Breaching advertising codes

This company has been criticised for offensive advertising. In 2010 the Advertising Standards Bureau upheld complaints about an ad by this company on the grounds that it breached advertising codes. The ad was subsequently discontinued or modified.

Source: Advertising Standards Bureau (2010)

2013 CHOICE Shonky Award

Named and shamed in the 2013 CHOICE Shonky Awards. According to Choice, Lion's Dairy Farmers Oats Express Liquid Breakfast Banana and Honey, which has pictures of whole oats, banana slices and a honey dipper on the pack, claims to be a smooth "blend of milk, oat fibre and real banana". The ingredients panel reveals the product actually contains banana extract and no honey.

Source: Choice (2013)

Misleading labelling

In Dec 2010 National Foods' juice line Berri was required to change two of its flagship brands, Australian Fresh and The Daily Juice Company, after an ACCC investigation found the brand names might be misleading customers into believing the juice was 100% freshly-squeezed. Australian Fresh was renamed Australian Grown, while packaging for The Daily Juice Company was altered to reflect the blended nature of the contents.

Source: ACCC (2010)

Political donations

According to the democracyforsale.net website, this company donated $896,849 to Australia's major political parties between 2012 and 2018, as disclosed to the Australian Electoral Commision (AEC).

Source: Democracy For Sale (2018)

Opposing a CDS

In 2013 Coca-Cola Amatil, Schweppes Australia and Lion Pty Ltd filed proceedings in the Federal Court challenging the legal validity of the Northern Territory's Container Deposit Scheme (CDS). Other large bottlers like Fosters and Diageo have not joined the court case. A CDS has been proven worldwide to be the best way to increase collection and recycling. The Boomerang Alliance estimates a CDS would increase recovery by 80%.

Source: news article (2013)

DrinkWise contributor

This company makes voluntary contributions to DrinkWise Australia, a not-for-profit organisation established in 2005 by the alcohol industry, whose stated goal is to help bring about a healthier and safer drinking culture in Australia.

Source: DrinkWise (2024)

RCMI signatory

This company is a signatory to the Responsible Children's Marketing Initiative (RCMI), which is managed by the Australian Food & Grocery Council and covers products found in retail outlets. Companies that have signed up to the initiative commit to: only advertising healthier choices to children and encouraging a healthy lifestyle through good diet and physical activity; not paying for or seeking product placement television programs, editorial content or interactive games aimed at children, unless the product is a healthier choice; not advertising and marketing to children in Australian schools unless they are asked to by those schools.

Source: AANA (2023)

Employer of Choice for Gender Equality

This company is listed by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) as a Employer of Choice for Gender Equality citation holder. The citation is designed to encourage, recognise and promote active commitment to achieving gender equality in Australian workplaces.

Source: WGEA (2022)

ABAC signatory

This company has signed the ABAC Responsible Alcohol Marketing Code, which is designed to regulate alcohol advertising and marketing within Australia.

Source: ABAC (2021)

Sustainability claims

This company has a number of sustainability claims on its website, including in the areas of tax transparency and environmental performance.

Source: company website (2020)

Workers rights

On 13 January 2010, the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU), following endorsement from union members at Berri Juices in Sydney, signed a new collective agreement which secured conditions and brought long delayed wage rises. Industrial actions leading up to agreement included the first workers strike in Berri's history.

Source: IUF (2010)

Alcohol - direct involvement

Directly involved in the manufacture, distribution or sale of alcohol as a core business.

Source: company website (2020)

Previous involvement with Burma

From Dec 2018 to Feb 2021 Kirin appeared on Burma Campaign UK's 'Dirty List' of companies assisting the Burmese military to continue to commit human rights violations and environmental destruction. In Burma Kirin was in a joint venture, Myanmar Breweries, with the Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings, which is controlled by and for the benefit of the military. This subsidiary has also donated money to the Burmese military. Kirin announced they would end their relationship with the Myanmar military after it staged a coup in Feb 2021.

Source: Burma Campaign UK (2021)

49.8% in Newsweek Green Rankings 2012

This company received a score of 49.8/100 in the Newsweek Green Rankings 2012, which ranks the world's largest publicly traded companies on their environmental footprint, management (policies, programs, initiatives, controversies) and reporting practices, using data from Trucost and Sustainalytics.

Source: Newsweek (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; report climate change information in mainstream reports as a fiduciary duty; commit to 100% renewable power.

Source: We Mean Business (2021)

FSC certification

This company holds Forest Stewardship Council Chain of Custody Certification, and sells products certified as FSC Mix and FSC Recycled.

Source: FSC (2023)

IARD member

This company is a member of the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to reducing harmful drinking and promoting understanding of responsible drinking. IARD is affiliated with the United Nations.

Source: IARD (2021)

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)

CSV claims

This company has Creating Shared Value claims on its website

Source: company website (2015)

22.7% 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 22.7%. The overall average score was a disappointing 17.3% and the highest score was 50.3%.

Source: World Benchmarking Alliance (2022)

Alcohol - direct involvement

Directly involved in the manufacture, distribution or sale of alcohol as a core business.

Source: company website (2020)

Genetic Engineering & Animal Rights

USA biotech company Hematech Inc. genetically modify cattle for human antibody production. Hematech was previously a subsidiary of Kirin's pharmaceutical division (Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co) until Dec 2012 when it was acquired by Sanford Health and rebranded Sanford Applied Biosciences, LLC.

Source: company website (2012)

35% in Food and Agriculture Benchmark

The 2023 Food and Agriculture Benchmark assessed 350 keystone companies across the entirety of the food system, from farm to fork. It covers three dimensions where transformation is needed: nutrition, environment and social inclusion. This company ranked #38/350, with a total score of 35/100.

Source: World Benchmarking Alliance (2023)