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BUSINESS OWNERSHIP, ETHICS, AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY DISCUSSION

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BUSINESS OWNERSHIP, ETHICS, AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY DISCUSSION

Social responsibility refers to an organization's ethical behavior toward its stakeholders,

including employees, customers, suppliers, the environment, and society (Crane, Matten, &

Spence, 2019). Amazon, a global technology giant, has faced criticism for its labor practices and

environmental impact. Despite these challenges, Amazon has implemented several initiatives to

address social issues of importance to the company, including sustainability and community

development.

One social issue that is important to Amazon is sustainability. The company has

committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, a decade ahead of the Paris

Agreement's goal (Amazon, 2021). To achieve this, Amazon has implemented several strategies,

including investing in renewable energy, developing sustainable packaging, and promoting

circular economy initiatives. For example, Amazon has launched the Climate Pledge Friendly

program, which helps customers identify products that meet sustainability standards. As of

March 2021, the program included over 75,000 products from over 200 brands (Amazon, 2021).

Another social issue that is important to Amazon is community development. The

company has invested heavily in creating job opportunities and supporting education initiatives

in its communities. For instance, Amazon has committed to creating 100,000 new jobs in the US

by 2025 through its Upskilling 2025 initiative, which provides training programs to help

employees gain new skills (Amazon, 2021). Additionally, Amazon has donated millions of

dollars to support education programs, including donations to STEM programs and funding for

computer science education in underserved communities (Amazon, 2021).

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In conclusion, Amazon has implemented several strategies to address social issues of

importance to the company, including sustainability and community development. Amazon

demonstrates its commitment to social responsibility and ethical behavior towards its

stakeholders through these initiatives. However, there is still room for improvement, and

Amazon should continue to prioritize these issues and work towards implementing more

sustainable and socially responsible practices.

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References

Amazon. (2021). Sustainability at Amazon. Retrieved from

https://www.aboutamazon.com/sustainability

Crane, A., Matten, D., & Spence, L. (2019). Corporate social responsibility: Readings and cases

in a global context. Routledge.