Masters Thesis

Examining the cost of Amazon.com’s success using the triple bottom line

Amazon is a very successful online retailing company. Their sustainability practices are highly questionable, yet their success only seems to grow. Since the focus of the MBA is on sustainability, it is of interest to apply sustainability theory to Amazon, which maintains its success in a more environmentally conscious and more socially responsible world. The project therefore seeks to explore how sustainability affects Amazon's success, and if sustainability has any implications for Amazon today and in the future. In order to do this, the paper will examine Amazon's biggest shortcomings, which are related to environmental reporting and employee mistreatment. Then it will be shown how Amazon is successful even though they show deficiencies in environmental and social sustainability. It will then be shown how Amazon makes up for its deficiencies with competitive practices, customer satisfaction and long-term investment. A comparison to Zappos, a similar company will be made to explore possible improvements for Amazon in the future.

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