Signalpost

Ethical norms in business

At first sight ethical norms do not seem logical in combination with business, but these norms do indeed play a great role on this area of financial life. Some banks have denied investing in companies, that have money placed in the gun industry. Many companies will not co-orperate with partners using child labour or partners who do not respecting animal welfare in transportation.

Veolia Transport  

This week the Dutch Bank, ASN Bank, with headquaters in Hague, has announced that it will stop all co-operation with the compani Veolia Transport and all other companies, that are benefitting from the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territorry.

Should ethical norms have this influence?

I wonder if it is right to exclude companies from being business partners on the ground as it was the case with Veolia Transport? Who is to decide what are respectable causes to support? Everyone can understand companies, whom deniede to co-operate with other companies using child labour or abusing animals when transporting them.

What will the future bring?

I believe that ethical norms will continue to have great influence in the future. As long as the norms that we charrish are supported by international laws abanding the behavior in question, I do not think, that the norms are a problem.