Business ethics think-tank Ethisphere has released its 16th annual roster of the world’s most ethical companies, a 2022 list that represents 22 countries and 45 industries.
Ethisphere’s yearly designation is a sought-after one, demonstrating a company’s commitment to ethical business practices through programs that positively affect employees and communities and contribute to sustainable and profitable long-term business performance, the organization said in a news release. Check out the complete list of honorees here.
“The moment is now, and the data is clear: companies must lead on sustainability, social issues, and governance. The World’s Most Ethical Companies understand that the capitalism of today and tomorrow is one that demonstrates how we turn our ideals into action,” Ethisphere CEO Timothy Erblich said in the news release.
Six of the 136 companies honored have been recognized 16 straight years, every year since the awards began in 2007, while 14 are first-time honorees. There are many household names on the list, including companies like Starbucks, as well as some that are less well-known, like insurance company TIAA.
“At TIAA, transparency, accountability and integrity are values deeply embedded in our culture,” Thasunda Brown Duckett, president and CEO of TIAA, said in the release. “We know our clients want to work with a partner they trust, and we work hard to do right by them, our employees, and our communities. We’re honored to be named one of the world’s most ethical companies by Ethisphere for the eighth straight year.”
Global coffee chain Starbucks makes its 14th appearance on the list in 2022.
“At Starbucks, we know we have to earn the trust we have from our partners, customers and communities each day by leading with a purpose that goes well beyond the pursuit of profit,” Starbucks President and CEO Kevin Johnson said in the news release.
As part of the announcement of the 2022 list, Ethisphere also reported that its 2022 Ethics Index, a collection of publicly traded companies on the list, outperformed a comparable index of large-cap companies by nearly 25 percent points over the past five years.
“The outperformance, which Ethisphere refers to as the ethics premium, has remained consistent since we began tracking the equity performance of honoree companies. We believe this outperformance is the result of the kinds of practices that lead a company to be on our list, practices that demonstrate investment in their people, culture, and communities. We see in this data that those practices, over time, lead to stronger financial performance,” Erblich said.
Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey and Sports Emmy winner Ernie Johnson will deliver keynote addresses at a virtual honoree gala April 12.
Ethisphere’s proprietary assessment process includes more than 200 data points on culture; environmental and social practices; ethics and compliance activities; governance; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and initiatives that support a strong value chain.
This year, the evaluation was updated to include questions inspired by the continuing COVID-19 pandemic and the U.S. Department of Justice’s recent focus on effectiveness of a company’s risk assessment efforts, as well as 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.
