please help solve the 8 questions on business ethics

RESOLVING ETHICAL BUSINESS CHALLENGES* After graduating from Ohio State, Keisha got a job in After two days of phone calls, she finally contacted the marketing and public relations department at a small someone who had been involved in the actual develop. soda company called Smith's Sodas, Smith's Sodas ape- ment of the plastic- cializes in high-quality fruit-flavored soft drinks with - Yes, ith true the plastic only degrades under certuin unique flavors such as pomegranate, raspberry, blue- condations," he informed her. "But that's still betier than berry, and coconat. The company had great plans for a lot of ocher plasties". the future. In 10 years Smiths Sodas wanted to become Rener. Keisha approached her manager, Loais, to disetas a competitor to its larger rivals, Pepsi and Coca-Cola. the issue. Louis did not understand Keisha's concern. "I The company sold sodas with lower calories than its doel see what the problem is, Keisha, other than the fact rivals and offered them in a variety of flavors. However, that this reporter is trying to cause trouble. As loog a the product was only half the buttle. The rest was ap to the plastic biodegrades under certain natural conditions. the marketing department to promote the sodas as being then we are fine." superior to the competition. Recently, Keisha was called inte her supervisor's degrade fairly easily, when in reality people must comoffice and assigned a new project. She would take the post them. Even then they only degrade under certain lead in a marketing initiative that promoted a new fea- conditions. Isnit this a type of greenwashing? ture meant to appeal to the eco-conscious consumer: Louis frowned at the mention of greemwashing. biodegradable packaging. One of the company's sup- "Keisha, the term biodegradable is vague. We have. pliers came up with a soda bottle made with a new bio- a supplier, and it is not oer responsibility to prove the degradable plastic manufactured with plant materiale. packaging is biodegradable. We are not being decritul, Keisha was told the supplier struggled to develop this and it is ap to the consumer to know how to dispose of plastic for years and Smith's Sodas was staking much of the package so it degrades properly. We can't centrol its credibility on developing an image as an environmen- What happens to the product after the consumer beys it. tally friendly organization. Keisha immediately began learning about the plasMany may simply toss it into the garbage." tic and writing up press releases to send to local news inga?" Kehaha asked. stations. She put in long hours working on a marketing Louis looked adamant. "We are not lying when we campaign touting the product's sustainability and how say the plastic is biodegradable. Besides, most conpumuch better it is for the environment. She stressed the nies have to rely on sapplier claims. I don't see any reafact that the plastic should be composted rather than son why we need to change our marketing claims". simply thrown in the trash to biodegrade properly. A few days ago Keisha received a call from a local reporter. "Ive beard all of the hype concerning these QUESTIONS I EXEACISES biodegradable bottles your company is using. I wanted to test just how biodegradable this plastic really is. I 1. Are Smith's Sodas' marketing claims accurate and truthful? contacted scientists at the local university to test its bio-degradability. They tested the botule under 10 differ- 2. Discuss the justifications Louis uses to argue for the ent conditions with different types of soil. Only four out truthfulness of the companys marketing claims. of the ten tests resulted in the plastic degrading to any 3. Assume there is a news story questioning the sarmajor extent" tainability of Smithis Sodas packaging. How should When Keisha hung up the phone, she decided to Keisha respond? investigate whether the reporter's claims were accurate. "Thin caut in wrictly hpothrical any racmblasce to seal penons, cueppanies, or situatlion is cothodental. E.xtra Questiens: 1. Explain the ease study? 2. What are the ethical isues involved in this case? 3. What are the eflects of this issue? 4. What are the solulons for this issue? 5. What is your opirion about this case