Pukka Herbs
OVERALL |
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Owned |
UK |
Rating |
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Herbal teas
Acquired by Unilever in 2017.
Company Ownership
| Pukka Herbs | UK | website | ||||
Unilever 
owns 100% of Pukka Herbs |
UK | website | ||||
Food, personal care and home care One of the worlds largest consumer goods companies, with sales in about 190 countries. Unilever is a dual-listed public company made up of the Netherlands-based Unilever N.V. and UK-based Unilever PLC. | ||||||
Company Assessment
| PRAISE | CRITICISM | INFORMATION | ||
| Pukka Herbs | ||||
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All of this company's products are certified organic by the Soil Association
[Source 2019][More on Eco-Certification]
Certified B Corporations use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. B Corps meet comprehensive and transparent social and environmental performance standards; meet higher legal accountability standards; and build business constituency for good business.
[Source 2019][More on Governance]
1% for the Planet is a global movement of 1300+ companies that donate 1% of their sales to a network of 2300+ environmental organisations worldwide.
[Source 2019][More on Finance] |
As listed on the We Mean Business website, this company has committed to the following climate action initiatives: commit to 100% renewable power, adopt a science-based emissions reduction target.
[Source 2017][More on Climate Change] |
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| Unilever | ||||
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In 2019, 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 A.
[Source 2019][More on Forests]
In 2019, 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 A.
[Source 2019][More on Climate Change]
In 2018 KnowTheChain benchmarked 120 large global companies in the ICT, Food & Beverage, and Apparel & Footwear sectors on their efforts to address forced labour and human trafficking in their supply chains. This company received a score of 69/100.
[Source 2018][More on Workers Rights]
The Access to Nutrition Index (ATNI) is a global initiative that evaluates the world's largest food and beverage manufacturers on their policies, practices and performance related to undernutrition and obesity. Of the 22 companies ranked this company came 2nd.
[Source 2018][More on Product Safety]
In 2019, 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 A.
[Source 2019][More on Human Rights]
The 2019 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark assessed 200 of the largest publicly traded companies in the world from the Agricultural Products, Apparel, Extractives and ICT Manufacturing sectors on 100 human rights indicators. This company's score was in the 70-80 band range. The overall average score was a disappointing 24%.
[Source 2019][More on Human Rights]
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 90/100 in the Personal Products category of the 2019 SAM Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices. 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 2019][More on Sustainability Reporting]
The WWF Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard 2019 assesses 173 companies on the commitments they have made, and the actions they have taken, to ensure that there is no destruction of nature including no deforestation along their supply chains; and support a responsible and sustainable palm oil industry beyond their own supply chain. This company is rated 'well on the path' with a score of 14.8 out of a possible total of 22.
[Source 2019][More on Palm Oil]
In 2016 Greenpeace East Asia ranked the world's 30 biggest personal care companies on their commitment to eliminating microbeads from their personal care products. The scorecard was based on four main criteria: commitment & transparency, definition, deadline and global application. This company ranked joint second. Microbeads are not retained by wastewater treatment and end up in the ocean where they are a threat to the marine environment.
[Source 2016][More on Oceans]
This company received a score of 10 out of a possible total of 24 in the WWF Soy Scorecard 2016, which rates companies on their use of responsible soy, grown without damaging the environment and harming people.
[Source 2016][More on Forests]
Ethical Consumer has ranked companies' practices and policies in relation to their palm oil sourcing for the Rainforest Foundation/Ethical Consumer palm oil campaign. This company received a 'green' rating.
[Source 2016][More on Palm Oil]
As You Sow's 2020 report, Waste and Opportunity, ranks companies on plastic packaging pollution. The study measures the progress of 50 large companies in the beverage, quick-service restaurant, consumer packaged goods, and retail sectors on six core pillars where swift action is needed to reduce plastic pollution: 1) Packaging Design, 2) Reusable Packaging, 3) Recycled Content, 4) Packaging Data Transparency, 5) Support for Recycling, and 6) Producer Responsibility. This company received a grade of B-
[Source 2020][More on Packaging]
In 2017 the Rainforest Alliance presented this company a Corporate Sustainability Champions award, which recognizes companies who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to sustainability, improving livelihoods, and conserving forests all around the world.
[Source 2017][More on Eco-Certification]
This company is listed as having best practice on a report card on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality in corporate America.
