Sunbeam
Small kitchen appliances
Set up in Australia in 1902 as a small branch of the American group, Chicago Flexible Shaft Company. Went through several name changes and ownership changes, including a stint of Australian ownership from 1987 until 2016 when Newell Brands took over ownership.

Overall

Owned USA
Rating F
About the Ratings

Company Ownership

Sunbeam Corporation Ltd
AUS
Newell Australia Pty Ltd
owns 100% of Sunbeam Corporation Ltd
AUS
Consumer goods distributor
Office supplies company Sanford Australia was bought by Newell Rubbermaid (now known as Newell Brands) in 1992, and later renamed Newell Austraia.
Newell Brands Inc
owns 100% of Newell Australia Pty Ltd
USA
Consumer goods
Global consumer goods company founded in 1903. Owns well-known brands in the areas of writing, outdoor solutions, home appliances, baby care and more. Acquired Jarden in 2015 and changed its name to Newell Brands (formerly Newell Rubbermaid).

Company Assessment

(Last updated Jun 2024)
Sunbeam Corporation Ltd
Information
D- grade at Behind the Barcode
D- grade in the Baptist World Aid Australia's Behind the Barcode 'Ethical Electronics Guide 2016', which grades companies on their efforts to mitigate the risks of forced labour, child labour and worker exploitation throughout their supply chains. Assessment criteria fall into four main categories: policies, traceability & transparency, monitoring & training and worker rights. [Listed under Information due to age of report]
Newell Australia Pty Ltd
Praise
3/5 for packaging performance
This company received a packaging performance level of 3 (Advanced) in its 2024 APCO Annual Report. Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is a not-for-profit organisation leading the development of a circular economy for packaging in Australia. Each year, APCO Members are required to submit an APCO Annual Report and Action Plan, which includes an overall performance level from 1 (Getting Started) to 5 (Beyond Best Practice).
Source: APCO (2024)
Newell Brands Inc
Praise
85.1/100 in Newsweek rankings
America's Most Responsible Companies 2022 by Newsweek and Statista recognises the Top 500 most responsible companies in the United States. Companies were evaluated in three areas: environmental (waste, energy use, etc.), social (leadership diversity, employees and philanthropy) and governance (transparency and economic performance). This company received a total score of 85.1/100, ranking 6th in the Consumer Goods sector, and 50th overall.
100% on Corporate Equality Index
This company is listed as having best practice on a report card on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality in corporate America.
Criticism
32.8% 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 32.8% (Weak).
CDP Climate Change score of D
In 2023, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change risk. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Climate Change score of D.
Source: CDP (2023)
D grade in Plastic Promises Scorecard
As You Sow's 2024 Plastic Promises Scorecard measures the corporate ambition and action of 225 large companies across six industries on six core pillars of plastic packaging pollution prevention: 1) Recyclability, 2) Reduction, 3) Recycled Content, 4) Recovery, 5) Reuse, and 6) Producer Responsibility. This company received a grade of D.
22/100 S&P Global ESG Score
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 22/100 in the Household Durables 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.
CEO Pay Ratio of 274:1
In 2022 the median pay for a worker at this company was US$37,644. The CEO was paid 274 times this amount. Exorbitant CEO pay is a major contributor to rising inequality. CEOs are getting more because of their power to set pay, not because they are increasing productivity or possess specific, high-demand skills. The economy would suffer no harm if CEOs were paid less (or taxed more). In contrast, the CEO-to-typical-worker compensation ratio was 20-to-1 in 1965 and 58-to-1 in 1989.
JUST Capital ranking
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 640th of 937 companies, and 10th of 16 Household & Leisure Goods companies.
Information
Excessive CEO pay
As You Sow's 2020 report, 'The 100 Most Overpaid CEOs', reveals the 100 most overpaid CEOs from USA's 500 largest public companies (as determined by the S&P 500 list). This company's CEO, Michael Polk came in at number 38 on the list, having been paid US$15,547,207 in 2019. According to the report, "Most CEOs have come to be grossly overpaid, and that overpayment is harmful to the companies, the shareholders, the customers, the other employees, the economy, and society as a whole."
Corporate responsibility claims
This company has corporate responsibility claims on its website including efforts in the the areas of philanthropy and reductions in water and energy consumption.
How2Recycle member
This company is a member of How2Recycle. The How2Recycle Label is a voluntary, standardized labeling system that clearly communicates recycling instructions to the public. It involves a coalition of forward thinking brands who want their packaging to be recycled and are empowering consumers through smart packaging labels. Companies must be a member of the program to use the How2Recycle Label.
Responsible Minerals Initiative member
This company is a member of the Responsible Minerals Initiative (formerly the Conflict-Free Sourcing Initiative), which helps companies address conflict minerals issues in their supply chains. The RMI provides information on conflict-free smelters and refiners, common tools to gather sourcing information, and forums for exchanging best practices on addressing conflict minerals. Membership is open to companies that use or transact in tantalum, tin, tungsten or gold (3TG). Founded in 2008 by members of the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition and the Global e-Sustainability Initiative.
Source: RMI (2019)
Modern Slavery statement
California, the UK and Australia have all enacted legislation requiring companies operating within their borders to disclose their efforts to eradicate modern slavery from their operations and supply chains. Follow the link to see this company's disclosure statement.
CDP Water Security score of C-
In 2023, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to manage and govern freshwater resources. Responding companies are scored on six key metrics: transparency; governance & strategy; measuring & monitoring; risk assessment; targets & goals; and value chain engagement. This company received a CDP Water Security score of C-.
Source: CDP (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.
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Company Details

Type:
Wholly-owned subsidiary
Founded:
1902
Revenue:
653 million AUD (2015)
Employees:
13 (2015)

Contact Details

Address:
Units 5-6, 13 Lord St, Botany, NSW, 2019, Australia
Phone:
02 9695 9999
Freecall:
1300 881 861
Website:
www.sunbeam.com.au

Products / Brands

Sunbeam
Crock-Pot Small Kitchen Appliances
Sunbeam Irons
Sunbeam Heating & Cooling
Sunbeam Air Purifiers
Sunbeam Coffee Machines
Sunbeam Small Kitchen Appliances