BP could be shunned on ethical grounds says analyst feed

Investigations into BP's activities in the US propane market may cause their shares to be shunned by investors says one analyst in Dow Jones newswire article quoted in NewRatings.

Tesco and M&S help boost Fairtrade sales

Today an article in The Guardian says that big retailers including Tesco and M&S have helped to boost sales of Fairtrade goods in the UK.

Will globally integrated enterprises benefit emerging economies?

Being seen to behave ethically is as important as making profits says Nick Mathiason in this article in The Observer. The report quotes Samuel Palmisano, chairman and chief executive of computer giant IBM, who says that "multinationals are dead. In their wake is a new creature - the 'globally integrated enterprise' (GIE) - which does not exploit nations or workers but seeks to 'open new possibilities for business growth and social progress". The article goes on to say that "Palmisano argues that the GIE represents the business model for the 21st century and that failure to embrace it will lead to financial and social meltdown".

Apple reviewing labour practices in China

Apple is investigating a UK newspaper report picked up in this BBC online article about labour practices in China.

The cost of fast fashion

This article in the People's Daily online describes the cost of consumer demands for lower prices and faster lead times for fashion. This is exacerbated by multi-national companies giving short lead times in order to minimise the cost of storage. This in turn means Chinese workers must work more and more overtime to complete orders, or face losing business. The article says the manufacturers face a dilemma; either go broke quickly, or go broke slowly.