• 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

Altria

OVERALL

Owned
USA
Rating
Criticism, some praise

Tobacco manufacturer

Previously known as Philip Morris, Altria is USA's largest tobacco company. Spun off Kraft Foods in 2007 and Philip Morris International in 2008, with Philip Morris USA remaining as their primary business unit.

Altria Group Inc   USA     website      facebook   twitter

> About the Ratings

Company Assessment

PRAISE CRITICISM INFORMATION
Altria Group Inc
Environment CDP Climate Change Score of A-
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 A-.
Source: CDP (2022)
Social CDP Water Security Score of A-
In 2022, 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: CDP (2022)
Environment CDP Forests Score of B
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 B.
Source: CDP (2022)
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 Tobacco - direct
Involved in manufacture of tobacco-related products as a core business.
Source: company website (2020)
Animals Animal testing
For decades, Big Tobacco used misleading tests on animals—and ignored what was clear from studies on humans—to claim that cigarettes were not harmful to human health. These days, Philip Morris continues to abuse and kill animals voluntarily to develop new ingredients and products even though the tests are not required, superior non-animal methods exist, and the health risks of tobacco are well known.
Source: PETA (2021)
Business Ethics Top spender on lobbying in USA
This company is on OpenSecrets.org's list of "Top Spenders on Lobbying", a list of the 20 organizations that have spent the most trying to influence US government policy. This company comes in at number 13 on the list, having spent $275,414,644 on lobbying between 1998 and 2021.
Source: Open Secrets (2021)
Business Ethics 42.1/125 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 710th of 951 companies, and 25th of 31 Food, Beverage & Tobacco companies.
Source: JUST Capital (2023)
Business Ethics Multinational Monitor's '10 Worst Corporations'
Named one of Multinational Monitor's '10 Worst Corporations' in 2006. [Listed under information due to age of report]
Source: Multinational Monitor (2006)
Business Ethics 46.5% in Newsweek Green Ranking 2017
This company received a score of 46.5/100 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)
Business Ethics CEO Pay Ratio of 109:1
In 2019 the median pay for a worker at this company was US$142,246. The CEO was paid 109 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 Excessive CEO pay
As You Sow's 2021 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, Howard A. Willard, III came in at number 97 on the list, having been paid US$15,417,616 in 2020. 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 (2021)
Environment Climate action commitments
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.
Source: We Mean Business (2021)
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 (2021)
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)
Business Ethics 42/100 S&P Global ESG Score
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 42/100 in the Tobacco 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)

> About the Icons

Company Details

Type Public company
Revenue 25.4 billion USD (2018)
Employees 8,300 (2018)
Subsidiaries Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (10% owned) 

Brewer

InBev acquired Anheuser-Busch in 2008 for US$52 billion, to become the world's largest brewer and one of the world's top five consumer products companies. In 2013 the company acquired the half of Mexico's largest brewer, Grupo Modelo (maker of Corona beer), it didn't already own. In 2016 the company acquired SABMiller for over US$100 billion. AB InBev is part owned by the men behind Brazilian private equity firm 3G Capital, who also own 51% of Burger King and 25% of KraftHeinz.


  - SABMiller PLC 

Beverages

Previously the world's second largest brewer, until it was acquired by the world's largest brewer AB InBev in 2016 for over US$100 billion. SABMiller is a major bottler of Coca-Cola products and its beers dominate many markets throughout Africa and Asia. Bought Australian brewer Foster's Group in 2011 for A$9.9 billion.


  - Grupo Modelo S.A.B. de C.V. 

Brewer

Mexico's #1 beer company, with 63% of the Mexican beer market. In 2012 Anheuser-Busch InBev bought the 50% of the company it didn't already own.


  - Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc. 

Brewer and aluminium can manufacturers and recyclers

Worlds #1 aluminium can recycler. One of the largest manufacturers of aluminum cans in the US. Makers of Budweiser beer. Acquired by InBev in 2008 for US$52 billion, to become the world's largest brewer (overtaking SABMiller). Sold its theme park division in 2009 to The Blackstone Group.


  - AB InBev UK Ltd 

Brewer

AB InBev's UK subsidiary, which operates three breweries around England.


Philip Morris USA Inc 

Cigarette maker

Tha American tobacco division of Altria. USA's #1 cigarette maker.

Contact Details

Address Richmond, Virginia, USA
Website www.altria.com

Products / Brands

AB InBev (10% owned)
Boddingtons Beer (imported)
Hoegaarden Beer (imported)
Leffe Beer (imported)

Grupo Modelo
Corona Beer (imported)
Negra Modelo Beer (imported)
Pacifico Beer (imported)

Anheuser-Busch
Budweiser Beer (imported)


  • 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