Chris MacDonald at The Business Ethics Blog has pointed out that Wal-Mart may be the “next Nike”, jumping on the business ethics bandwagon in China.
The retailing giant, often criticized for its business practices, is now trying to influence more than 1,000 of its suppliers by raising its human rights and environmental standards. By raising expectations for its suppliers, Wal-Mart hopes to enhance its own ethical profile–abroad and eventually at home.
Whether this move by Wal-Mart is a symbolic one for PR value or a sincere turnaround (or some of both), there can be no doubt that one of the world’s largest retailers making ethical changes in the nation’s most populous country is likely to have an effect and other corporations are going to play “follow-the-leader”.
Summer Johnson, PhD