Unit 1 Personal Finance Case Study Consumers versus Business
Products with palm oil have been boycotted by some consumers because the UN estimates that palm oil plantations are the main cause of rainforest loss that threaten the continued survival of orangutans, the Sumatran tiger and the Asian rhinoceros. Nestlé has previously been boycotted because of its aggressive marketing of expensive infant formula in developing countries. L’Oréal and Procter & Gamble have been boycotted because of their involvement in testing their products on animals.
Discussion
In pairs or small groups, discuss your answers to questions 1, 2 and 3 then find out the answer to question 4. 1. Would you buy an Irish product even if it was more expensive than an imported product? Give reasons for your answer.
2. Would you buy a coat if you knew that it had been made by poor children working 14 hour days in a factory for very little money? Give reasons for your answer.
3. Would you boycott a company that caused pollution even if they made your favourite products? Give reasons for your answer.
4. A lot of tuna fish products in supermarkets have a label saying it is ‘dolphin friendly’. Research what this consumer label means.
