Unethical Dimensions of Business

The case of Tho-Radia Cosmetics, a French company established in the early 20th century, represents a remarkable and controversial episode in the cosmetics industry. The company gained notoriety for marketing and selling beauty products containing radioactive substances, particularly radium and thorium. The research method employed in this analysis is a case study. While not designed to produce testable generalizations, this approach offers an illustrative examination that can provide valuable insights into business ethics. The primary goal of this case study was to uncover the factors that prompted Tho-Radia Cosmetics to alter its unethical practices. The secondary goal was to determine whether the company had sufficient information to change its product and business strategy, despite the absence of legal regulations at the time. The findings indicate that 1. the key factor driving the company to change its practices was a new law regarding radioactive substances. Consequently, the reason for the company’s shift was not due to an awareness of radiation’s harmful effects but was rather a response to regulatory changes. The secondary conclusion shows that Tho-Radia Cosmetics was aware of the real effects of using radioactive substances, yet it continued to offer cosmetics containing radium and thorium to its customers. The case study is presented in the context of business ethics.