Case Study at Ben & Jerry’s Homemade holding Assessment Sample

Introduction

For some organisations, CSR is a critical consideration when taking decision-making, but it is elective for others until their long-term financial success relies on it (Smith, 2003). CSR enhances corporate performance and aids in attracting and retaining top talent for a firm. The business seems to depend heavily on making decisions. Along with the stakeholders, every corporate decision also has an effect on the surrounding area and the environment. The term "ethics" describes how people act and behave in a workplace. A company's commitment to morally obligatory while improving the economy, advancing shareholder interests, and advancing humanity and the community is known as CSR (Johnson et al., 2014). CSR does not automatically imply ethics, albeit they are frequently associated. This article will cover the CSR efforts and ethical decision-making of Ben & Jerry's Homemade Holding Inc. and Cold Stone Creamery.

Ben and Jerry's Background

A corporation called Ben & Jerry's makes ice cream and sells it as a distributor in Singapore, the US, Canada, Mexico, the UK, and other countries. This business has committed to achieving customer happiness. Despite the company being taken over by Unilever in 2000, it has been involved in several initiatives that it takes out to deliver customer rights.

Ben & Jerry's business has expanded while being owned by Unilever. The company has kept up with its corporate social responsibility initiatives (Page and Katz, 2012). Providing wholesome nourishment to the populace is one of the causes it has continued to support. For example, the business has opposed the Obama administration's plan to introduce genetically modified foods. It believes that GM food is unhealthy for the public; hence it has worked with other organisations that share this belief to promote the same. The business has additionally promoted a green atmosphere. The problem of global warming has grown to be very serious. Government and social leaders, as well as other groups, have been promoting a greener environment.

One of these companies that have supported the use of clean energy that emits little to no greenhouse gases is Ben & Jerry. For instance, Native Energy, a Vermont-based energy company, supplies power to its truck fleet. One of the elements that helped Ben & Jerry develop its company identity and gain a competitive edge was its social responsibility.

Ben and Jerry's Corporate Social Responsibility 

More directly, Ben & Jerry's definition of corporate social responsibility, or CSR, includes taking actions to realise more desired goals to prolong their company expansion and keeping open lines of dialogue with staff to achieve better results. Corporate social responsibility (CSR), also referred to as corporate citizenship, is how organisations interact with one another and the general public. It is not unexpected that organisations today include corporate social responsibility when planning future socially responsible company operations given the increased public awareness of and demand for socially responsible businesses. Corporate Social Responsibility at Ben & Jerry's claims (n.d). 

• Utilization of Fair-Trade Components: Several socially conscious companies who are models of corporate responsibility have started sourcing Fair Trade ingredients. This is a part of their wider Framework for Corporate Social Responsibility. In 2005, Ben & Jerry's started utilising Fair Trade Certified ingredients to follow the CSR ethically.

• Community-based Projects for Community Engagement: Community-based development initiatives are one way to practise corporate social responsibility. Globally socially responsible businesses now frequently provide development aid through community-based and community-driven projects. A strategy of integrating the greater community into the company's core business operations and the supply chain plan of the company is implied by an economic relationship to create a sustainable business. In 1999, Ben & Jerry's started Vermont Dairy Farm Sustainability Project to develop practical methods that could be used by typical dairy operations to safeguard water quality from nitrogen and phosphorus runoff without compromising the farm's capacity to generate income and become a sustainable business. 
• Corporations and Giving: Ben & Jerry's also contribute a part of their pre-tax profits to corporate charities to be more socially conscious. And through Ben & Jerry's Foundation and Community Action Teams (CATS) at each store, corporate philanthropy is employee-led. In addition, Ben & Jerry's has a philanthropic organization named "The Foundation" that is overseen by advisory panels of non-management employees that consider grant requests. Each year, they donate $1.8 million to worthy organisations in America and the Vermont region. This fund awards 5 grants each year. 

Ben & Jerry’s Ethical Decision Making

According to ethical consumer (n.d.), among the ethical issues, we looked at called for corporate boycotts, tax policies, individual rights, employees' rights, supply chain management pollutants and toxicity, sustainability impacts, anti-social finance, and animal welfare. Our research demonstrates how Ben & Jerry's has been the subject of a boycott call for almost ten years, was criticised by a judge for "inaccurately" misleading consumers into thinking that all of its dairies came from cows that had higher welfare standards, and examines the exorbitant pay rates being paid to directors of parent company Unilever. Below are a few issues on which the company has made ethical decisions.

• Continuing demand to boycott Ben & Jerry's: Activists that support Palestinian human rights have called for a boycott of Ben & Jerry's for almost ten years.

Ben & Jerry's was the target of a boycott movement from 2013 to 2021 spearheaded by the advocacy group Vermonters for Justice in Palestine (VTPJ). The activists demanded that Ben & Jerry's cease operations in Israel and stop selling its ice cream in Israeli settlements built illegally on occupied Palestinian territory.

• Misleading customers about animal welfare standards: Ben & Jerry's offers vegan ice cream. However, it doesn't go into detail on the conditions of all the dairy cows that are utilized to make its ice cream. Although it was claimed that its "Caring Dairy" cows grazed outside for an average of 180 days, it appears that not all of the cows utilized by Ben & Jerry's were a part of the program. As a result, the company received no points in our factory farming and animal rights categories.
• Ben & Jerry's has been actively involved in voter registration and participation promotion. The business has also expressed support for diverting funds from the Pentagon budget to education. Those are the ones I can think of.
• To Cohen's delight, Ben & Jerry's maintained its progressive stance even after being sold to Unilever in 1994. It has also continued to support causes like Occupy Wall Street and Black Lives Matter.

