世界経済ニュース

英語ニュース教材：The global environmental award hit by accusations of greenwashing（B1–C1対応）

 
Contents

🎧 Audio

📖 Script

In recent news, there has been a significant debate about the credibility of the B Corp certification, a global initiative meant to encourage companies to meet high social and environmental standards. Dr. Bronner’s, a US-based company known for its organic products, has raised concerns that the B Corp scheme has become too lenient. They argue that the certification is now allowing too many large multinational companies to join without stringent checks, which could undermine its original purpose.

The B Corp certification is designed to help consumers identify companies that are not only focused on profit but also on social responsibility and sustainability. Companies that earn this certification are supposed to balance purpose and profit by considering the impact of their decisions on their workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment.

However, Dr. Bronner’s claims that the current system may be letting in organizations that do not truly adhere to these principles. They fear this could lead to “greenwashing,” where a company falsely advertises themselves as environmentally friendly to attract more customers. This has brought about a broader discussion on how to maintain the integrity of such certifications.

In response to these criticisms, B Lab, the nonprofit behind the B Corp certification, has stated that they are aware of the challenges and are taking steps to address them. They believe that bringing large corporations on board can influence positive change on a significant scale. However, they also acknowledge the need for stricter measures to ensure that only genuinely committed companies receive the certification.

This situation highlights the ongoing challenges in balancing business interests with environmental responsibility. As more consumers become conscious of their purchasing choices and their impact on the planet, the importance of credible certifications like B Corp remains critical. It is essential for organizations to maintain transparency and uphold rigorous standards to ensure that their certifications are meaningful and trusted by the public.

📝 Vocabulary

  • Certification: official approval or recognition
  • Lenient: not strict; permissive
  • Sustainability: the ability to maintain ecological balance
  • Greenwashing: misleading claims about a company’s environmental practices
  • Integrity: the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles

✏️ Grammar Point

Relative Clauses – “Companies that earn this certification are supposed to balance purpose and profit by considering the impact of their decisions on their workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment.”

❓ Listening Questions

  1. True/False: Dr. Bronner’s is satisfied with the current state of the B Corp certification.
  2. MCQ: What is the main concern of Dr. Bronner’s regarding the B Corp certification?
    a) It is too expensive
    b) It is not well-known
    c) It allows too many multinational companies without strict checks
    d) It only focuses on profit
  3. MCQ: What does B Lab believe about large corporations joining the B Corp scheme?
    a) They should be excluded completely
    b) They can bring about positive change on a large scale
    c) They need to be given full control
    d) They should not be questioned
  1. True
    False
  2. a)
    b)
    c)
    d)
  3. a)
    b)
    c)
    d)

📚 Reading Questions

  1. What is the purpose of the B Corp certification?
  2. Why might some companies falsely claim to be environmentally friendly?
  3. What does the word “integrity” mean in the context of the script?

  1. 🗝️ 模範解答を表示

    4. To help consumers identify companies focused on social responsibility and sustainability.

  2. 🗝️ 模範解答を表示

    5. To attract more customers by appearing environmentally friendly.

  3. 🗝️ 模範解答を表示

    6. The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.

🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ceq7lqley32o

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