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Reckitt Australia

OVERALL

Owned
UK
Rating
Criticism, some praise

Cleaning, health and personal care product distributor

In Australia, Reckitt manufactures, markets, sells, imports and exports household cleaning and health and personal care products represented by well known global and local brands.

Company Ownership

Reckitt Benckiser (Australia) Pty Ltd   AUS     website   email      
  Reckitt Benckiser PLC   
   owns 100% of Reckitt Benckiser (Australia) Pty Ltd  
UK     website      facebook   twitter

Consumer goods

Producer of health, hygiene and home products. Their products are available in some 200 countries. Acquired Boots Healthcare International in 2005 and SSL International (makers of Durex condoms) in 2010. Reckitt Benckiser rebranded as Reckitt in 2021.

      JAB Holding Company SARL   
       owns 10% of Reckitt Benckiser PLC  
LUX     website   email      

Holding company

Owned by four siblings from one of Europe's wealthiest and most private families, the Reimanns. The company is run my three CEOs, who collectively own about 8% of JAB. Owns controlling stakes in beauty business Coty, coffee giant JDE Peet's, beverages giant Keurig Dr Pepper and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, among others.

> About the Ratings

Company Assessment

PRAISE CRITICISM INFORMATION
Reckitt Benckiser (Australia) Pty Ltd
Environment 3/5 for packaging performance
This company received a packaging performance level of 3 (Advanced) in its 2022 APCO Annual Report. Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is a not-for-profit organisation leading the development of a circular economy for packaging in Australia. Each year, APCO Members are required to submit an APCO Annual Report and Action Plan, which includes an overall performance level from 1 (Getting Started) to 5 (Beyond Best Practice).
Source: APCO (2022)
Social Misleading conduct
In April 2016 the Federal Court ordered Reckitt Benckiser Australia to pay $1.7 million in penalties for misleading conduct regarding Nurofen specific pain products, in proceeding brought by the ACCC. In December 2016 the fine was increased to $6 million after an appeal by the ACCC. The company was found to have contravened Australian Consumer Law by making representations on its website and packaging that Nurofen Specific Pain products were each formulated to specifically treat a particular type of pain, when this was not the case. In fact, each product contains the same active ingredient, ibuprofen lysine 342mg.
Source: ACCC (2016)
Social 2010 CHOICE Shonky Award
Named and shamed in the 2010 CHOICE Shonky Awards. Nurofen painkillers actually contain identical ingredients from product to product despite marketing painkillers for varying pains. The active ingredient in these painkillers spreads through your whole body attacking whatever pain it comes across, wherever it is. The shonkiest aspect of this type of marketing is that the fast-acting painkillers labeled for specific pain types are more expensive.
Source: Choice (2010)
Social 2012 CHOICE Shonky Award
Named and shamed in the 2012 CHOICE Shonky Awards. Exit Mould doesn't kill mould! This alleged mould killer can't penetrate porous surfaces, like grout, which is where mould tends to grow. While it may look nice and white post-spray, courtesy of the bleach removing the colour, the root structure remains entrenched in the grout, ready to sprout again. In fact, the bleach can actually erode and corrode grout and tiles, making them more porous - and more receptive to mould.
Source: Choice (2012)
Social 2016 CHOICE Shonky Award
Named and shamed in the 2016 CHOICE Shonky Awards for its Vanish Preen Power Powder Clean and Fresh Large Area Carpet Cleaner, which costs $14.70 and failed to outperform water in Choice tests, despite claiming to be "revolutionary," with five times more dirt removal and a "fast-drying action".
Source: Choice (2016)
Social Breaching advertising codes
In 2013, 2012 and 2011 the Therapeutic Goods Administration's Complaints Resolution Panel upheld complaints about ads by this company on the grounds that they breached advertising codes. The Panel requested this company withdraw the ads and not to use representations in the ads again.
Source: TGA Complaints Register (2013)
Social MAIF signatory
This company is a signatory to the Manufacturers and Importers Agreement 1992 (MAIF), a voluntary self-regulatory code of conduct between the manufacturers and importers of infant formula in Australia. The MAIF Agreement aims to contribute to the provision of safe and adequate nutrition for infants, by the protection and promotion of breastfeeding and by ensuring the proper use of breast milk substitutes, when they are necessary, on the basis of adequate information through appropriate marketing and distribution.
Source: Australian Govt Dept of Health (2019)
Social Ingredients disclosure
Follow the link to see this company's Product Ingredients Information Site, where the company discloses the ingredients of its household products available in Australia.
Source: company website (2015)
Reckitt Benckiser PLC
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)
Business Ethics 86/100 S&P Global ESG Score
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 86/100 in the Household Products 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)
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)
Environment CDP Climate Change Score of B
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 B.
Source: CDP (2022)
Environment Palm oil sourcing
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: Greenpeace (2018)
Animals Animal Testing
This company appears on PETA's (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, USA) 'Companies That Do Test On Animals' list, signifying that they manufacture products that are tested on animals at some stage of development.
Source: PETA (2022)
Environment Palm oil from Wilmar
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 Reckitt Benckiser purchases palm oil from Wilmar.
Source: Amnesty Intl (2016)
Environment Supply chain practices in China
This company received a score of 11.3/100 (retrieved 10-Oct-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: IPE (2020)
Environment Palm oil sourcing
A 2022 BBC News, Mongabay and the Gecko Project released a joint investigation that looked into a scheme that was intended to help lift millions of Indonesians out of poverty and cut them in on the spoils of the global palm oil boom, but has instead been plagued by allegations of exploitation and illegality. They identified 13 companies, including this one, that have sourced palm oil from producers alleged to have withheld plasma (a portion of large-scale plantations to be shared with local communities), or the profits from plasma, from Indonesian communities over the past eight years. The losses suffered across Indonesia by communities owed plasma could stretch into the hundreds of millions of dollars each year. Protests by local tribes over plasma are violently suppressed by Indonesian authorities.
