Ethics Memo All Employees of XYZ Corporation

Ethics Memo

All employees of XYZ Corporation

From: Joe Smith, CEO

Re: Sustainability Marketing Strategy

Sustainability has always been a core value of XYZ Corporation. To support this value, we will soon be making sustainability a key component of our marketing campaign. The concepts of ethics, sustainability and public relations are complex, but while our marketing messages may be simple and digestible, internally our programs will reflect this complexity. We have long had an ethical code, and this will form the foundation of our ethical and sustainability policies.

The specific details of the sustainability marketing program will be outlined at a later date, but the critical takeaway right now is that the company needs to back up this marketing talk with actions -- we need to walk the talk. We cannot market sustainability by doing it, but when we do it, we lend credibility to the marketing talk in which we are engaged. Since we are making sustainability a key marketing theme, our intention is that sustainability will be part of as many of our marketing communications as possible.

The ultimate objective of this strategy is that XYZ will become synonymous with sustainability. Sustainability will be our identity, not only internally among all employees but externally as well. We will be working throughout our supply chain to encourage all of our suppliers to make sustainability a part of their business. Our customers will also recognize us as a leader in sustainability, and will be more loyal to us as a result of this sustainability marketing program.

The sustainability measures that will be communicated to the public include measures of resource usage -- water, energy and other resources. There will be human resources measures as well. Furthermore, we will have measures that compare current performance vs. past performance, and that is something that will help us to be more accountable to all stakeholders.

To support the program, the walking of the walk will be built into all facets of our operations, from letting it mellow when it's yellow in the company facilities, to using donkey carts for local deliveries. We are going to take sustainability more seriously than any other company in the world. It will affect all aspects of our operations, no stone left unturned.

We are going to report on our sustainability practices as part of our Annual Report. Our current Sustainability Report will be made a part of the Annual Report. This projects the impression that sustainability is a core part of our business, not just something to be considered as a side business.