[Source 2019][More on Workers Rights]
The 2019 Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW) report ranks global food companies on how they are managing and reporting their farm animal welfare policies and practices. This company appeared in tier 3, "Established but work to be done", with tier 1 being the best, and tier 6 the worst.
[Source 2019][More on Animal Rights]
Oxfam's 2016 Behind the Brands Scorecard assesses the agricultural sourcing policies of the world's 10 largest food and beverage companies. It exclusively focuses on publicly available information that relates to the policies of these companies on their sourcing of agricultural commodities from developing countries. This company scored 74% (fair).
[Source 2016][More on Governance]
The 2020 Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World list is an extensive data-driven corporate sustainability assessment. The ranked companies are leaders in the field of a sustainable business approach. The efficiency of a company's energy, water, CO2 and waste management is measured in relation to its total sales volume. The disclosure of that information is a pre-condition for the assessment. Of the 53 companies in its peer group, this company ranked #3.
[Source 2020][More on Sustainability Reporting] |
This company received a score of 7.9/100 (retrieved 25-Feb-2020) in the Corporate Information Transparency Index (CITI), a system for evaluating supply chain practices in China, particularly in regards to environmental management and water pollution. Scores are calculated using government compliance data, online monitoring data, and third-party environmental audits, as well as trends in the environmental performance of factories in the company's supply chains.
[Source 2020][More on Habitats]
In 2018 volunteers collected and catalogued more than 187,000 pieces of trash from beach cleanups around the world to find out which corporations are contributing the most to the global plastic pollution problem. This company ranked as one of the world's top 10 plastic polluters.
[Source 2018][More on Oceans]
This company sources palm oil from at least 20 of the 25 dirty palm oil producers identified in the 2018 Greenpeace report "The Final Countdown". In addition to deforestation, the 25 individual cases in the report include evidence of exploitation and social conflicts, illegal deforestation, development without permits, plantation development in areas zoned for protection and forest fires linked to land clearance.
[Source 2018][More on Palm Oil]
A 2015 investigation by the BBC has found workers on Indian tea plantations who pick tea for this company are paid less than ÂŁ2 per day and live in inhuman conditions. Living and working conditions are so bad, and wages so low, that tea workers and their families are left malnourished and vulnerable to fatal illnesses. There was also a disregard for health and safety, with workers spraying chemicals without protection, and on some estates, child labour being used.
[Source 2015][More on Workers Rights]
Hundreds of workers at Unilever's Kodaikanal thermometer assembly plant in India have been exposed to mercury poisoning. The factory operators did not give its workers any protective equipment or information about the disastrous impact that mercury has on health. The factory owned by Hindustan Unilever also dumped toxic mercury around their plant, and this has not been cleaned up in the 14 years since this plant was shut down. The contamination continues to impact forests and groundwater. Campaigning organisation Jhatkaa is calling on Unilever to clean up Kodaikanal's mercury pollution and compensate the workers.
[Source 2015][More on Human Rights]
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 10.7% (Weak).
[Source 2019][More on Human Rights]
A 2016 report by Amnesty International found a range of labour rights abuses on the palm oil plantations operated by Wilmar's subsidiaries and suppliers in Indonesia. These abuses include worst forms of child labour, forced labour, discrimination against women workers, people being paid below the minimum wage, and workers suffering injuries from toxic chemicals. The report confirms that Unilever purchases palm oil from Wilmar.
[Source 2016][More on Palm Oil]
In 2019 Rainforest Action Network (RAN) conducted a series of undercover investigations which showed that several major snack food producers, including this company, have been found purchasing palm oil from mills that have continued to source palm oil resulting from the illegal clearing of lowland rainforests within the nationally protected Rawa Singkil Wildlife Reserve in Indonesia. These mills are located immediately next to areas of illegal encroachment into the Leuser Ecosystem and lack the necessary procedures to trace the location where the palm oil they sell is grown, a key requirement for complying with the No Deforestation, No Peatlands, No Exploitation (NDPE) policy this company has publicly committed to.
[Source 2019][More on Palm Oil]
This 2014 report by Friends of the Earth documents a tenfold increase in unregulated, unlabeled "nanofood" products on the American market since 2008. The report named this company among those with products containing unlabeled nano-ingredients. These nanomaterials differ significantly from larger particles of the same chemical composition, and new studies are adding to a growing body of scientific evidence indicating they may be more toxic to humans and the environment.
