The Study of Cosmetic Industry and Corporate Social Responsibility

• Main Authors: Pin-Chi Chiu, 邱品齊
• Other Authors: 柯承恩
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2010
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/76464281687373089707

碩士 === 臺灣大學 === 商學組 === 98 === Cosmetic industry is the most promising and emerging industry in this century. Although this industry was originated from the petrochemical industry, it becomes one of the most potential, innovative and creative high value-added industries nowadays. Because the connections between cosmetic industry and comsumers, environment and society are often correlated with the aspects of emotions, sales, marketings, and public- relations, therefore, more and more cosmetic advertisements making unrealistic and exaggerated claims about the effects of the products are found in recent years. Because the potential penalties for making such claims are much smaller than the potential profits the advertisements generate, many cosmetic companies continue to employ these untruthful practices in their business activities. Overwhelming sensational advertising surrounds us and instills in comsumers false knowledge about cosmetic products. Therefore, people can easily misuse and overuse these cosmetic or skin-care products, resulting in confusions and even injuries. In the cosmetic value-chain, cosumers often pay most but get least and they are also the most powerless. In order to change this situation, it is not enough just to rely on laws, regulations and public pressure. The only fundamental solution is to enforce the cosmetic industry to incorporate the proper concepts of corporate social responsibility (CSR), caring the rights of stakeholders including consumers, environment and society, in their daily business. In recent years, the international cosmetic giants such as L''Oreal, Shiseido and Estee Lauder, have realized the necessity and importance of corporate social responsibility and have put many efforts in it. There are many conflicting issues among the three major stakeholders including governmental agencies, manufacturers and consumers in the cosmetics industry. From now on, strengthening the roles of "complementaries" or "intermediaries" (including dermatologists, pharmacists and consumer protection groups and other professionals) in the value-chain has crucial and deciding influences on the implementation of corporate social responsibility in the cosmetic industry. In the foreseeable future, the implementation of corporate social responsibility in the cosmetic industry is inevitable and this is the only way for the industry and market to develop toward the pursuit of a vision of "Beautiful and Sustainable Social entrepreneurship". Let’s work together to make the cosmetic products more beautiful, the beloved skin more beautiful, the surrounding environment more beautiful, the whole society more beautiful and ultimately, the only earth more beautiful.