A Change of Tide

Corporate responsibility defines the business ethics within the culture of a company. Each company, after setting their own agenda, has a responsibility to uphold to the public, their shareholders and the industry. Potential and current costumers, clients and consumers are influenced by a company’s corporate responsibilities and how they carry them out. Major investors are more likely to invest in a company that shows corporate responsibility. When a company does not follow through or live up to their responsibilities it can lead to penalties and the loss of respect it has with the public.

Tide, a Procter & Gamble company, has shown a corporate responsibility ethically and environmentally. One of the ways Tide works to give back to people in need is with their Loads of Hope program. Tide has worked to reduce their footprint on the world through packaging, production and by producing an energy efficient product. By finding ways to be socially and environmentally responsible, Tide has created a great presence of corporate responsibility in the business world.

Loads of Hope is a relief effort that provides victims of natural disasters with a way to have clean clothes. Tide offers two ways for victims to receive clean clothes: a) they wash and dry clothes with their Loads of Hope truck and b) by handing out free bottles of laundry detergent. One Loads of Hope truck has 32 energy-efficient washers and dryers. The truck has the capability of producing 300 loads of laundry a day, which is about the average number of loads that an American family produces in a year. Tide washes, dries and folds all of the clothes for the victims for free. To raise money to provide these efforts Tide sells vintage Tide t-shirts and special ‘yellow cap’ bottles of laundry detergent. In the last three months, Tide has also has raised a total of $410,000 for Haiti with the sales of their vintage t-shirts.

The relief program began four weeks after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. Since then Loads of Hope has teamed up with Feeding America to offer relief to a variety of locations across America. So far, Loads of Hope has supplied relief to 6 locations in America ranging all the way from Fargo, ND to New Orleans, LA. As a way to reach out further to their consumers, Tide has uploaded videos of Loads of Hope in action, which is a great way to boast the public relations and media coverage on their relief efforts. From a social media standpoint, Tide has created a ‘tidal wave’ of interest on the internet with a presence on Facebook, Twitter and consumer blogs. The word of this relief effort was spread very quickly across the several social media channels. One of the quickest and most efficient ways to boast a company’s reputation is by word of mouth, and Tide achieved just that with the Loads of Hope campaign.

Tide also has joined forces with Frigidaire who has helped to provide the energy-efficient washers and dryers for the Loads of Hope truck. Not only is this relief effort helping people, but it is also helping the environment because these energy-efficient machines use 70% less water then a regular washer. The Frigidaire washers also kill 99.9% of bacteria while washing the clothes. By offering clean clothes to victims in an energy efficient way, not only is Tide showing corporate responsibility ethically, but also environmentally.

Another way Tide has shown responsibility toward the environment is with their product. Tide Cold Water is a laundry detergent that is specially made to wash clothes in cold water, which saves both money and energy. Consumers can save money and energy because they will not have to pay for the energy that it would take to heat the water. The detergent also incorporates ingredients that are safe for the environment and Tide Cold Water is the first laundry detergent to earn the Green Good Housekeeping Seal.

Tide also is contributing to helping the environment by using 80% less water in their liquid detergent. By creating a more concentrated formula, Tide is able to use less plastic in their packaging. The environment is not the only thing that Tide is looking out for; the company has created a great line of detergents with the consumer in mind. Tide HE, combined with high efficiency washers, gives consumers more loads of laundry while using less water and detergent. Tide Pure Essentials uses baking soda and other natural ingredients for consumers that want a more natural detergent that gentle on their clothes. Tide has also come up with a detergent without using dyes and perfumes for consumers with sensitive skin.

Tide has found a way to become more then just a reliable detergent. Through the Loads of Hope program, smarter ingredients and better packaging, Tide has incorporated a strong corporate reasonability into their company culture. So far, they have won an award for taking responsibility in helping the environment, and found ways to channel wanted help for victims in needs. With strong foundations in corporate responsibility, Tide will soar to new heights in finding ways to help those in need and the environment.