[Source 2014][More on Product Safety]
In 2016 Unilever settled a multiple class action (some 2,294 claimants in total thus far) which claimed that the company knew of the potential for scalp burns and hair loss on use of their Suave Professionals Keratin Infusion 30-Day Smoothing Kit before it was launched in 2011, but did not warn consumers. Unilever discontinued the product in May 2012, but maintained that it was safe to use, and did not disclose reports of hair loss and scalp burns. The company has created a US$10,250,000 fund for the victims.
[Source 2016][More on Product Safety]
This website by German NGO Earth Link rates companies on their corporate policies against child labour, production monitoring and accusations of child labour. This company received at least one red mark, indicating poor performance in one or more of these areas.
[Source 2013][More on Human Rights]
This company appears on PETA's (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, USA) list of companies that are working toward regulatory changes to reduce the number of animals used for testing. This company DOES test on animals.
[Source 2018][More on Animal Testing]
This company received a score of 42.9/100 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 2017][More on Sustainability Reporting]
This company scores Ethical Consumer's worst rating for the likely use of tax avoidance strategies, and has at least two high risk subsidiaries in tax havens.
[Source 2018][More on Finance]
In Dec 2017 Italy's antitrust agency fined Unilever 60 million euros for abusing its dominant position in the country's ice cream market through its Algida brand.
[Source 2017][More on Governance]
In Dec 2014 this company and 12 other consumer goods firms were fined a total of 951m euros by the French competition watchdog for price fixing in supermarkets. The regulator said the companies colluded on price increases between 2003 and 2006. Unilever received the second largest fine of 172.5m euros.
[Source 2014][More on Governance] |
This company uses microbeads in some of its personal care products. These particles are not retained by wastewater treatment so end up in the ocean. While microbeads aren't thought to be a health hazard to consumers, they are a threat to the marine environment.
[Source 2014][More on Oceans]
This company has products rated RED in the Centre for Food Safety's True Food Shopper's Guide (USA). Products on the RED list contain ingredients that come from the most common GE crops (corn, soy, canola, cotton). Companies with products on this list have confirmed that their products may have or are likely to be made with GE ingredients, or have not denied using GE foods when given the opportunity to do so.
[Source 2013][More on Genetic Engineering]
This 2011 report by the Ecologist reveals how the Kericho tea estate in Kenya,
operated by Unilever, is at the centre of controversy over allegations of 'rampant' discrimination and sexual harassment of women, poor housing conditions, casualisation of labour, violations of employment regulations and low wages. [Listed under Information due to age of report] [Source 2011][More on Workers Rights]
This 2011 report by SOMO and ICN reveals workers picking tea for Unilever in India and Kenya are subject to precarious working conditions and labor rights violations, even though this tea carries the Rainforest Alliance certificate. [Listed under Information due to age of report]
[Source 2011][More on Workers Rights]
Friends of the Earth's 2014 report "Tiny Ingredients, Big Risks" names this company as one of over 200 transnational food companies engaged in nanotechnology research and development, and on their way to commercializing products. New studies are adding to a growing body of scientific evidence indicating nanomaterials may be toxic to humans and the environment.
[Source 2014][More on Product Safety]
German NGO Rainforest Rescue launched a campaign against Unilever in August 2011. Unilever is one of world's largest buyers of palm oil. One of its major suppliers, Wilmar, is notorious for illegal logging and human rights violations, and has been criticised for hiring a paramilitary combat unit in Sumatra, Indonesia to intimidate indigenous people and peasants, destroy their homes and drive them off their land in order develop giant palm oil plantations. {Listed under Information due to age of campaign]
[Source 2011][More on Human Rights]
This company is a partner of the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition, which claims will lift 50 million people in Africa out of poverty by 2022. But according to a 2015 report by ActionAid, the scheme will benefit multinational companies at the expense of small-scale farmers and is likely to increase poverty and inequality in Africa. Launched in 2012, the New Alliance provides aid money from rich countries like the US and the UK, and helps big business invest in the African agricultural sector. But in return, African countries are required to change their land, seed and trade rules in favour of big business. The New Alliance will: Make it easier for big corporations to grab land in Africa: Prevent farmers from breeding, saving and exchanging seeds: Heavily promote chemical fertilisers and pesticides, which increase farmersÂ’ risk of debt as well as damaging the environment and farmers' health: Replace family farms with low paid, insecure jobs; and Prevent countries from restricting crop exports, even at times of domestic shortage.
