Greenwashing Case Essay Example for Free

Greenwashing Case Essay â…  .Introduction An appreciation for environmental protection has matured steadily in recent decades. With increasing concerns over the environment comes an increasing popularity of greenwashing. Consequently, companies whose actions do not match their environmentally-friendly promotions may mislead consumers in terms of the environmental benefits of a product or service. This essay explores possible reasons of the visible boom in greenwashing and claims that Nike, a sportswear and equipment supplier, deserves the accusation of greenwashing. â… ¡.Reasons for Greenwashing Clearly, the widespread popularity of greenwashing arises in the pursuance of reputation and sales. A recent survey conducted by Advertising Age indicates that 78% of customers prefer eco-friendly corporations to companies that are reckless with the environmental issue (Berkeley Media Studies Group 2008, p.2). The result of this survey serves as an incentive for companies to greenwash. Moreover, greenwashing definitely yields fruitful results for these companies. In a survey conducted by Landor Associates, BP, a corporation being accused of greenwashing, is considered to be more environmentally friendly than its counterparts, with its voters surpassing that of Shell by 6 per cent (Solman 2008, p.24). Most importantly, greenwashing helps BP promote sales from 2004($192 billion) to 2006($266 billion) (Solman 2008, p.24). With such a prime example of greenwashing, no wonder other companies follow in BPs footsteps. â… ¢.Nike’s official claims Nike claims that it regards environmental protection and humane management as part of their corporate responsibility. Primarily, several claims are made regarding environmental content of its products. Nike claims that T-shirts it sells in the US contain 3 per cent organic cotton and 90 per cent of its shoes are free from toxic glues, cleaners and solvents (Beder 2002, p.25). On top of that, it asserts that it eliminates the use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from its shoes (Beder 2002, p.27). Furthermore, it also advertises regarding good working conditions and happy workers in a Vietnamese factory (Beder 2002, p.25). â… £.Analysis of Claims It is doubtful whether Nike really produces clothes with 3 per cent organic cotton and 90 per cent of shoes are without toxic glues, cleaners and solvents. Rather than manufacturing its own products, Nike is only responsible for designing and marketing them and there is no supervision of the manufacturing process (Beder 2002, p.27). Furthermore, in order to promote credibility, Nike has the claim endorsed by United Nations. However, it turns out that United Nations do no monitoring of the claim made by Nike, either (Beder 2002, p.26). Consequently, Nike has no certification for this claim it makes. Therefore, there is no guarantee that the official claim regarding the environmental-friendly content in sportswear will be more than empty rhetoric. Due to the lack of valid evidence and certification, Nike’s claim considering the sportswear’s content commits the â€Å"sin of no proof† (TerraChoice 2007, p.8). Nike’s claim regarding PVC-free shoes may not be a true reflection of the fact. In a press conference, Soon after Nike’s repeated assurance regarding the PVC-free shoes, Greenpeace (a reliable organization against PVC) has claimed that Nike’s search for an alternative substitute for PVC have barely begun (Beder 2002, p.27). Given the fact that research has not lasted long, it is very unlikely that Nike is manufacturing shoes that are free from PVC, which makes this claim turn out to be a false claim. Nike commits the â€Å"sin of fibbing† (TerraChoice 2007, p.9) . Inconsistent with its advertisement, workers may not be so happy and contented in the Nike’s factory since Nike is definitely unkind to them. Nike is deceptive regarding comfortable working conditions. Specifically, in Vietnamese Nike plants, workers are exposed to carcinogens at 177 times safe levels and paid $10 for a 65-hour work per week (Beder 2002, p.27). Such differences between Nike’s claims and its behaviors are called bluewashing, which is categorized as one kind of greenwashing. Bluewashing refers to corporations that wrap themselves in the flag of human rights and labor rights, while their actions are quite otherwise (Corpwatch 2001, p.2). Furthermore, there is no uniform definition of happiness. Not only does the company misuse workers, it also makes a vague commitment because happiness is a feeling that varies from person to person. Such ambiguity proves that Nike commits the â€Å"sin of vagueness† (TerraChoice 2007, p.9). â… ¤.Counter-Arguments While Nike fails to realize certain official claims, it improves the environment and sustainability. Specifically, Nike claims that materials used in shoeboxes are 100% recycled and these shoeboxes weigh 10% less than those made up of non-recyclable paper (Stoner 2006, p.4). Nike helps alleviate deforestation by using recycled materials, thereby contributing to sustainable development and environmental protection. On the other hand, while Nike spends $1.13 billion on advertising and promoting the reputation of its products in 2003, it only donates $100,000 since 1998 to education programs for Nike workers. Compared with charity, it seems that much more funds are invested in advertising. The endeavor to greenwash far outweighs the effort to assume social responsibility. Hence, Nike is still greenwashing. â… ¥.Conclusion Overall, this paper reports that there are some reasons for companies to greenwash and even though Nike makes some effort to protect the environment, it has every reason to be accused of greenwashing. The reasons for most companies whose actions do not conform to their environmentally-friendly claims are simple: the pursuits of profits and goodwill. Despite Nike’s contribution towards environmental conservation and sustainability, several official claims regarding working conditions of employees and raw materials of products lack of evidence and clarity. Owing to the proliferation of greenwashing, customers should consider the environmental impact rather than advertising and packaging when shopping. â… ¦.References Beder S, 2002, ‘Putting the Boot In’, The Ecologist, April, pp. 24-28. Berkeley Media Studies Group, 2008, ‘Food Marketers Greenwash Junk Food’, Adweek, March, pp.1-3 CorpWatch, 2001, ‘Greenwash Fact Sheet’, CorpWatch, pp.1-2 Solman G, 2008, ‘Coloring Public Opinion?’, Adweek. January.14, pp22-24 Stoner C, 2006, ‘Corporate Greenings: Nike’, Peakinsight, pp. 1-13 TerraChoice Environmental Marketing Inc. 2007, ‘The Six Sins of Greenwashing’, November, pp.1-12