Source: Mongabay (2022)
Social Misleading advertising
In 2021 this company settled a class action lawsuit for US$8 million which accused Reckitt of falsely advertising Neuriva products as being clinically and scientifically proven to enhance brain performance, in violation of consumer protection laws and other laws. In addition to the monetary relief, Reckitt also agreed to change its labeling and marketing practices, including removing "clinically proven" from the labels and social media, websites, and other advertising.
Source: Top Class Actions (2021)
Environment Use of microplastics
This company uses plastic microbeads in some of its personal care products. These particles are not retained by wastewater treatment so end up in the ocean where they contribute to ocean plastic pollution, and are hazardous to sea life. While the effects of microplastics on human health are not completely understood, there are concerns about plastic additives, such as phthalates, which are known endocrine disruptors which are shown to have harmful effects on life.
Source: Beat the Microbead (2021)
Social Guide to Healthy Cleaning grade (A-F)
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 F, with over 84% of products scoring a D or F.
Source: Environmental Working Group (2020)
Business Ethics Tax havens
This company has been criticised by ActionAid for having subsidiaries in tax havens. One of the main reasons companies have subsidiaries in tax havens is to dodge their taxes. Developing countries lose more to tax dodging than they receive in aid each year.
Source: ActionAid (2011)
Business Ethics Anticompetitive behavior
In Apr 2011, Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc was given a final fine of 10.2 million pounds (US$16.6 million) by a U.K. regulator for halting supplies of a heartburn medicine to the National Health Service to block sales of a generic version. [Listed under Information due to age of court finding]
Source: news article (2011)
Business Ethics Price fixing in France
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. This company was fined 121m euros.
Source: news article (2014)
Environment Climate action commitments
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: We Mean Business (2021)
Environment Global Plastics Treaty endorsee
In 2022 after more than 170 nations backed a historic UN resolution to end plastic pollution, global businesses across the plastics value chain, financial institutions, and NGOs came together to announce a common vision for an effective and ambitious Global Treaty to End Plastic Pollution. The vision will form the basis for future policy engagements with governments through a newly launched Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty which will be convened by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and WWF. This company has endorsed the vision statement of the treaty.
Source: Global Plastics Treaty (2022)
Social Ingredients disclosure
In 2014 this company announced it would expand its ingredients disclosure program to include the subset of fragrance ingredients identified as recognized allergens by the European Union's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety. This company was already ahead of the pack on ingredients disclosure with its website www.rbnainfo.com
Source: Environmental Defense Fund (2014)
Business Ethics 83.9% in Newsweek Green Rankings 2016
This company received a score of 83.9/100 in the Newsweek Green Rankings 2016, 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 (2016)
Business Ethics Plastics Commitment signatory
This company is a signatory to the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, whose goal is to eliminate plastic pollution at its source.
Source: New Plastics Economy (2022)
Business Ethics GC3 member (Green Chemistry)
This company is a member of the Green Chemistry and Commerce Council (GC3), a business-to-business forum that advances the application of green chemistry and design for environment across supply chains. It provides an open forum for cross-sectoral collaboration to share information and experiences about the challenges to and opportunities for safer chemicals and products.
Source: GC3 (2019)
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)
Business Ethics Sustainable Agriculture Initiative member
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: SAI Platform (2019)
Business Ethics US Plastics Pact signatory
This company is a signatory to the US Plastics Pact, a collaborative effort organized by The Recycling Partnership and the World Wildlife Fund, launched as part of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's global Plastics Pact network to unify diverse public-private stakeholders across the plastics value chain to rethink the way we design, use, and reuse plastics, to create a path forward to realize a circular economy for plastic in the United States. In line with the Ellen McArthur Foundation's vision of a circular economy for plastics, which unites more than 850+ organizations, the US Plastics Pact brings together companies, government entities, NGOs, researchers, and other stakeholders to work collectively toward scalable solutions tailored to the unique needs and challenges within the U.S. landscape, through vital knowledge sharing and coordinated action.
Source: US Plastics Pact (2020)
Business Ethics Sedex member
This company is a member of the Supplier Ethical Data Exchange (Sedex), a not-for-profit, membership organisation that leads work with buyers and suppliers to deliver improvements in responsible and ethical business practices in global supply chains. Tens of thousands of companies use Sedex to manage their performance around labour rights, health & safety, the environment and business ethics.
Source: Sedex (2018)
Environment 54% in Forest 500 Rankings
Forest 500 identifies the 350 companies and 150 financial institutions with the greatest exposure to tropical deforestation risk, and annually assesses them on the strength and implementation of their deforestation and human rights commitments. This company received a score of 54%.
Source: Forest 500 (2022)
Environment Palm oil scorecard - WWF
The WWF Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard 2021 assesses 227 companies on the actions companies have taken to ensure their own palm oil supply chain is sustainable and free of deforestation, natural ecosystem conversion, and human rights abuse. This company is rated 'middle of the pack' with a score of 11.45 out of a possible total of 24.
Source: WWF Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard (2021)
Environment Microbeads scorecard
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 was ranked as 'getting there'. Microbeads are not retained by wastewater treatment and end up in the ocean where they are a threat to the marine environment.
Source: Greenpeace (2016)
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)

