Conglomerate
The world's 3rd richest man, Warren Buffett, owns about a quarter of the company. Berkshire Hathaway owns stakes of $1 billion or more in many companies including American Express, The Coca-Cola Company, Procter & Gamble, Sanofi, Wells Fargo, and IBM. Acquired half of Heinz in 2013.
Company Assessment
(Last updated Jul 2024)
Praise
Criticism
Information
Berkshire Hathaway Inc
Praise
Criticism
Information
0% 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 financial institution received a score of 0%.
Source: Forest 500
(2021)
Insuring fossil fuels
The Insure Our Future campaign by a group of NGOs has ranked the world's leading insurance companies on fossil fuel insurance, fossil fuel divestment, and other climate leadership. This company was among the worst performers.
Source: Insure Our Future
(2020)
0/18 in Net Zero scorecard
As You Sow's 2022 report, 'Road to Zero Emissions', assessed the progress of 55 of the largest U.S. corporations in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in line with the Paris Agreement's objective of limiting global average temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, which requires achieving "net zero" emissions by 2050. Companies are graded on: climate related disclosures; GHG reduction targets, and GHG reductions. This company received an Overall Net Zero grade of F.
Source: As You Sow
(2022)
23.9% in conflict minerals rankings
As You Sow's 2019 report, Mining the Disclosures, is a deep analysis of 215 companies' human rights performance in relation to sourcing conflict minerals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This company's score was 23.9% (Weak).
Source: As You Sow
(2019)
2.5/20 in Social Benchmark
The 2024 Social Benchmark assesses the world's 2,000 most influential companies on their responsibility in meeting society's fundamental expectations towards three measurement areas: respecting human rights, providing decent work, and acting ethically. This company was assessed in 2022 and received a score of 2.5/20. The average score was an alarmingly low 4.6/20 and the highest score was 15.5/20.
Bottom 10% at JUST Capital
JUST Capital polls Americans every year to identify the issues that matter most in defining just business behaviour. For their 2024 rankings the public identified 20 issues, which are organised under the headings Workers, Communities, Customers, Shareholders and Environment. JUST Capital then define metrics that map to those issues and track and analyse the largest, publicly traded U.S. companies. This analysis powers their rankings, in which this company ranked in the Bottom 10% of 937 companies, and 10th of 12 Consumer & Diversified Finance companies.
Source: JUST Capital
(2024)
Blocking climate action
InfluenceMap's 2021 Climate Policy Footprint report identifies the world's most obstructive corporate and industry association holding back Paris Agreement-aligned climate policy. This company is named in the report as one of the 25 most negatively influential corporations. "Very significant economic clout. Supporting long-term role for coal in the energy mix, senior executives appear to have questioned consensus around climate change science."
Source: Influence Map
(2021)
12/100 S&P Global ESG Score
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 12/100 in the Diversified Financial Services and Capital Markets 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)
3.8% in Financial System Benchmark
The 2022 Financial System Benchmark ranks 400 financial institutions across three measurement areas: governance and strategy, respecting planetary boundaries (environment, climate and biodiversity) and adhering to societal conventions (human rights). This company ranked #291/400, with a total score of 3.8/100.
0.3% in Sustainable Cotton Ranking
The 2020 Sustainable Cotton Ranking, published by WWF, Solidaridad and the Pesticide Action Network UK analysed the 77 largest cotton users among international apparel brands and retailers, reviewing their policies, actual uptake of more sustainable cotton and transparency in their supply chains. According to the report, this company is "not yet started" with a score of 0.3%. The average score was 18.2% and the highest score was 79.2%.
Involvement with coal
This company's 90% owned subsidiary, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, is involved in the production of coal or coal-based energy.
Source: company website
(2022)
Human Rights
This 2009 report by the International Labor Rights Forum outlines several areas in which Berkshire Hathaway faces significant environmental, labor rights and human rights issues. [Listed under information due to age of report]
Source: ILRF
(2009)
20% on Corporate Equality Index
This company has the low score of 20% on a report card on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality in corporate America.
Source: Human Rights Campaign
(2021)
Involvement with prisons
As documented by the Project of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), this company is involved in the USA prison industry. Its subsidiary Shaw Industries uses prison labor. Other subsidiaries provide equipment, utilities, and uniforms to prisons and jails.