[Source 2015][More on Finance]
In March 2011 Kraft Foods, Unilever and Dr. Oetker were fined US$53.2m for illegally sharing 'competition-relevant information' by German competition authorities. [Listed under Information due to age of court finding]
[Source 2011][More on Governance]
Consumer goods giants Unilever and Procter & Gamble were fined 315.2 million euros ($A436 million) by EU regulators in Apr 2011 for fixing washing powder prices in eight EU countries. [Listed under Information due to age of court finding]
[Source 2011][More on Governance]
Unilever has committed to sourcing 75 per cent of its paper and board packaging from sustainably managed forests or from recycled material by 2015, rising to 100 per cent by 2020.
[Source 2010][More on Forests]
Thanks to the staggering public support for Greenpeace's Dove campaign in April 2008, Unilever has now agreed to play their part in saving the Paradise Forests of South East Asia. As the biggest single buyer of palm oil in the world, Unilever has a special responsibility to help clean up the industry that's behind so much forest destruction.
[Source 2008][More on Palm Oil]
This company is a signatory to the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, whose goal is to eliminate plastic pollution at its source.
[Source 2019][More on Oceans]
As listed on the We Mean Business website, this company has committed to the following climate action initiatives: adopt a science-based emissions reduction target; put a price on carbon; commit to 100% renewable power; responsible corporate engagement in climate policy; report climate change information in mainstream reports as a fiduciary duty; remove commodity-driven deforestation from all supply chains by 2020; develop low carbon action plan; improve water security; commit to electric vehicles.
[Source 2017][More on Climate Change]
This company sells Rainforest Alliance certified tea. However this only represents a fraction of this company's total tea sales. Rainforest Alliance certification has been dubbed 'Fairtrade light' by critics, as it offers producers no minimum price for their crop, and guarantees a minimum of just 30% of the product is certified.
[Source 2020][More on Eco-Certification]
This company appears on the 2020 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, signifying a commitment to supporting gender equality through policy development, representation, and transparency.
[Source 2020][More on Human Rights]
The Female FTSE Board Report 2015 examines the percentage of women on the UK's FTSE 100 boards of directors. This company was one of 41 in the FTSE 100 with at least 25% female directors. Unilever was in 8th place with 35.7%.
[Source 2015][More on Workers Rights]
This company was recognised as a leading organisation in the Diversity Best Practices Inclusion Index. Participants are scored on three areas: Best practices in recruitment, retention and advancement of people from under-represented groups - women, racial/ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people; creating an inclusive culture through leadership, accountability, communications and employee engagement; and transparency in willingness to share workforce demographic data.
[Source 2018][More on Workers Rights]
This company was named in the Top 10 of Working Mother's 100 Best Companies 2018 for being a mum-friendly employer. Listed companies help working parents succeed at home and at work by providing expanded parental leaves, more flexibility with work hours, assistance for special needs, and opportunities for career development.
[Source 2018][More on Workers Rights]
In Feb 2011 Unilever became the first major food manufacturer to announce that it will switch to 100% cage-free eggs for all products it produces worldwide.
[Source 2011][More on Factory Farming]
Compassion in World Farming is a UK-based organisation which works with the European food industry to encourage and reward commitment, transparency, performance and innovation in the field of animal welfare. This company won their Good Egg Award in 2008 for converting their flagship mayonnaise brands Amore, Hellmans and Calve, to use free-range eggs only across the EU.
[Source 2008][More on Animal Rights]
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 2020][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]
This company is a member of the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Platform, the main food industry initiative supporting the development of sustainable agriculture worldwide. Created by Nestle, Unilever and Danone in 2002, the SAI Platform is a non-profit organization to facilitate sharing, at precompetitive level, of knowledge and initiatives to support the development and implementation of sustainable agriculture practices involving the different stakeholders of the food chain.
[Source 2019][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]
This company is a Bronze Member of the Sustainable Brands Network, the leading peer to peer, learning and networking group designed to support brands in meeting their sustainability goals and ultimately become those leaders of the next sustainable economy.
