Apple, Pfizer among new additions to ethical company list

This year, Ethisphere lauded 136 honorees representing 22 countries and 45 industries. New to the list were 14 companies, including tech giant Apple, pharmaceuticals company Pfizer, and financial services firms Western Union and Lincoln Financial Group.

Automotive components manufacturer Tenneco, awarded Compliance Program of the Year at Compliance Week’s 2021 Excellence in Compliance Awards, was also recognized for the first time.

According to Ethisphere, companies on the list “have demonstrated a commitment to ethical business practices through programs that positively impact employees, communities, and broader stakeholders and contribute to sustainable and profitable long-term business performance.”

Six companies have been recognized every year since the inception of Ethisphere’s first awards in 2007:

• Aflac (accident and life insurance)
• Ecolab (chemicals)
• International Paper (paper and packaging)
• Kao (health and beauty)
• Milliken & Company (industrial manufacturing)
• PepsiCo (food and beverage)

Another six honorees have been recognized every year for the past 15 years, including consulting services firm Accenture, automotive company Cummins, industrial manufacturing company John Deere, real estate company JLL, industrial manufacturing company Johnson Controls, and business services provider Premier.

Methodology: Ethisphere’s rating system, the Ethics Quotient, includes more than 200 multiple-choice data points covering culture; environmental and social practices; ethics and compliance activities; governance; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and initiatives that support a strong value chain.

This year, Ethisphere updated its evaluation to include questions addressing programmatic changes made in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. “It also included a new area around risk assessment, to better address the U.S. Department of Justice’s recent focus on effectiveness of a company’s risk assessment efforts; more detailed questions around key impact assessment processes; and a range of other updates to reflect the evolving landscape as it relates to those in ethics, compliance, and governance,” Ethisphere stated.