Leaders in ethical business

In a bid to promote socially responsible business practices, Business Ethics magazine has recognized three companies annually since 1989.

The Minneapolis-based magazine's criteria include leadership in each company's respective field and in at least one area of social responsibility - and success in overcoming a recent challenge with integrity.

This year's just-announced winners:

*St. Luke's. This ad agency in London won the Award for Employee Ownership. St. Luke's created a visionary model of employee ownership, out of the challenge of an unwanted merger.

*Equal Exchange. A small coffee company in Canton, Mass., it won the Award for Stakeholder Relations for its path-breaking approach to fair trade, defining supplier welfare as part of business success.

*Fetzer Vineyards. This Hopland, Calif.-based company won the Award for Environmental Excellence for its broad-based approach to environmental sustainability, combined with financial excellence.

Last year's winners were SmithKline Beecham, for its $1 billion commitment to disease eradication; Wainwright Bank, for its dedication to social justice; and S.C. Johnson, a household-products company, for its focus on sustainable community development.

For more information check out the Business Ethics Web site (www.business-ethics.com).

(c) Copyright 1999. The Christian Science Publishing Society