Look up this company's code of ethics. Also, find some news articles on the company. See if you can find any information that would dispute this position in the passage below (i.e. if it says they think Facebook touts customer confidentiality - see if you can fine a news article that might dispute that, we all know that wouldn't be hard.) Debate the position in the passage below regarding whether you think the assessment of the company is correct. The goal is not to trash the company, but for you to truly think about what it means to be an ethical company and why.

Starbucks Background

Starbucks is a leading coffee retailer in its industry and is a 15 time honoree for Ethisphere's most ethical companies. The company's headquarters are located in Seattle, WA has about 400,000 employees and makes $3,250,000,000 in annual revenue.

Mission Statement

To inspire and nurture the human spirit - one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time.

Ethics and Compliance

Believe that conducting business ethically and striving to do the right thing are vital to the success of the company.

This is done by advising and enabling leaders to drive ethical business practices, partnering with the business to ensure effective legal risk management and encouraging partners tospeak upif they have questions or concerns.

The majority ofreports receivedinvolve employee relations issues. This trend is consistent with other companies - retail or otherwise - that provide alternative reporting mechanisms as part of a comprehensive ethics and compliance program.

C.A.F.E. Practices

Since 2015, Starbucks coffee has been verified as 99% ethically sourced and is the largest coffee retailer to achieve the milestone. This means the company measures farms against quality, economic, social and environmental criteria, all designed to promote transparent, profitable and sustainable coffee growing practices while also protecting the wellbeing of coffee farmers, their communities and our planet. They believe in protecting the rights of the people working on their farms to promote safety, fairness, and humanity. Additionally, their practices also revolve around how to manage waste, protecting water quality, conserving water and energy.

Starbucks Corporate Code Of Ethics

https://livingourvalues.starbucks.com/en-us/living-our-values

Starbucks Impression

I believe Starbucks tries their best to act in the most ethical way possible. They do this by focusing mainly on their people and the decisions that are made on the sourcing of their products. Their ethical acts are proven by being a 15 time honoree on Ethisphere most ethical companies list. In the past, Starbucks has been criticized by employing children and sourcing unethically. They made changes to ensure that they're acting in the most ethical way possible. Additionally, as stated they have been verified as 99% ethically sourced and is the largest coffee retailer to achieve the milestone. To meet the standard, they have to prove and provide receipts of payments to farmers to show their materials are being sources from green farms. By making these changes and promoting leaders to question practices, Starbucks has lead the way in ethics and their code of ethics represents this.