• Browse by: category | company | brand | product type  
  • HOME
  • THE GUIDE
  • ISSUES
  • GET INFORMED
  • GET INVOLVED
  • SHOP
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT US
  • All  |
  • Baby  |
  • Clothing  |
  • Food & Drink  |
  • Household  |
  • Office Supplies  |
  • Personal Care  |
  • Pet  |
  • Retail  |
  • Technology  |
  • Toys
  • |  Print Guide  |
  • App
  • Clothing  |
  • Electronics  |
  • Food & Drink  |
  • Household & Personal Care
  • Issues  |
  • New! Clothing  |
  • Why Shop Ethically?  |
  • 5 Principles  |
  • Companies to avoid  |
  • News  |
  • Sign Up for Updates
  • Go ethical at school, work, home  |
  • Campaign  |
  • Spread the Word  |
  • Volunteer  |
  • Workshops  |
  • Movie Nights  |
  • Fundraising
  • All Products  |
  • Shop Ethical! app  |
  • Shop Ethical! book  |
  • Stockists  |
  • Other books  |
  • Fregie sacks  |
  • FREE STUFF!  |
  • DONATE
  • Introduction  |
  • About Us  |
  • Ratings & Assessment  |
  • Media Mentions  |
  • Testimonials  |
  • FAQ

Tencent

OVERALL

Owned
CHN
Rating
Criticisms

Conglomerate

Tencent is mindbogglingly huge, being one the world's largest companies in each and all of the following areas: video games, technology, social media, venture capital and investment.

Company Ownership

Tencent Holdings Ltd   CHN     website         twitter
  Naspers Ltd   
   owns 31% of Tencent Holdings Ltd  
ZAF     website         

Internet services

In one of the most successful venture capital investments of all time, Naspers bought a 46.5% stake in Chinese tech giant Tencent when it was still a start-up in 2001. That $32 million investment was worth $175 billion in 2018.

> About the Ratings

Company Assessment

PRAISE CRITICISM INFORMATION
Tencent Holdings Ltd
Environment F rating at ClickClean.org
Greenpeace's 2017 report 'Clicking Clean' looks at the energy footprints of large data centre operators and popular websites and applications, and calls on these companies to power their data centres on renewable energy. Companies are graded (A,B,C,D,F) on their commitment to and procurement of renewable energy, as well as energy efficiency, transparency and advocacy. This company's final grade was F.
Source: Greenpeace (2017)
Business Ethics 0.0% in Newsweek Green Ranking 2017
This company received a score of 0/100 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)
Environment CDP Climate Change Score of D
In 2021, 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 (2021)
Business Ethics Addictive app design
Many apps are designed to be deliberately addictive, using psychological tricks that continuously grab your attention. The Center for Humane Technology partnered with Moment, an app that helps people track their screen time, to ask how much screen time in apps left people feeling happy, and how much time left them in regret. Apps were ranked with data collected from a pool of 200,000 iPhone users. This company's WeChat app ranked fourth in the Most Unhappy list, with 62% of users reporting they are "unhappy" with the app and how much time they spend on it, with daily usage averaging 97 minutes.
Source: Center for Humane Tech (2021)
Business Ethics Part owned by Naspers, which has criticisms
This company is 31% owned by Naspers, which has an overall Shop Ethical rating of 'F'.
Source: Shop Ethical (2020)
Business Ethics Tencent Charity Foundation
The Tencent Charity Foundation was founded in June 2007. It represents Tencent’s commitment to support charities through the donation of a portion of yearly profits.
Source: company website (2020)
Business Ethics CSR claims
This company has Corporate Social Responsibility claims on its website including making environmental protection a priority, adopting sustainable investment strategies, commitment to environmental sustainability and philanthropy.
Source: company website (2020)
Social BHRRC company profile
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre digital platform presents news and allegations relating to the human rights impact of over 20,000 companies. Their enhanced Company Dashboards also include financial information, key data points based on corporate policies, and scores from prominent civil society benchmarks. Follow the link and use the search function to view this company's dashboard.
Source: BHRRC (2022)
Business Ethics 48/100 S&P Global ESG Score
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 48/100 in the Interactive Media Services & Home Entertainment category of the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices (last updated 21 Oct 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)
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 54.6 billion USD (2020)
Employees 62,885 (2020)
Subsidiaries Supercell Oy (51% owned) 

Mobile games

Developer of mobile games including Clash of Clans and Clash Royale. Chinese technology conglomerate Tencent increased its stake in Supercell to 51.2% in 2019, making it majority owner.


Epic Games Inc (40% owned) 

Video games

Founded in the USA in 1991 by Tim Sweeney, who still owns more than half of the company. Chinese conglomerate Tencent bought a 40% stake in 2012. Best known for developing Fortnite and the commercially available game engine Unreal Engine. Acquired Rocket League developer Psyonix in 2019.


Riot Games Inc 

Video games

Acquired by Chinese conglomerate Tencent in 2011.

Contact Details

Address Shenzhen, China
Website www.tencent.com

Products / Brands

Tencent
Honor of Kings Mobile Games
WeChat Messaging

Supercell (51% owned)
Boom Beach Mobile Games
Brawl Stars Mobile Games
Clash of Clans Mobile Games
Clash Royale Mobile Games
Hay Day Mobile Games

Epic Games (40% owned)
Fortnite Multiplayer Games
Rocket League Sports Games

Riot Games
League of Legends Multiplayer Games
Valorant Multiplayer Games


  • About Us

    • Introduction
    • About Shop Ethical!
    • About ECG
    • About the Ratings
    • Assessment sources
    • Shop Ethical! database
    • Shop Ethical! book
    • Shop Ethical! app
    • Contact us
    • FAQ

    • Copyright
    • Privacy
    • Disclaimer
  • Get Informed

    • ISSUES
    • GET INFORMED
    • Electronics Guide
    • Clothing Guide
    • Values Screen
    • Why Shop Ethically?
    • 5 Principles
    • Be Inspired
    • Calendar
    • Local Harvest
  • Get Involved

    • GET INVOLVED
    • Go Ethical at school,
      work, home, church
    • Run a workshop or tour
    • Host a movie night
    • Spread the word
    • Resources
    • Volunteer
    • Support us
  • Connect

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Suggest brand/company
    • Report an error
    • Give feedback
    • Sign up for updates
    • Past newsletters
    • >>DONATE<<

    • GET the GUIDE
        • App Store
        • Google Play
        • buy our book