Renewable energy use

Greenpeace's Reenergise campaign ranks Australia's biggest electricity using companies on their commitments and actions regarding renewable energy use. This company has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) to buy power from a wind or solar project; but they have not committed to powering their operations by 100% renewable electricity by 2030; and they have not invested in on-site solar.

Source: Greenpeace (2021)

Breaching advertising codes

This company has been criticised for offensive advertising. In 2013/14 the Advertising Standards Bureau upheld complaints about five ads by this company on the grounds that they breached advertising codes. The ads were subsequently discontinued or modified.

Source: Advertising Standards Bureau (2014)

Cuts to farm-gate price

In April 2016 Murray Goulburn reduced its farm-gate price for raw milk from an average of $5.60 to $4.75-$5. This was criticised as below the cost of production.

Source: news article (2016)

Excessive executive pay

Former Murray Goulburn boss Gary Helou pocketed $10 million as farmers struggle to break even after reduced farm-gate prices for milk. Now Mr Helou, who owns a $3.2 million luxury NSW home, has been named in a shareholder class action lodged in the Supreme Court which claims Murray Goulburn knowingly made misleading statements about forecast profits and production.

Source: news article (2016)

Murray Goulburn fined for disclosure breach

In 2017 the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) fined Murray Goulburn $650,000 over an alleged breach of its disclosure obligations in the lead-up to a dramatic price cut paid to its farm suppliers in April 2016. Company ownership has since changed.

Source: news article (2017)

Organic products

Some of this company's products are certified organic by NASAA.

Source: NASAA (2022)

Corporate citizenship claims

This company has corporate citizenship claims on its website, under the headings responsible sourcing, environment, community, food safety and business ethics.

Source: company website (2020)

Animal Testing

In 2015 Cruelty Free International exposed cruel animal tests carried out by Danone, Nestle and Yakult, presumably so that the companies could market health claims about their products. [Listed under Information due to age of report]

Source: Cruelty Free International (2015)

Price fixing in China

In 2013 China fined six companies, including this one, a total of $110 million following an investigation into price fixing and anti-competitive practices by foreign baby formula makers.

Source: news article (2013)

Carbon footprint tool

In 2008, Danone set a goal of a 30 per cent global carbon footprint reduction by 2012 across the entire supply chain, including plants and factories, packaging and end-of-cycle disposal, transportation and storage. To meet this challenge, Danone and SAP teamed up and devised a system to analyze and measure carbon footprint across 35,000 products.

Source: SAP (2012)

Climate action commitments

As listed on the We Mean Business website, this company has committed to the following climate action initiatives: adopt a science-based emissions reduction target; responsible corporate engagement in climate policy; commit to 100% renewable power.

Source: We Mean Business (2021)

Product carbon footprint label

This company has products that are certified by the Carbon Trust, signifying that the carbon footprint of selected products has been measured, managed and reduced. A life cycle product carbon footprint is determined by calculating the total greenhouse gas emissions generated by a product, from extraction of raw-materials, to end-of-life.

Source: Carbon Trust (2021)

Gender equality

This company appears on the 2023 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, signifying a commitment to supporting gender equality through policy development, representation, and transparency.

Source: Bloomberg (2023)

PESE member

This company is one of a group of eight multinationals working together under the Brazilian Business and Ecosystem Services Partnership (PESE) which provides a platform for Brazilian companies to proactively develop strategies to manage business risks and opportunities arising from their companies' dependence and impact on ecosystems. By making the connection between healthy ecosystems and the bottom line, PESE not only fosters more sustainable business practices, but also opens the door to new, profitable business opportunities.

Source: PESE (2017)

Sustainable Food Laboratory member

The Sustainable Food Lab is a network of business, public sector, and civil society leaders from around the globe who are working together to accelerate sustainability in mainstream food and agriculture.

Source: Sustainable Food Lab (2016)

Sustainable Brands member

This company is a Gold Member of the Sustainable Brands Network, the leading peer to peer, learning and networking group designed to support brands in meeting their sustainability goals and ultimately become those leaders of the next sustainable economy.

Source: Sustainable Brands (2018)

UN Global Compact participant

The United Nations Global Compact asks companies to embrace, support and enact, within their sphere of influence, a set of 10 values in the areas of human rights, labour standards, the environment, and anti-corruption. However it's non-binding nature has been widely criticised, and many signatory corporations continue to violate the Compact's values.

Source: UN Global Compact (2020)

Plastics Commitment signatory

This company is a signatory to the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, whose goal is to eliminate plastic pollution at its source.

