easy to shop in accordance with my conception of ethics.
1) Have a corporate purpose to create a material positive impact on society and the environment.
2) Redefine fiduciary duty to require consideration of the interests of workers, community and the environment.
3) Publicly report annually on its overall social and environmental performance using a comprehensive, credible, independent, and transparent third party standard.
I particularly like number 2. Do you realize that CEOs of publicly owned companies are subject to legal action if they consider things like interests of workers, communities, and the environment over profits? It's because they are legally beholden to the interests of their stakeholders.
---
Also, I just sent Timberland an email telling them that a significant portion of my motivation for choosing to buy Timberland boots are their attempts to move toward responsible corporate citizenship. We should encourage these things where we can. If I buy wool socks as I've been thinking about doing, I may buy them from Patagonia even though my budget is limited and they are more expensive. If I do, I'll send them a letter to tell them why.
---
I'm thinking more about sustainability with the class I'm taking on environmental anthropology and the presentation I'm getting ready for on environmental sustainability and farmers markets.
Sustainability, as defined by both the UN and the EPA has three primary components; pillars if you will. They are environmental, social, and financial sustainability. In each of those three categories, sustainability requires providing for the needs of the present without compromising the ability to provide for the needs of the future. Keeping in mind social and financial aspects, charts like this one that show the billions of dollars in government assistance to families of the working poor are frustrating. It's really not easy to shop in accordance with my conception of ethics.