> About the Icons

Company Details

Type Wholly-owned subsidiary
Revenue 447 million AUD (2019)
Employees 200 (2019)
Aus Manufacturing Yes

Contact Details

Address Level 47 / 680 George St, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
Phone 02 9857 2000
Email inquiry@rb.com
Website https://www.reckitt.com/offices/australia/

Products / Brands

Reckitt Australia
Aerogard Pest Control
Air Wick Air Fresheners
Air Wick Carpet Cleaners
Bonjela Lip Care
Bonjela Baby Toiletries
Brasso Polish
Clearasil Skin Care
Crisp Ironing Needs
Dettol Disinfectant
Dettol Hand Wash/Sanitiser
Dettol Soap
Dettol Air Fresheners
Dettol Antiseptic
Dettol Body Wash
Dettol Stain Removal & Prewash
Dettol Bathroom Cleaners
Dettol Multi-Purpose Cleaners
Dettol Kitchen & Oven Cleaners
Dettol Floor Cleaners
Disprin Pain Relief Tablets
Durex Condoms
Durex Personal Lubricant
Easy Off BAM Multi-Purpose Cleaners
Easy Off BAM Bathroom Cleaners
Easy Off Oven Kitchen & Oven Cleaners
Eulactol Foot Care
Exit Mould Bathroom Cleaners
Fabulon Ironing Needs
Finish Dishwashing Detergent
Full Marks Lice Treatment
Gaviscon Digestive Care
Glen 20 Air Fresheners
Glen 20 Disinfectant
Harpic Toilet Cleaners
Kwit Dishwashing Detergent
KY Personal Lubricant
Lemsip Cold & Flu
Mortein Pest Control
Mr Sheen Polish
Nu-Clenz Disinfectant
Nurofen Pain Relief Tablets
Nurofen Topical Pain Relief
Optrex Eye & Ear Care
Pea-Beu Pest Control
Pine O Cleen Disinfectant
Pine O Cleen Multi-Purpose Cleaners
Pine O Cleen Scourers, Sponges & Wipes
Pine O Cleen Floor Cleaners
Pine O Cleen Stain Removal & Prewash
Pine O Cleen Bathroom Cleaners
Pine O Cleen Kitchen & Oven Cleaners
Preen Carpet Cleaners
Savlon Antiseptic
Senokot Laxatives
Silvo Polish
Smoker's Toothpaste Toothpaste
Steelo Scourers, Sponges & Wipes
Steradent Toothpaste
Strepsils Cold & Flu
Strepsils Lozenges
Sugarine (saccharin) Sugar & Sweeteners
Vanish Carpet Cleaners
Vanish Napisan Stain Removal & Prewash
Vanish Preen Stain Removal & Prewash
Veet Hair Removal
Veet for Men Mens Grooming
Waxeeze Hair Removal


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