Ethics has to do with choices, about what is right and wrong, about what is good and bad.
Society is a moral construct. Before society can even begin to form there has to be a decision that leads to a better living situation for all involved (or at least some involved). This decision has to be grounded in a morality, whether it is a formal system or not is not important. The reasons for the change in behaviour may be selfish, or subjective, but they can be altered over time.
This first decision is a moral one, and from it stems all social functions. Morality is real, but moral systems that codify certain behaviours is learned.
The 'objective' moral system does not exist, but objective morality does exist, it is simply the actions of any living being that can be considered to either benefit or disadvantage any other living being.