• 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

Mitsubishi Electric

OVERALL

Owned
JPN
Rating
Criticisms

Manufacturer electric and electronic equipment

Manufacture and sales of electric and electronic equipment used in Energy and Electric Systems, Industrial Automation, Information and Communication Systems, Electronic Devices, and Home Appliances.

Company Ownership

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation   JPN     website   email      twitter
  Mitsubishi Group   
   owns 100% of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation  
JPN     website         

Conglomerate

Japan's largest "keiretsu", a collaborative group of integrated companies with extensive share crossholdings, personnel swaps and strategic co-operation. Companies in group include Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric, Mitsubishi Paper Mills Ltd, Mitsubishi Nuclear Fuel Co., Kirin Holdings (who owns Australian dairy and drinks company, Lion), and many more.

> About the Ratings

Company Assessment

PRAISE CRITICISM INFORMATION
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
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)
Social Arms sales
This company is 97th on SIPRI's list of the Top 100 arms-producing and military services companies in the world (excluding Chinese companies), ranked by their arms sales in 2020. Arms sales accounted for 2% of this company's total sales in 2020.
Source: SIPRI (2020)
Business Ethics 42.6% in Newsweek Green Ranking 2017
This company received a score of 42.6/100 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 Cartel fine upheld
A European Union court upheld fines of 136m euros imposed on this company and Toshiba for their participation in a cartel for equipment used in electricity substations. The European Commission had fined this company 74.8m euros and a joint amount of 4.65m euros with Toshiba, for participating in a cartel for gas insulated switchgear between 1988 and 2004.
Source: company website (2016)
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)
Business Ethics CSR claims
This company has corporate social responsibility claims on its website in the areas of social responsibility, the environment and philanthropy (including Philanthropic Foundations and Disaster Relief).
Source: company website (2016)
Business Ethics Environmental claims
This company has sustainability claims on its website that it is taking definitive action to create a greener world through a low carbon, recycling based approach. It reports its achievements on environmental targets set in 2014, and sets new targets for 2015.
Source: company website (2016)
Business Ethics Responsible Business Alliance member
This company is a member of the Responsible Business Alliance (formerly the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition), a non-profit coalition of electronics companies which supports the rights and wellbeing of workers and communities worldwide affected by the global electronics supply chain. RBA members commit and are held accountable to a common Code of Conduct and utilize a range of RBA training and assessment tools to support continuous improvement in the social, environmental and ethical responsibility of their supply chains.
Source: RBA (2022)
Business Ethics 46/100 S&P Global ESG Score
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 46/100 in the Machinery and Electrical Equipment 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)
Mitsubishi Group
Social Forced labour in China
The Chinese government has facilitated the mass transfer of Uyghur and other ethnic minority citizens from the far west region of Xinjiang to factories across the country. Under conditions that strongly suggest forced labour, Uyghurs are working in factories that are in the supply chains of at least 83 well-known global brands in the technology, clothing and automotive sectors, including brands owned by this company. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute's 2020 report estimates (somewhat conservatively) that more than 80,000 Uyghurs were transferred out of Xinjiang to work in factories across China between 2017 and 2019, and some of them were sent directly from detention camps.
Source: ASPI (2020)
Social Arms sales
Two Mitsubishi subsidiaries are on SIPRI's list of the Top 100 arms-producing and military services companies in the world (excluding Chinese companies), ranked by their arms sales in 2020.
Source: SIPRI (2020)
Animals Overfishing
Mitsubishi owns 35-40% of the market for the Bluefin Tuna, which is listed as Critically Endangered, the highest risk category of the IUCN Red List. Mitsubishi has been stockpiling up to 20,000 tons of the frozen fish while continuing to buy more. While the price of a product gets higher the harder it is to find, Mitsubishi has been accused of deep freezing these fish to make an even bigger profit as the species gets ever closer to being completely wiped out.
Source: news article (2013)
Environment 0/100 in Solar Scorecard
The 2018-19 Solar Scorecard, produced by the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, rates solar panel producers on their commitment to the environment and worker safety. Areas looked at include emissions reporting, chemical reductions plan, workers rights and conflict minerals. This company received a score of 0/100.
Source: Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (2019)
Environment Previous boycott call
Rainforest Action Network (RAN) ran a Boycott Mitsubishi campaign from 1989 to 1998 for being the world's worst logger of tropical forests at the time.
Source: RAN (1998)
Business Ethics Nuclear - direct involvement
Mitsubishi manufacture nuclear fuel through Mitsubishi Nuclear Fuel Co. Ltd
Source: company website (2020)
Information mitsubishisucks.com
This website is dedicated to exposing the questionable business practices of Mitsubishi. Last updated 2004.
Source: mitsubishisucks.com (2004)

> About the Icons

Company Details

Type Public company
Revenue 36 billion USD (2015)
Employees 129,249 (2015)
Subsidiaries Mitsubishi Electric Australia Pty Ltd 

Consumer electronics

Imports, sells and services consumer electronics and electrical products.

Contact Details

Address Tokyo, Japan
Website www.mitsubishielectric.com

Products / Brands

Mitsubishi Electric Australia
Mitsubishi Air Conditioners
Mitsubishi Fridges & Freezers


  • 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