Depends on how you view morals.
Individually, no. But you're still trying to apply individual human beliefs or contstraints onto an inanimate object. Morality, in your terms, does not apply to big business as it is not a human being.

But, as a direct answer, if the punishment is less than the profit they make, then humanity somewhere obviously considers the benefits outweigh the illegality, doesn't it? Or the punishment would be higher.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Thu 14 Oct 2010, 12:46, 2 replies, latest was 15 years ago)

the only thing that anyone cares about
is money. the company will justify it by saying that they saved money which is better for their employees, shareholders and directors' duties. whether you believe this is exoneration depends on your own views i guess.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Thu 14 Oct 2010, 12:49, Reply)

At a fundamental level it's not even money but human desire.
that creates the market that is then, and can then, be driven only by money.

Oil is dead easy. Tell people we can prevent anything like deepwater horizon ever happening again and cut CO2 emissions by 75% and they'd go "yay". Tell them that to do that 50% of them will have to give up their cars and the rest will pay £5 a litre for fuel and they'll all go "fuck off"

And that's the bottom line. Not multinationals, not cutting corners, but simple base human desire.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Thu 14 Oct 2010, 12:53, Reply)

You're so right there
I had friends that are so green and cool, you know the type, always telling me off for working in a refinery. But if you tell them to stop using petrol (or plastics of any kind) they'd look at you as if you had killed a kitty.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Thu 14 Oct 2010, 13:02, Reply)

Not necessarily.
If a government in the 3rd world sets a fine of £50,000 for a something like heavy metal in the waters. To their local companies that would be enough to a multinational that's nothing.
Changing laws and punishments is a lot slower than buisiness works now, and their lobbiests slow it down as much as possible.
(PsychoChomp, Thu 14 Oct 2010, 12:56, Reply)