Etiquette At Work Essay -- Etiquette in the Workplace

For most of us these days, having to work is not an option, but a necessity. Struggling to maintain a job and a family can be demanding and stressful. While dealing with everyday chores at home, dinner, homework and other responsibilities, some people think that being at work is like having a break. On the other hand, for a single person, work may be the only social life they have. While using the workplace as an outlet to get away from it all or as a place to socialize, it is important to be aware of actions at work that might annoy your co-workers. One of these actions is talking about your personal life at every opportunity. Showing pictures of your children, bragging about how smart and talented they are, giving a step by step account of what your baby did that was cute, or why your child is the best soccer player on the team can get monotonous after so long. While there is nothing wrong with being proud of your children and family, the workplace is not the time to dwell on them. The same goes for any other personal event that may be happening in your life. While these occ...

Psychoanalytic and Trait Approaches to Personality Essay

The study of personality had been one of the most intriguing subjects of psychology. Personality refers to a complex set of characteristics unique to the individual which form basis on how he/she feels, thinks, and behaves (Engler, 2003). Personality theories are varied and each one tries to explain the development of personality and its manifestations. The study of personality had also led to a number of assessment tools that aim to quantify and describe personality. Moreover, the stability of one’s personality had also been found to be associated with the mental health of a person, as well as the quality of his/her relationship with others. Recently, personality had also been linked to biological health and certain types of illnesses. This paper discusses the psychoanalytic and trait approaches to the study of personality. The psychoanalytic approach to the study of personality was developed by Sigmund Freud in the early history of the development of psychology as a scientific discipline. The psychoanalytic approach says that personality is shaped by the unconscious forces in one’s mental state (Larsen & Buss, 2005). Individuals are often unaware of the unconscious mental forces and how it can influence behavior, thoughts, and emotions. Personality is composed of three structures, the id, ego, and superego. The id refers to the drives and instincts, the superego refers to the conscience or moral agency, and the ego is the mediator between the id and superego and is the social agency. The three agencies can be in conflict and produces anxiety, the personality develops defense mechanisms to cope with the anxieties. The trait approach to personality says that personality is relatively stable from childhood to adulthood and that a person can be portrayed through his/her personality traits of which quite a number has been identified by trait theorists. Traits refer to the personal characteristics of the individual that describes his/her patterns of behavior, thoughts, and feelings. Modern trait theory endorses the Big 5 personality traits (OCEAN) which includes openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism (Larsen & Buss, 2005). These personality traits had been found to exist in different cultures and can adequately describe a person’s personality. The difference between psychoanalytic to the trait approach is how the psychoanalytic theory explains the development of personality as rooted in the unconscious mental states and childhood experiences of the individual. Trait theory suggests that the framework of one’s personality is already present at birth and continues to develop over the course of one’s life. However, the basic personality traits will remain and influence the development of other traits (Funder, 2007). The psychoanalytic theory had it right when it said that previous experiences influences one’s personality and defense mechanisms are used to ease anxieties brought about by unconscious drives and impulses. We know that one’s experiences strongly affect one’s personality, for example, a child deprived of parental love may become untrusting, cynical and have poor relationships in adulthood. Defense mechanisms are patterns of behavior that are used as responses to anxieties to maintain normal functioning. The trait theory on the other hand was correct when it said that traits can be used to describe the person and that personality traits are stable over time. Personality traits are descriptions of behavioral, cognitive, and affective patterns that people have in varying degrees. For example, people who are extroverted are funny, sociable, friendly, and approachable; it would be very difficult to find a person who is an extrovert and yet be reserved and shy. Moreover, personality traits are fairly stable, a