BENESSERE AZIENDALE - IL CASO AMAZON

The main goal of this thesis is to analyze its sustainability report starting from what Amazon says about sustainability and what really does to improve its vision. I will discuss on a company that during the global Covid-19 pandemic, has hired an additional 175,000 new employees and CEO Jeff Bezos' fortune has grown to $182 billion and it is reportedly growing faster than ever before. With orders staying at home and movement restricted, more people than ever have found their way to Amazon's retail website, attracted by low prices and a wide selection. Familiar with reports of Amazon's terrible working conditions, I have resolved to do my Christmas shopping online and avoid Amazon at all costs. Not surprisingly, I failed almost immediately in this attempt. Resistance may be futile. Admittedly, I have ambivalent feelings about this company. While I appreciate the wide selection of literature and fast delivery, it's impossible not to be involved in what journalists and researchers continue to find out. In 2019, Amazon partnered with the organization Global Optimism to create The Climate Pledge to become environmentally sustainable, breaking the pattern of "notorious" non- philanthropy (Duhigg, 2019). The company pledges to achieve net-zero carbon by 2040 by committing to disclose, reduce, and offset emissions. The contradictory dynamics of Amazon's commitment to climate while pursuing rapid growth make me wonder about the legitimacy of its claims. After all, the world has often seen big companies and CEOs make grand gestures like this: Richard Branson, CEO of Virgin, pledged $3 billion to develop "green" technology, something that former President Bill Clinton called "groundbreaking." Billionaire and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg was hailed as a climate hero, donating to green groups, while Bill Gates pushed to find "energy miracles”. Despite these seemingly philanthropic efforts, the climate crisis is accelerating, leading us to ask whether Amazon's promise is different from these unsuccessful efforts. This thesis explores what it means for Amazon to be at the forefront of the fight against climate change, and how the discrepancy between what Amazon says and does can give us insight into the value of the climate amendment.