Being ethical seems to be simple, but you need to evaluate the situation and map your choices to decide whether your actions have minimal harm or have proven to be beneficial for the majority people (especially those who have limited powers). In this age of globalism, being ethical becomes significantly more challenging as both consumers and producers grapple with the global and fast-paced ways in which products become intertwined with the supply chain. Some companies like Intel are looking into these topics and trying to meet their ethics goals. The fact that Intel has achieved some of its sustainability goals and improved its supply chain makes it an ethical brand to support in responding to the electronics industry crisis. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayOne of the crises of the electronics industry is how it acquires and treats its workforce. Gutierrez quoted a US State Department official as saying that “the likelihood that one of those [smartphones] was not touched by a slave is pretty low.” He also cited a Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) list stating that electronics companies use forced labor in Malaysia. While the article does not specify which company uses it, consumers should be aware that forced labor could easily be a problematic way that an electronics company could use its products. When it comes to Intel's workplace policies, Intel (along with four other companies) has provided transparency on the matter. According to KnowTheChain, a non-profit organization primarily concerned with how companies treat their workforces around the world, Intel Corp. discloses more information about its forced labor policies and practices than its peers across all themes. Compared to 2016, the company has improved its performance and transparency by publishing a list of suppliers, conducting unannounced audits and disclosing evidence of reimbursement of recruitment costs to workers in its supply chain. KnowTheChain assessed 40 ICT companies on engagement and governance, traceability and risk assessment, purchasing practices, recruitment, worker voice, monitoring and remediation. Among all these 40 companies, Intel ranks first overall with a score of 75/100. KnowTheChain further stated that companies (including Intel) need to work harder to give their workers a voice, where the company needs to provide a means for workers' grievances. Intel indeed has room for improvement, but the commitment to improving their supply chain makes them a desirable brand to continue to support in this year 2019. Another crisis that Intel and other electronics companies contribute to is the disposal of waste. According to Ahmed, “electronics have always produced waste, but the quantity and velocity of waste has increased rapidly in recent years.” Planned obsolescence is cited as the main reason why people buy more products and throw more away. This leads to companies being unsustainable as they continually dump their waste. In addition to companies producing more electronics, this will also come at the cost of more carbon emissions and increased energy consumption as well. In response to the crisis of environmental impacts, Intel is committed to continued success in its efforts to be more sustainable. According to Curry and Donnellan, authors of a case study on IT sustainability, Intel's efforts are examples of the feasibilitysustainability in the technology sector. Examining Intel's history of climate awareness and performance, they conclude that Intel succeeds in focusing on its environmental impact. For example, the document reports that by the end of 2011, Intel had reduced its absolute emissions by more than 60 percent compared to 2007 levels. The document also discusses the company's intentions to align its goals with sustainability and what and how it manages to do this by providing comments on the company's efforts, especially their organized management system. However, the authors ask readers to think about the company's efforts soon (year 2020), as their methods may be exhausted and the company may be off track with their plans. Intel has certainly changed its ways to reduce energy consumption and emissions by implementing solid sustainability guidelines for its company. That said, it's clear that this company is prioritizing sustainability and setting an example for other companies to be aware of their impact on the environment. If one were to say that being sustainable is ethical, Intel is certainly trying to do so. To follow up on Curry and Donnellan's call to action, Intel is still committed to sustainability, as the company unveiled plans and deliverables for 2018-2019 regarding the environment. Intel has achieved its ambitious energy savings goal of 4 billion kilowatt hours (kWh), two years ahead of schedule. The company also collaborates with others to apply its technology to environmental challenges as it has been a major voluntary corporate purchaser of green energy in the U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership (GPP) program for more than a decade. At the end of 2018, 100% of Intel's energy consumption in the United States and Europe, 25% of its energy consumption in Israel, and 71% of its global energy consumption came from renewable sources. It is on track to meet the 2020 goal of reducing per unit water consumption below 2010 levels by 2020, coinciding with the additional goal of restoring global water consumption to 100% by 2025. Intel had an 85% recycling rate of its non-hazardous waste in 2017 and remained on track to meet its goal of a 90% non-hazardous waste recycling rate by 2020. Intel is also on on track to meet its 2020 goal of zero hazardous waste to landfill by 2020. Intel continued its commitment to green building practices, bringing total LEED-certified space to 17.4 million square feet in 48 buildings total the world, or 26% of the company's total operating space. This brand is definitely making progress in minimizing its environmental impact. To be considered insufficient it may be true in some respects. The ideal is zero emissions, waste and/or energy consumption. However, the fact that they take the initiative and consistently prioritize the environment is a valid criterion to consider when evaluating whether or not Intel deserves support. The final crisis that this paper addresses is that electronics companies and consumers face is whether the brand or product uses responsibly and ethically sourced materials. As background, Intel's semiconductor chips and other electronic components from other companies may have used materials from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Here, armed rebel militias control mining profits by forcing people to work in abhorrent conditions and employing children as soldiers or workers. Intel has made efforts to make its microprocessors conflict-free, which means.2016.261.