Business ethics is a form of professional ethics that examines ethical principles and moral or ethical problems that arise in a business environment. It applies to all aspects of business conduct and is relevant to the conduct of individuals and organizations as a whole. Business ethics is a discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation.
In this particular case, under pressure to remain the top-selling skin lightening cream in India, Hindustan Lever Ltd. increased its advertising efforts by launching a series of ads depicting the idea that a “fairer girl gets the boy”. The company persistently portrayed scenes with the fairer individual happier than the darker individual as a result of the difference in their skin tones.
Skin color has been a powerful theme in India and Asia before the existence of HLL, with the lighter color representing a higher status. Culturally, fair skin has been associated with positive values in relation to class and beauty. In other areas, having fair skin represented intelligence, with the idea that those who stayed inside to study and read were lighter and those who were forced to work outside in the sun all day were darker.
The marketing practices raised questions regarding whether or not HLL conducted business ethically. On one hand, there is the question regarding whether or not it is ethical to sell a product that is mildly effective and on the other hand, there is the question as to whether or not it is ethical to exploit cultural norms and values to promote a product.
Regarding the issue of selling a product that is mildly effective, I believe that this is an unethical business practice. It was obviously pointed out by Indian dermatologists that fairness products cannot truly work because they only reach the upper layers of the skin and are therefore, unable to effect melanin production. HLL’s marketing tactic were misleading, because they did not represent both the positive and negative feedback from their customers, solely feeding off of and exploiting cultural norms. The company advertised in a way that would mislead the public to believe that their products would make them accepted within a culture divided by social hierarchies, which is also unethical.