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Mattel

OVERALL

Owned
USA
Rating
Criticisms

Toys

Mattel Inc. is the world's largest toy company. Founded in 1945. Mattel closed its last USA factory in 2002, outsourcing production to China. Brands include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars.

Mattel Inc   USA     website   email      

> About the Ratings

Company Assessment

PRAISE CRITICISM INFORMATION
Mattel Inc
Social 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.
Source: Human Rights Campaign (2021)
Social Workers rights in China
This 2017 investigative report by China Labour Watch reveals labor abuses in four Chinese toy factories. One or more of these factories supply this company. Labor abuses include low wages, excessive overtime, dangerous work environments and humiliating living conditions.
Source: China Labor Watch (2017)
Social Workers rights in China
This 2018 investigative report by China Labour Watch reveals labor abuses in four Chinese toy factories. One or more of these factories supply this company. Labor abuses include low wages, excessive overtime, dangerous work environments and humiliating living conditions.
Source: China Labor Watch (2018)
Social Workers rights in China
A 2019 report by China Labour Watch conducted investigations into five Chinese toy factories, which manufacture for the largest toy companies in the world, including this one. Labor abuses include low wages, excessive overtime, dangerous working conditions, terrible living conditions and gender discrimination.
Source: China Labor Watch (2019)
Social Workers rights in China
This 2020 investigative report by China Labour Watch reveals labor abuses in two Chinese toy factories that supply this company. Labor abuses include low wages, excessive overtime, dangerous work environments and humiliating living conditions.
Source: China Labor Watch (2020)
Business Ethics CEO Pay Ratio of 2,808:1
In 2019 the median pay for a worker at this company was US$5,526. The CEO was paid 2,808 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.
Source: AFL-CIO (2020)
Business Ethics 15.0% in Newsweek Green Ranking 2017
This company received a score of 15/100 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)
Social 48.4% 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 48.4% (Minimal).
Source: As You Sow (2019)
Business Ethics Excessive CEO pay
As You Sow's 2019 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, Margaret H. Georgiadis came in at number 9 on the list, having been paid US$31,275,289 in 2018. 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."
Source: As You Sow (2019)
Business Ethics 44.4/125 at JUST Capital
JUST Capital polls Americans every year to identify the issues that matter most in defining just business behaviour. For their 2023 rankings JUST Capital asked a representative sample of 3,002 Americans to compare 20 different business Issues on a head-to-head basis, producing a reliable hierarchy of Issues ranked in order of priority. Issues are organised under the headings Workers, Customers, Communities, the Environment, or Shareholders & Governance. 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 629th of 951 companies, and 10th of 18 Household & Leisure Goods companies.
Source: JUST Capital (2023)
Business Ethics 38/100 S&P Global ESG Score
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 38/100 in the Leisure Equipment & Products and Consumer Electronics 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)
Social Recall of toys
Bad Company Awards 2007 - Mattel recalled over 21 million toys from around the world over a five-week period in 2007, due to design faults and the use of poisonous levels of lead paint. The recall included one toy that contained over 200 times the amount of lead permitted by US lawmakers.
Source: Consumers International (2007)
Social Workers rights in China
This 2014 report by China Labour Watch investigates four Chinese factories supplying some of the largest toy brand companies in the world, including this one. The report reveals many labour violations in these factories, including long hours, excessive overtime, dangerous working conditions, low wages, and underpaid workers. [Listed under Information due to age of report]
Source: China Labor Watch (2014)
Social Workers rights in China
This 2015 investigative report by China Labour Watch found that poor working conditions in Chinese toy factories continue. This company was among those implicated in the report. Labor abuses such as low wages and excessive overtime are still widespread, with very little improvement in working conditions over time. [Listed under Information due to age of report]
Source: China Labor Watch (2015)
Social Workers Rights in China
This 2005 investigative report by China Labour Watch reveals how workers in Chinese toy factories endure work schedules that surpass the legal limit by at least 36.5 hours per week, pay rates as low as only 59 percent of the local minimum wage, unsanitary cafeterias, dorm rooms housing 22 people each, and employees forced to foot the entire cost of their work-injury insurance and, in some instances, lack of insurance of any kind. [Listed under information due to age of report]
Source: China Labor Watch (2005)
Social Workers rights in China
This 2013 investigative report by China Labour Watch reveals systemic labor violations in Chinese factories which supply Mattel, including wage theft, excessive overtime, low wages, hiring discrimination, hot and crowded dorms, fire hazards, worker health concerns, pollution and many more. [Listed under Information due to age of report]
Source: China Labor Watch (2013)
Environment Rainforest Alliance honouree
This company won a 2014 Sustainable Standard-Setter Award from the Rainforest Alliance, which recognizes businesses that are working diligently to meet rigorous sustainability standards, protect the environment, and support local communities worldwide. The award recognises Mattel's improvements in its paper and wood-fibre sourcing.
Source: Rainforest Alliance (2014)
Environment Cancelled contract with APP
In Oct 2011 Mattel announced that it will stop buying paper and packaging linked to rainforest destruction following a global campaign by Greenpeace. One such company is the notorious Asia Pulp and Paper group (APP), which Greenpeace investigators have shown to be involved in widespread rainforest clearance in Indonesia.
Source: Greenpeace (2011)
Social Mum-friendly employer
This company was named in Seramount's 100 Best Companies 2022 for being a mum-friendly employer. Listed companies provide inclusive benefits for families, including paid gender-neutral parental leave, phase-back programs, bereavement leave after miscarriage, reimbursement for fertility expenses, and increased mental health benefits for employees.
Source: Seramount (2022)
Business Ethics 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.
Source: How2Recycle (2020)
Environment CDP Forests Score of C
In 2022, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts towards removing commodity-driven deforestation and forest degradation from its direct operations and supply chains. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Forests Score of C.
Source: CDP (2022)
Environment CDP Climate Change Score of C
In 2022, 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 C.
Source: CDP (2022)
Social 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.
Source: company website (2017)
Social ICTI Ethical Toy Program member
This company is a member of the ICTI Ethical Toy Program, the global standard for ethical toy manufacture. The Ethical Toy Program focuses on social sustainability issues which impact well-being of workers involved in toy manufacture globally. However human rights groups including SOMO and China Labor Watch have criticised the Program, with investigators finding serious labour rights violations occurring in ICTI-certified factories.
Source: ICTI Ethical Toy Program (2020)
Business Ethics 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)

> About the Icons

Company Details

Type Public company
Revenue 1.4 billion USD (2019)
Employees 25,800 (2018)
Subsidiaries Mattel Pty Ltd 

Toy wholesalers


MEGA Brands Inc 

Toys and stationery maker

Founded as Mega Bloks in 1985. Makers of plastic building blocks and other construction and magnetic toys, puzzles, games and stationery. Acquired by Mattel in 2014.

Contact Details

Address El Segundo, California, USA
Website corporate.mattel.com

Products / Brands

Mattel Australia
American Girl Dolls
Barbie Dolls
Creatable World Dolls
Enchantimals Dolls
Fisher Price Baby Accessories
Fisher Price Baby & Pre-school
Hot Wheels Vehicles
Ker Plunk Board Games & Puzzles
Matchbox Vehicles
Mega Bloks Construction
Mega Construx Construction
Monster High Dolls
Pictionary Board Games & Puzzles
Polly Pocket Dolls
RoseArt Arts & Crafts
Scrabble Board Games & Puzzles
The Board Dudes Markers & Highlighters
Thomas & Friends Vehicles
Toy Story Action Toys
Uno Board Games & Puzzles
WWE Action Toys


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