Source: AFSC
(2021)
0.0% in Newsweek Green Ranking 2017
This company received a score of 0/100 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)
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
(2020)
Company Details
Type:
Public company
Founded:
1839
Revenue:
286 billion USD
(2020)
Employees:
391,500
(2020)
Subsidiaries:
Duracell Inc
Battery manufacturer
Formerly owned by Procter & Gamble. Acquired by Berkshire Hathaway in late 2014.
Brooks Sports Inc
Sports shoes and clothing
Founded in 1914, its products are sold in more than 40 countries. Acquired by Russell Corporation in 2004, which was acquired by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway in 2008. It became an independent subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway in 2011.
Fruit of the Loom Ltd
Clothing
Production occurs in Latin America, and at a new manufacturing plant in Morocco which serves the European market. Distributed in Australia by Range Works Pty Ltd.
Russell Brands LLC
Clothing
Part of Bershire Hathaway's Fruit of the Loom division since 2006. Brands include Russell, Brooks, Spalding & Sherrin.
Russell Corporation Australia Pty Ltd
Clothing
Mitch Dowd took over distribution of Russell Athletic in Australia in 2020.
Kraft Heinz Company
(27% owned)
Food and beverages
Formed in 2015 when Heinz and Kraft merged, creating the 3rd largest food and beverage company in North America and the 5th largest food and beverage company in the world, with eight $1 billion+ brands.
HJ Heinz Company Australia Ltd
Food manufacturing
Heinz began production in Australia in 1935. Bought Golden Circle in 2008 and Cerebos in 2018. In 2015 Heinz merged with Kraft, becoming Kraft Heinz.
Golden Circle Ltd
Fruit and Vegetable Processing
Golden Circle was bought by US food giant Heinz in Dec 2008.
Cerebos (Australia) Ltd
Food and beverage manufacturer
In 2017 Kraft Heinz bought this company from Japanese beverages giant Suntory for $290 million.
Contact Details
Products / Brands
Duracell
Duracell
Batteries
Brooks
Sportswear
Brooks
Sports Shoes
Fruit of the Loom
Everyday Apparel
Vanity Fair
Intimate Apparel
Spalding
Sportswear
Spalding
Sports Shoes
Russell Athletic
Sportswear
ABC
Soy/Asian Sauce
ABC
Asian
Asian Home Gourmet
Asian
Bisto
Gravy
Cottee's
Jam
Cottee's
Topping & Syrup
Cottee's
Pudding & Custard
Ezy-Sauce
Pickles, Chutney & Relish
F. Whitlock & Sons
Tomato/BBQ Sauce
F. Whitlock & Sons
Soup
F. Whitlock & Sons
Baked Beans/Spaghetti
Farex
Baby Food
Foster Clark's
Pudding & Custard
Fountain
Pickles, Chutney & Relish
Fountain
Soy/Asian Sauce
Fountain
Chilli/Hot Sauce
Fountain
Tomato/BBQ Sauce
Fountain
Salad Dressing/Mayonnaise
Golden Circle
Canned Fruit
Golden Circle
Cordial
Golden Circle
Juice & Fruit Drinks
Golden Circle
Canned Vegies/Beans
Gravox
Gravy
Gravox
Stock
Greenseas
Canned Fish (Tuna)
Hamper
Canned Meat/Meals
Heinz
Frozen Meals/Pizza
Heinz
Mustard
Heinz
Chilli/Hot Sauce
Heinz
Pudding & Custard
Heinz
Baby Accessories
Heinz
Baby Food
★ some products certified organic
Heinz
Baby Formula
Heinz
Baked Beans/Spaghetti
Heinz
Canned Vegies/Beans
Heinz
Frozen Vegies/Chips
Heinz
Baby Wipes
Heinz
Canned Meat/Meals
Heinz
Packet Meals
Heinz
Soup
Heinz
Canned Fruit
Heinz
Tomato/BBQ Sauce
Ice Magic
Topping & Syrup
Kraft
Cheese
Kraft Easy Mac
Packet Meals
Kraft Mac & Cheese
Packet Meals
Lea & Perrins
Pickles, Chutney & Relish
Little Kids
Baby Food
Monbulk
Jam
Popper Juice
Juice & Fruit Drinks
Rose's
Jam
Saxa
Herbs & Spices
Tandaco
Herbs & Spices
Tandaco
Packet Meals
Tandaco
Yeast & Baking Agents
Tom Piper
Canned Meat/Meals
Wattie's
Baked Beans/Spaghetti
White Crow
Tomato/BBQ Sauce
Weight Watchers
Frozen Meals/Pizza