Step 1: Determine the facts in the situation – obtain all of the unbiased facts possible. Clearly state the ethical issue.
- We received a $5000 grant to make t-shirts from an alumnus
- We are the executive director of Sustainable Lehigh 2030, overseeing student groups working on sustainability initiatives
- The student groups will distribute T-shirts to promote their programs
- This program is aimed to transform LU into a low carbon circular economy
- Follows the triple bottom line sustainability as a core value
- There are 10 student teams to divide funds amongst evenly
- 3 t shirt options: Cambodia for $2, Los Angeles for $10, organic from the Lehigh Valley for $25
- The alumnus would like us to buy t-shirts from an ethical source and made in the USA, but it’s the most expensive option.
Ethical Issue: Balancing sustainability, ethical labor practices, and cost consideration while keeping in mind the donor’s preferences and the amount of shirts that will be available to each student club.
Step 2: Define the Stakeholders – those with a vested interest in the outcome
- Garment factories
- Employees
- Clubs
- Alumnus of Lehigh University
- Executive Director of Sustainable Lehigh 2030
- Lehigh students
- Lehigh alumni network
- Lehigh campus as a whole
Step 3: Assess the motivations of the Stakeholders
- Garment Factories are able to increase commercial activity and provide jobs for their workers.
- Employees have a task to do and are getting paid but also deserve good working conditions and fair pay
- Clubs are able to spread awareness of their initiatives and be apart of Lehigh Sustainable 20230
- Alumnus of Lehigh University wants to support Sustainable Lehigh 2030 and emphasize the aspect of U.S. made products.
- Executive Director of Sustainable 2030 will be able to promote the Lehigh Sustainable 2030
- Lehigh students always want more shirts and they will be able to support sustainable causes of their choice.
- The Lehigh Alumni network will be interested in how this initial donation makes an impact. Could lead to more alumni donors in the future
- The campus as a whole values sustainability and ethical practices
Step 4: Formulate (at least three) alternative solutions – based on information available, using
basic ethical core values as guide
Approach 1:
Buy organically from the Lehigh Valley for $25 per shirt
Ethical Principle or code:
Consequence based thinking, sustainable, US made, fair wages
Pros:
- made from a company that pair employees fair wage
- locally made
- satisfies both of the alumnus want
- Sustainable
- no shipping cost/pollution
- Will likely lead to 100,000 future grant
Cons:
- Can only buy 200 t shirts to distribute or 10 per team
- shirts are expensive
Approach 2:
Buy from Cambodia for $2
Ethical Principle or code:
Duty-based thinking, cost effectiveness, labor standards
Pros:
- Pay above the living wage
- lowest cost
- contributing to the global economy
- about 2,500 t-shirts can be made and distributed to students
Cons:
- Not made in the USA
- contributes to fast fashion and fabric waste
- shipping costs and waste/pollution produced as byproduct
- might not be fully ethical: unethical work hours
- May not lead to $100,000 grant
Approach 3:
Buy from LA for $10
Ethical Principle or code:
Virtue based thinking, Support US manufacturing
Pros:
- It’s made in the USA
- cheaper than the Lehigh Valley t-shirts
- employing undocumented immigrants that may not be able to secure employment otherwise
Cons:
- Workers at the factory are treated badly and are paid an unlivable wage
- Could lead to negative publicity for Lehigh
- Could result in not receiving future grant
- Costly, but not the most expensive option
- Shipping contributes to pollution
Step 5: Seek additional assistance, as appropriate – engineering codes of ethics, previous cases, peers, reliance on personal experience, inner reflection
We could look into further sustainable options to produce t-shirts near the Lehigh Campus.
Based on personal experience we feel that the Lehigh Valley option is clearly the best one. This will satisfy all parties at hand and decrease negative impact on employees and the environment. Consult with labor rights organizations, sustainability experts, and ethical procurement specialists. Consider local and international labor laws as well as sustainability certifications. Could explore a hybrid approach by combining different t-shirt sources.
REVISED
- Defends the best course of action vis-a-vis other approaches.
- Analyzes impact of the decision on the venture
Comparing all of these solutions and keeping high core ethical values in mind, I think it is best to choose the Lehigh Valley Option. Although Cambodia and LA approaches create wage opportunities for some of the stakeholders involved, these living wages are not entirely ethical as they are below minimum wage compared to US standards. However, these are still jobs and opportunities for people to create income. Furthermore, one of the stakeholders involved asked for US based practices. It would also be best to align with that interest as one of the options is sourcing T-shirts from the Lehigh Valley. In addition, we can secure that 100k grant. The Cambodia approach would not fit this premise, despite it having the best net-product amount at the end. The LA option would fit this premise, but again, it does not exactly seem the most sustainable or ethical. Although less shirts will be produced, I think the sourcing is important for the public to know, especially if we are addressing sustainable objectives. Each club can have ten shirts and that will suffice. The other approaches will have more tshirts per club, but the reasoning behind the amount of shirts is more meaningful than having plenty of shirts to go around. If anything, more shirts create more waste and add to the problem of fast fashion.The grant can be used to produce more tshirts done mindfully the next time the club event is happening. It is best to stay true to our original values in sustainability as it will have less risk in tainting our sustainable code. The other options will incur negative public opinion and have more of a risk of opposing out sustainable code.
Step 7: (If applicable) What are the implications of your solution on the venture. Explain the impact of your proposed solution on the venture’s technology, economic, social and environmental aspects.
Technology: If choosing the Lehigh Valley option, the method of producing the shirts organically will be promoted. Again, sustainable practices will be platformed.
Economic: If looking for gains and best results number-wise, this solution will actually produce the least amount of tshirts and will be seen as the most expensive. However, the value of organic materials make up for the costs of the tshirts.
Social: Good public opinion can arise from this decision as many stakeholders will be pleased. There will be a strong connection between the Lehigh Valley and the campus community as well. Again, green and sustainable measures are promoted and are actually carried out. We can become a honest and transparent entity.
Environmental: With the Lehigh Valley option, we are choosing the best sustainable outcome. Of course, producing tshirts will impact the environment. However, compared to the other solutions, this option will produce the smallest carbon footprint. The other options seem associated with fast fashion practices. An organic tshirt can outlast products of fast fashion, thus proving its value in price.