child who is shy may overcome his/her shyness but on accession will exhibit some form of shyness. The psychoanalytic theory emphasizes the unconscious mental states of the individual as precursors of personality, however, if a person is not aware of this mental state, then how could that person be influenced by such forces. Moreover, psychoanalytic theory made mention that childhood experiences determines the personality of the individual, Freud however did not account for the fact that individuals with happy childhoods can also develop personality problems in adulthood. Trait theory on the other hand claim that the Big 5 personality traits are found across cultures, however, since trait theorists have already identified thousands of traits, is it not easier for them to categorize such traits into five universal traits. In addition, trait theory says that traits can adequately describe a person, however, how can traits fully portray the complex person by single trait. Trait theory attempts to provide a simplistic explanation to a very complex concept such as personality. Freud’s defense mechanisms are thought patterns that attempt to diffuse the anxiety that is brought about by conflicts in one’s personality. Denial is one of the most used defense mechanism; denial means to refuse the truth or the reality of an event or situation. For example, when one is diagnosed to be terminally ill, the first response is denial. The truth that one is dying is too painful for the individual to bear and causes anxiety, in order to deal with the anxiety, the individual may deny the diagnosis and believe that the doctor have made a mistake. Projection occurs when the individual attributes his/her own unacceptable impulses to another person. For example, a man who is confused with his sexuality may begin to hate gay men, hating gays would tell the person that he is not gay and therefore eases the anxiety of his confused feelings. Repression is used to control traumatic experiences or events that are full of anxiety. A child who had been abused by an adult may repress the memories and push it into the unconscious so that it would not be remembered. The psychoanalytic theory was developed in Victorian England where anything pertaining to one’s sexuality was considered as a taboo and inappropriate (Engler, 2003). Freud was a neurologist and begun his work treating individuals with mental disorders which he called dementia. In his treatment, he discovered that most people who exhibited bizarre disorders had repressed memories and unconscious thoughts which were sexually laden. Freud deduced that the cause of the anxiety and illnesses of his patients where unconscious desires and traumatic childhood experiences which have prevented patients from building relationships, coping with life’s demands and adjustments to life events. Consequently, Freud developed a theory of personality that would integrate the knowledge he gained from his patients and the treatments that he used. Freud’s theoretical concepts were labeled with notoriety as it included sexism which society did not approve of (Engler, 2003). Out of the Big 5 personality traits, the trait that best describes my personality is openness, I am adventurous and curious, and I always welcome the opportunity to learn something new. Thus, I am always open to new situations and experiences. I have a wider perspective than most people do do, I usually do not have opinions about things that I have not experienced, but I am open to the fact that I may or may not enjoy a new experience. I believe that being open to new experiences enriches my personality; I am the kind of person who always signs up for new events, the first in the bungee jumping line, and the first to eat raw fish eggs. The personality trait that least describes me is neuroticism. As a person, I am aware of who I am and what I want from life, I have values and principles in life that I subscribe to in whatever I do, thus I am not prone to insecurities and I am emotionally stable. I rarely have emotional outbursts and uncontrollable anger towards other people. I am in touch with my own feelings and I can express my emotions constructively. Since modern personality trait theory is the most widely applied theory of personality, I must say that it is more able to describe personality than the psychoanalytic theory. Trait theory had been the basis of numerous personality tests and inventories which all measure and classify thoughts, feelings, and behavior under different personality traits. In conclusion, personality is a complex psychological construct that attempts to provide an explanation of why people have different traits, characteristics, behaviors, and coping strategies. Personality can be studied as an aspect of the totality of a person or it may also be used to describe the personhood of the individual. In any case, there is still more to learn about personality for at present we still have an incomplete picture of personality.

