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Ethics and environmental marketing

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Abstract

Corporations have scrambled to bring to market products positioned and advertised as addressing the needs of the environmentally-conscious consumer. The vast majority of claims presented in support of these products are best described, however, as confused, misleading or outright illegal. Ethical considerations have not yet been integrated into environmental marketing, and as a result, long-term harm on both the individual and societal level may result. A framework for reversing this trend is presented. It identifies the sequence of actions necessary for the development and communication of ethical environmental marketing claims. The sequence is based upon two aspects of ethical theory: moral style and normative behavior. Specific implications for marketers' actions at each stage in the sequence of framework development are also discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Journalism, College of Professional Studies & Fine Arts, San Diego State University, 92182-0116, San Diego, CA, USA

    Joel J. Davis

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  1. Joel J. Davis
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Dr. Joel J. Davis is Assistant Professor of Journalism at San Diego State University. Prior to joining the faculty at San Diego State, Dr. Davis was Vice President, Associate Director of Strategic Planning and Research at D'Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles Advertising.

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Davis, J.J. Ethics and environmental marketing. J Bus Ethics 11, 81–87 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00872314

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00872314

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