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Is the manufacture of products that contain micro-beads ethical?
My understanding of ethics after going through my lecture notes and the lecture slides, is that ethics is whats good for businesses, individuals, society, and the environment. Based on this understanding as well as my own beliefs of pollution, I believe that the production of products that contain microbeads is not ethical. I believe this as these tiny synthetic particles are negatively impacting the environment more each day and will continue to do so if actions arent taken.
Prior to reading the article Microbeads in personal care products by Alison Potter (Potter, 2017) I used multiple facial products containing microbeads without taking any notice of the harm they can and are causing. Reading this article has allowed me to think about things differently in the way that I now have avoided using those certain products symbolizing that I am no longer contributing to the pollution of our waterways and marine life.
The article Becoming a First-Class Noticer by M.H Bazerman talked about motivated blindness and stated that it is having vested self-interest in a situation and having difficulty approaching something without being biased (Bazerman, 2014 p117). I believe I have developed motivated blindness regarding the manufacturing of products containing microbeads. As a result of reading Bazermans article, I have come to the realization that I have experienced motivated blindness previously regarding other pollution issues, for example, I have recently purchased standard and collapsible metal straws to limit the harm plastic straws are causing to the environment living organisms. Doing so has given me a sense of relief knowing that, although its not huge, I am making a positive impact on the environments pollution issues.
In July 2017, the United States banned the use of microbeads in all products, while Australia is trying another approach by relying on a voluntary phase-out by producers. Although microbeads arent banned in Australia as of yet, Australian supermarkets such as Coles have stopped stocking and selling products that contain microbeads and Woolworths has stopped incorporating microbeads into the production of their own brand-named products (Potter, 2017). Microbeads are slowly being discontinued in products as many brands such as LOreal Australia, The Body Shop and many more have agreed to the phase-out. This matters to me as I want my future family to be able to enjoy the world to its fullest without worrying about the high levels of pollution forming.
References:
- Bazerman M.H, 2014, ‘Becoming a first-class noticer’, Harvard Business Review, vol. 92, no. 7/8, pp. 117
- Potter A, August 25, 2017, Microbeads in personal care products, https://www.choice.com.au/health-and-body/beauty-and-personal-care/skin-care-and-cosmetics/articles/microplastics-and-microbeads-in-toothpaste-facial-body-scrubs, September 21, 2019.
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