The Dwarf Planet Sedna Discovery and Facts

Way past the orbit of Pluto, theres an object orbiting the Sun in a highly eccentric orbit. The objects name is Sedna and its probably a dwarf planet. Heres what we know about Sedna so far. Facts Facts: Sedna MPC Designation: Formerly 2003 VB12, officially 90377 SednaDiscovery Date: November 13, 2003Category: trans-Neptunian object, sednoid, possibly a dwarf planetAphelion: about 936 AU or  1.4Ãâ€"1011  kmPerihelion: 76.09 AU or  1.1423Ãâ€"1010  kmEccentricity:  0.854Orbital Period: about 11,400 yearsDimensions: estimates range from about 995 km (thermophysical model) to 1060 km (standard thermal model)Albedo: 0.32Apparent Magnitude: 21.1 The Discovery of Sedna Sedna was co-discovered on November 14, 2003 by Michael E. Brown (Caltech), Chad Trujillo (Gemini Observatory), and David Rabinowitz (Yale). Brown was also a co-discoverer of the dwarf planets Eris, Haumea, and Makemake. The team announced the name Sedna before the object had been numbered, which was not proper protocol for the International Astronomical Union (IAU), but didnt raise objections. The worlds name honors Sedna, the Inuit sea goddess who lives at the bottom of the icy Arctic Ocean. Like the goddess, the celestial body is very far away and very cold. Is Sedna a Dwarf Planet? Its likely Sedna is a dwarf planet, but uncertain, because its so far away and hard to measure. In order to qualify as a dwarf planet, a body must have enough gravity (mass) to assume a rounded shape and may not be a satellite of another body. While the plotted orbit of Sedna indicates its not a moon, the worlds shape is unclear. What We Know About Sedna Sedna is very, very distant! Because its between 11 and 13 billion kilometers away, its surface features are a mystery. Scientists do know its red, much like Mars. A few other distant objects share this distinctive color, which could mean they share a similar origin. The extreme distance of the world means if you viewed the Sun from Sedna, you could blot if out with a pin. However, that pinprick of light would be bright, about 100 times brighter than the full moon viewed from Earth. To put this into perspective, the Sun from Earth is around 400,000 times brighter than the Moon. The size of the world is estimated to be about 1000 kilometers, which makes it about half the diameter of  Pluto (2250 km) or around same size as Plutos moon, Charon. Originally, Sedna was believed to be much larger. Its likely the size of the object will be revised again as more is known. Sedna is located in the Oort Cloud, a region containing many icy objects and the theoretical source of many comets. It takes a long time for Sedna to orbit the Sun—longer than any other known object in the solar system. Its 11000 year cycle is so long partially because its so far out, but also because the orbit is highly elliptical rather than round. Usually, oblong orbits are due to a close encounter with another body. If an object either impacted Sedna or drew close enough to affect its orbit, its no longer there. Likely candidates for such an encounter include a single passing star, an unseen planet out beyond the Kuiper belt, or a young star that was with the Sun in a stellar cluster when it formed. Another reason a year on Sedna is so long is because the body moves relatively slowly around the Sun, about 4% as fast as the Earth moves. While the present orbit is eccentric, astronomers believe Sedna likely formed with a near-circular orbit that was disrupted at some point. The round orbit would have been necessary for particles to clump together or accrete to form a rounded world. Sedna has no known moons. This makes it the largest trans-Neptunian object orbiting the Sun that doesnt have its own satellite. Speculations About Sedna Based on its color, Trujillo and his team suspect Sedna may be coated with tholin or hydrocarbons formed from solar irradiation of simpler compounds, like ethane or methane. The uniform color could indicate Sedna doesnt get bombarded with meteors very often. Spectral analysis indicates the presence of methane, water, and nitrogen ices. The presence of water could mean Sedna had a thin atmosphere. Trujillos model of the surface composition suggests Sedna is coated with 33% methane, 26% methanol, 24% tholins, 10% nitrogen, and 7% amorphous carbon. How cold is Sedna? Estimates place a hot day at  35.6  K (−237.6  Ã‚ °C). While methane snow may fall on Pluto and Triton, its too cold for organic snow on Sedna. However, if radioactive decay heats the interior of the object, Sedna could have a subsurface ocean of liquid water. Sources Malhotra, Renu; Volk, Kathryn; Wang, Xianyu (2016). Corralling a distant planet with extreme resonant Kuiper belt objects. The Astrophysical Journal Letters. 824 (2): L22. doi:10.3847/2041-8205/824/2/L22Mike Brown; David Rabinowitz; Chad Trujillo (2004). Discovery of a Candidate Inner Oort Cloud Planetoid. Astrophysical Journal. 617 (1): 645–649. doi:10.1086/422095