Corporate Social Responsibility of Cold Stone Creamery

Cold Stone Creamery's business philosophy incorporates CSR. The business practises at Cold Stone Creamery are designed to promote the welfare of the both people and the environment without impeding or stressing either. Additionally, these practises and configurations encourage business growth. By reducing risk factors and pursuing objectives that will benefit the neighbourhood, the management of Cold Stone Creamery can make sure that the company has sustainable business growth. Cold Stone Creamery seeks to increase its societal impact and impact on the community, the planet, and people's health by focusing on three key goals. Cold Stone Creamery's principles- Cold Stone Creamery utilizes the CSV methodology to support CSR. Cold Stone Creamery's core beliefs make integrating this into business operations simpler. Which are: Respect – for everyone, Trust\Integrity and Honesty\Accountability

CSR goals 

• Increasing employment opportunities will improve communities' quality of life- Working with and for the people is a principle that Cold Stone Creamery firmly embraces. As its operations spread over the globe, Cold Stone Creamery makes sure to provide millions of people with fresh opportunities for employment and a way of life. Direct labour, contracts, and inclusive business possibilities are used to achieve this (Harvey, 2018)
• Improving the health and wellness of the communities where Cold Stone Creamery operates- Cold Stone Creamery works with entire communities with the goal of making people happier and healthier. Communities where Cold Stone Creamery operates and other communities living in areas classified as below poverty receive nutritional support and boosting. (Harvey, 2018).To further improve the well-being of its patrons as well as the different communities it has associated with, Cold Stone Creamery now manufactures and distributes health and hygiene products.
• Minimizing environmental impact- Cold Stone Creamery attempts to reduce its environmental effect by adhering to the rules governing carbon production and emission. Furthermore, Cold Stone Creamery works to develop operational practises that reduce contamination of the air, water, and land. To promote recycling and reduce waste, Cold Stone Creamery includes a disposal device with each product it creates and sells. 

Cold Stone Creamery Ethical Decision-Making 

According to Harvey, 2018, some of the ethical decision-making are-

• Cold Stone Creamery makes it a point to hire women for various executive and operational positions throughout its production process. These women, many of whom are from adjacent towns, undergo instruction to hone new abilities. Cold Stone Creamery ensures that women have the personality and decision-making abilities need to advance in both their personal and professional lives by doing this.
• Cold Stone Creamery makes sure to follow moral principles when marketing its products. This indicates that providing accurate information and data about the business also ensures that its marketing communications do not make immoral appeals.
• Cold Stone Creamery always maintains consumer product safety. Not only are nutritional information and values mentioned, but the manufacturing dates and batch numbers are clearly stated. This is done to guarantee that customers are informed about the quality and lifespan of the product. Additionally, the organization specifies precise methods and procedures for product disposal to ensure that the environment is protected and not harmed.
• The Cold Stone Creamery is a leader in the conservation of natural resources. Cold Stone Creamery has developed strategies to guarantee that natural resources are utilized for industrial purposes sustainably and are not harmed during commercial operations. For the sake of the globe and the environment, Cold Stone Creamery makes this information available to the public.
• Cold Stone Creamery goes above and beyond to ensure that all fundamental rights are upheld during all business operations. Among other things, this includes the exclusion of child workers and valuing variety. The commercial activities of Cold Stone Creamery are primarily reliant on local labour and management, guaranteeing that all domestic, regional, and global human rights are scrupulously followed.
• Cold Stone Creamery claims that no animals are harmed. Cold Stone Creamery makes sure that all animals are kept in sanitary and secure conditions and that they receive high-quality food. Along with providing specific breeding grounds, Cold Stone Creamery frequently permits veterinary checkups for all animals at partnership farms.
• Cold Stone Creamery collaborates with farmers and other partners to secure premium raw materials. By providing educational opportunities, diverse training programmes, and infrastructure development, the organization makes sure that it invests in the wellness and growth of its partners and connected communities.

Conclusion

Since CSR and ethical decision-making demonstrates that a company is engaged in excellent corporate social responsibility, ethical decision-making that may safeguard the interests of stakeholders and shareholders. An ethical framework that mandates that all decisions and actions be ethically justified before being taken forms the basis of the philosophy of social responsibility. If the action or decision negatively impacts society or the environment, it will be viewed as socially irresponsible. Ben & Jerry's is one of the most moral and socially responsible companies operating today. Ben & Jerry's takes a systems approach to product development, weighing costs to the business vs costs to society. Cold Stone Creamery and numerous other businesses collaborate to build a harmonious and peaceful future with sustainable resources and the environment by working toward the SDGs. Cold Stone Creamery has opened pathways by integrating its goals and commitments with the SDGs to have a good effect on society throughout its business and operations. Both companies work towards corporate social responsibility in one way or another and make ethical decisions to achieve sustainable development goals.

References

Alhouti, S., Johnson, C. M., & Holloway, B. B. (2016). Corporate social responsibility authenticity: Investigating its antecedents and outcomes. Journal of business research, 69(3), 1242-1249.

Ben & Jerry's Corporate Social Responsibility. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://bjsocial responsibility.weebly.com/ Ben & Jerry's is a values-led company. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.benjerry.com/values

Ethical consumer (n.d). Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Inc. Retrieved on 26 August 2022 from https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/company-profile/ben-jerrys-homemade-inc

Harvey M. (2018). Corporate Social Responsibility of Cold Stone Creamery. Retrieved on 26 August 2022 from https://www.essay48.com/case/14920-Cold-Stone-Creamery-Corporate-Social-Responsibility

Page, A., & Katz, R. (2012). The truth about Ben and Jerry's.

Smith, N. (2003). Corporate Social Responsibility: Not Whether, But How. California Management Review. 45. 52-76. 10.2307/41166188.

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