What is the least ethical company in the world?
As part of our 25th Birthday celebrations Ethical Consumer asked its readers to vote for who they thought was the least ethical company over the last 25 years. Nestlé 'won' with 15% of the vote, finishing just above Monsanto (14%) and the UK's number one tax avoider Amazon (12%).
The most unethical clothing companies are mainly popular multinational and e-commerce brands like Victoria's Secret, GAP, Fashion Nova, Uniqlo, Forever 21, Nike, Adidas, Disney, H&M that have been exposed to multiple unethical practices – including labor exploitation and/ or forced labor.
Companies such as Google, Amazon, Nestle, Tesco, Coca-Cola, the Big Four accounting firms, Facebook, Nike, and McDonald's have all faced scrutiny for their actions across various ethical dimensions, including tax avoidance, worker exploitation, irresponsible marketing, and environmental damage.
Ethics can be defined as going beyond what is legal and doing what is right, even when no one is looking. So when we talk about unethical behavior in business, we're talking about actions that don't conform to the acceptable standards of business operations, failing to do what is right in every situation.
The key ethical scandals of the Coca-Cola company with respect to its stakeholders has been found to involve plastic waste (pollution), channel stuffing, depletion of water resources, racial discrimination, impact on health, disputes with distributors, and contamination scare.
Sweatshop allegations: Shein has been accused of sourcing products from sweatshops, which are workplaces that violate labor laws, exploit workers, and often operate in hazardous conditions. Environmental impact: Fast fashion in general, including Shein, is known for its significant environmental impact.
In its 2022 Global Environmental Social Impact report, Starbucks said that 98.2% of its coffee is ethically sourced and verified through C.A.F.E Practices and that the program covers more than 400,000 farmers in more than 30 countries.
Honest and ethical behavior in all matters relating to the business of the Company contributes significantly to achieving these goals. Our business is built on public trust and confidence, and the expectation of our guests and customers that they can depend on our products and services.
Nike received Ethical Consumer's worst rating for its cotton sourcing policy, because it lacks a clear approach to use of pesticides and herbicides.
PepsiCo prohibits all forms of bribery and corruption in our operations, and we expect our third-parties, including suppliers, service providers, agents and contractors, to do the same.
Are Nestle still unethical?
Our research highlights several ethical issues with Nestlé, including political activities, anti-social finance, likely use of tax avoidance strategies, animal testing, animal rights abuses, a poor approach to climate change and more.
Antitrust complaints
It was charged that Amazon relied on nonpublic data from third-party sellers to benefit its retail business, violating competition law in the European Economic Area.
Is Apple ethical? Although Apple is ethical overall, there are certain ethical issues that still remain. For example, iPhones are produced with consideration for social responsibility, yet Apple has previously faced accusations of human rights violations, creating e-waste, and tax avoidance.
Amazon has been criticized for: Its treatment of staff, including inadequate wages, extended hours, and a lack of job security. Employing aggressive tax avoidance strategies, leading to the payment of little or no taxes in certain nations.
“PepsiCo is proud to be a 17-time World's Most Ethical Companies honouree,” said Ramon Laguarta, chairman and CEO of PepsiCo. Added Kellogg chairman and CEO Steve Cahillane, “We work diligently to fulfil our purpose of creating better days and a place at the table for everyone through our trusted food brands.
Our research highlights several ethical issues with Apple, including climate change, environmental reporting, habitats & resources, pollution and toxics, arms & military supply, human rights, workers' rights, supply chain management, irresponsible marketing, anti-social finance, and political activities.
"We have zero tolerance for forced labor. We have zero tolerance for child labor," says Shein's Pernot-Day, adding that the company requires its manufacturers to comply with their local laws. Some of Shein's 5,000-some manufacturers are now in Brazil and Turkey, but most remain in China.
Compromised Quality. The adage "you get what you pay for" rings true with Shein. Their extremely low prices often mirror the quality of their products. Many customers have reported poor fabric quality, inconsistent sizing, and clothes that quickly wear out or fade after a few washes.
At best, SHEIN and Temu are likely reliant on sweatshop labor for goods. But there's plenty of evidence that both are utilizing forced labor in their product lines, too.
McDonald's tops the poll ahead of other 'bogeyman' companies such as Shell and Nestle, according to the Ethical Index compiled by market research firm The Fraser Consultancy. Based on a survey of more than 1,300 consumers, it is the first to rank UK and overseas brands according to their 'ethical profile'.
Is Dunkin coffee ethically sourced?
In the U.S., we currently offer 100 percent rainforest Alliance Certified™ Espresso, 30 percent Rainforest Alliance Certified™ Dark Roast Coffee nationally and 30 percent Rainforest Alliance Certified™ Green Tea regionally.
Did you know that every time you buy an Espresso, Cappuccino or Latte beverage from Dunkin' Donuts that you're supporting Fair Trade? Dunkin' Donuts' espresso beans are 100% Fair Trade Certified™ and selected from only the finest, high-quality Arabica beans.
In 2023, the Ethisphere Institute, an independent center of research promoting best practices in corporate ethics and governance, named Hasbro one of the World's Most Ethical Companies® for the 12th year in a row.
Disney Animal Kingdom is accredited by the AZA, which speaks very highly of its standard of care for the animals. AZA accreditation puts it on par with zoos in North America.
Sportswear giant Nike was one of the first brands to take a stand in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, twisting their famous slogan to tell viewers, “For once, Don't Do It”. On 29 May, 4 days after George Floyd's death was caught on video, Nike released an advert featuring only white text on a black background.