Source: New Plastics Economy (2022)

Sustainable Agriculture Initiative member

This company is a member of the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Platform, the main food industry initiative supporting the development of sustainable agriculture worldwide. Created by Nestle, Unilever and Danone in 2002, the SAI Platform is a non-profit organization to facilitate sharing, at precompetitive level, of knowledge and initiatives to support the development and implementation of sustainable agriculture practices involving the different stakeholders of the food chain.

Source: SAI Platform (2023)

Global Plastics Treaty endorsee

In 2022 after more than 170 nations backed a historic UN resolution to end plastic pollution, global businesses across the plastics value chain, financial institutions, and NGOs came together to announce a common vision for an effective and ambitious Global Treaty to End Plastic Pollution. The vision will form the basis for future policy engagements with governments through a newly launched Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty which will be convened by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and WWF. This company has endorsed the vision statement of the treaty.

Source: Global Plastics Treaty (2023)

Ellen MacArthur Foundation strategic partner

This company is a strategic partner of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, whose stated mission is to accelerate the transition to a circular economy. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation works with business, government and academia to build a framework for an economy that is restorative and regenerative by design.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2023)

Soy scorecard 2016 - WWF

This company received a score of 8 out of a possible total of 24 in the WWF Soy Scorecard 2016, which rates companies on their use of responsible soy, grown without damaging the environment and harming people. [Listed under Information due to age of report]

Source: WWF Soy Scorecard 2016 (2016)

59% in Forest 500 Rankings

Forest 500 identifies the 350 companies and 150 financial institutions with the greatest exposure to tropical deforestation risk, and annually assesses them on the strength and implementation of their deforestation and human rights commitments. This company received a score of 59%.

Source: Forest 500 (2023)

30.2% in methane scorecard

The livestock sector is the single largest contributor to man-made methane emissions. Even though rapid reductions of methane emissions are needed to slow the rate of global warming, the largest meat and dairy corporations are oblivious to the problem. Changing Markets' 2021 report 'Blindspot' investigated the policies and actions of 20 meat and dairy giants to reduce their methane emissions. This company scored 30.2/100 for their methane policy and actions.

Source: Changing Markets (2021)

11/27 in pesticides scorecard

Over the last 60 years farming has become dependent on the intensive use of chemicals. As You Sow's 2021 report, Pesticides in the Pantry, examines the growing risks posed by the use of synthetic pesticides in agricultural supply chains to food manufacturers, and scores companies on their efforts to reduce pesticide use in their supply chains. Scores ranged from 16 to 0, with an average score of 7.5. This company received a score of 11/27.

Source: As You Sow (2021)

27.7% in Human Rights Benchmark

The 2022 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark assessed 127 companies in the food and agriculture, ICT and automotive manufacturing sectors on their human rights performance. This company received a score of 27.7%. The overall average score was a disappointing 17.3% and the highest score was 50.3%.

Source: World Benchmarking Alliance (2022)

33.1% in Gender Benchmark

The 2023 Gender Benchmark ranks 112 companies from the apparel and food and agriculture sectors on their efforts to drive gender equality and women's empowerment across their entire value chain. Companies are assessed on governance and strategy, representation, compensation and benefits, health and well-being, violence and harassment, and marketplace and community. This company ranked #21/112, with a total score of 33.1%. The average score was 23% and the highest score was 55%.

Source: World Benchmarking Alliance (2023)

OpenSecrets.org profile

OpenSecrets.org tracks the influence of money on U.S. politics, and how that money affects policy and citizens' lives. Follow link to see this company's record of political donations, lobbying, outside spending and more.

Source: Open Secrets (2024)

Investment in nanotechnology

Friends of the Earth's 2014 report "Tiny Ingredients, Big Risks" names this company as one of over 200 transnational food companies engaged in nanotechnology research and development, and on their way to commercializing products. New studies are adding to a growing body of scientific evidence indicating nanomaterials may be toxic to humans and the environment.

Source: FOE (2014)

Political boycott

The Islamic Human Rights Commission supports the political boycott called against this company due to its involvement with Israel. [This assessment has not been used in calculation of ratings].

Source: The Islamic Human Rights Commission (2012)

53.4% in Newsweek Green Ranking 2017

This company received a score of 53.4/100 in the Newsweek Green Ranking 2017, which ranks the world's largest publicly traded companies on eight indicators covering energy, greenhouse gases, water, waste, fines and penalties, linking executive pay to sustainability targets, board-level committee oversight of environmental issues and third-party audits. Ranking methodology by Corporate Knights and HIP Investor.

Source: Newsweek (2017)

45/100 S&P Global ESG Score

This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 45/100 in the Food Products category of the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices (last updated 23 Sep 2022). The rankings are based on an analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, environmental reporting, climate strategy, human rights and labour practices.

Source: S&P Global (2022)