[Source 2018][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]
Deloitte developed a Zero Impact Growth Monitor that was used in 2012 to assess and rank 65 different companies' attempts to become more sustainable. Six companies reached the "Ecosystem" level: Puma, Nike, Nestle, Natura, Unilever and Ricoh. These pioneering companies have not only set measurable and ambitious mid- to long-term targets (beyond 2020), but have also embedded their sub-policies in a holistic strategic vision of their attempt to minimize their negative environmental and societal impacts.
[Source 2012][More on Governance]
This company is a member of Bonsucro - Better Sugar Cane Initiative, a global non-profit, multi-stakeholder organisation fostering the sustainability of the sugarcane sector through its leading metric-based certification scheme and its support for continuous improvement for members.
[Source 2019][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]
This company is a global partner of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, whose stated mission is to accelerate the transition to a circular economy. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation works with business, government and academia to build a framework for an economy that is restorative and regenerative by design.
[Source 2019][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]
This company is a participant of Make Fashion Circular, a multi-stakeholder platform run by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, which drives collaboration between industry leaders and other key stakeholders to create a textiles economy fit for the 21st century. Its ambition is to ensure clothes are made from safe and renewable materials, new business models increase their use, and old clothes are turned into new. This new textiles economy would benefit business, society, and the environment.
[Source 2019][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]
The Ethical Tea Partnership was formed in 1997 when a number of major tea companies committed to working together to improve the social and environmental conditions in their supply chains.
[Source 2020][More on Sustainability Reporting]
Green Bonds enable capital-raising and investment for new and existing projects with environmental benefits. The Green Bond Principles are voluntary best practice guidelines that recommend transparency and disclosure and promote integrity in the development of the Green Bond market by clarifying the approach for issuance of a Green Bond.
[Source 2018][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]
This company is a member of The Sustainability Consortium, an organization of diverse global participants that work collaboratively to build a scientific foundation that drives innovation to improve consumer product sustainability. They develop transparent methodologies, tools, and strategies to drive a new generation of products and supply networks that address environmental, social, and economic imperatives.
[Source 2019][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]
This company is a member of the Cocoa & Forests Initiative, demonstrating a commitment to no further conversion of any forest land for cocoa production in Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire. On March 2019, thirty-three company signatories, accounting for about 85% of global cocoa usage, released detailed individual action plans. The action plans focus on forest protection and restoration, sustainable cocoa production and farmers' livelihoods, and community engagement and social inclusion.
[Source 2020][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]
The United Nations Global Compact asks companies to embrace, support and enact, within their sphere of influence, a set of 10 values in the areas of human rights, labour standards, the environment, and anti-corruption. However it's non-binding nature has been widely criticised, and many signatory corporations continue to violate the Compact's values.
[Source x][More on Sustainability Reporting]
In 2016 Greenpeace published a report on the progress towards zero deforestation in the palm oil supply chains of several multinational companies. Companies were assessed on three criteria: responsible sourcing, transparency and industry reform. This company was rated as 'getting there'.
[Source 2016][More on Palm Oil]
The Forest 500 identifies, ranks, and tracks the governments, companies and financial institutions worldwide that together could virtually eradicate tropical deforestation. Rankings are based on their public policies and commitments and potential impacts on tropical forests in the context of forest risk commodities (palm oil, soy, beef, leather, timber and paper). This company received a score of 57%.
[Source 2019][More on Forests]
This 2013 Oxfam report is a study of labour issues in Unilever's Vietnam operations and supply chain. The report, based on research in Vietnam, explores the reality on the ground in Unilever's operations and wider supply chain, and compares the findings with the company's high-level policy commitments. Unusually, the company co-operated fully with the study, providing access to its staff, operations, data and suppliers.
[Source 2013][More on Workers Rights]
EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning provides safety ratings for household cleaning products, with over 2,500 products rated from A (lowest concern) to F (highest concern). This company's score range is A to D, with over 43% their products scoring an D.
[Source 2020][More on Product Safety]
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 2017][More on Human Rights] |
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Company Details
| Company Structure | Wholly-owned subsidiary |
Contact Details
| Address | United Kingdom |
| Website | www.pukkaherbs.com |
Products / Brands
Pukka Herbs
Pukka  certified organic
Tea |