Hillshire Brands

OVERALL
Owned	USA
Rating

Meat-centric foods

Formerly known as Sara Lee Corporation, the company was renamed Hillshire Brands Company after spinning off its international coffee and tea business in June 2012 to form D.E Master Blenders 1753. Sold its Australian Bakery division to McCain in 2013. Hillshire Brands was acquired by Tyson Foods in 2014.

Company Ownership

Hillshire Brands Company	USA	website	email
Tyson Foods, Inc.       owns 100% of Hillshire Brands Company	USA	website
Meat processors Tyson Foods is the second largest meat processing company in the world (after Brazil's JBS). Don Tyson, son of the founder, controls 80% of Tyson's voting power. Acquired Hillshire Brands in 2014.

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Company Assessment

PRAISE	CRITICISM	INFORMATION
Hillshire Brands Company
		Palm oil scorecard - WWF 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 failed to respond to WWF's requests for information. [Source 2019][More on Palm Oil] Cage-free eggs commitment In 2010 Sara Lee received praise from the Humane Society for its commitment to sourcing more than one million of the eggs it uses each year from cage-free hens. [Source 2010][More on Factory Farming] Sow stall commitment In Sept 2012 this company received praise from the Humane Society for announcing that it will eliminate gestation crates - small cages used to confine breeding pigs - from its pork supply chains. [Source 2012][More on Factory Farming] SB 657 disclosure statement The California Transparency in Supply Chains Act of 2010 (SB 657) requires companies operating in California to disclose their efforts to eradicate slavery and human trafficking from their direct supply chains. KnowTheChain.org has examined this company's disclosure statement and concluded that it addresses the majority of SB 657 requirements. Follow the link to see this company's disclosure statement. [Source 2014][More on Human Rights] Previous political boycott Previous boycott call by BDS due to involvement in Israel. Sara Lee (now Hillshire Brands) divested its large stake in the Israeli textile giant Delta Galil in 2005 and has been removed from the boycott list. [Source 2012][More on Politics] 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 2014]
Tyson Foods, Inc.
BPA use EWG's 2015 report "BPA in Canned Food" analyzed 252 canned food brands to find out which ones are still using BPA (bisphenol A), a synthetic estrogen found in the epoxy coatings of food cans which has been linked to many health problems. This company was amongst the 'Best Players' for exclusively using BPA free-cans. [Source 2015][More on Product Safety] FAIRR Protein Producer Index The Coller FAIRR Protein Producer Index is a comprehensive assessment of how this sector is managing critical sustainability risks factors: GHGs; deforestation and biodiversity; water scarcity; water pollution; antibiotics; animal welfare; working conditions; food safety. This company was rated as low risk. [Source 2019][More on Habitats] CDP Climate Change Score of B 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 B. [Source 2019][More on Climate Change] CDP Water Security Score of B 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 B. [Source 2019][More on Human Rights] Tier 3 in farm animal welfare rankings 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]	16% in Forest 500 Rankings 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 16%. [Source 2019][More on Forests] Top 10 Corporate Criminal of 2017 This company appeared on Global Exchange's list of "10 Top Corporate Criminals of 2017" for being one of the largest meat-producing industries in the world and dumping 104 million pounds of pollutants into US waterways between 2010 and 2014 - the 2nd highest volume of toxic discharges reported by any company. [Source 2017][More on Habitats] 12/100 in KnowTheChain Benchmark 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 12/100. [Source 2018][More on Workers Rights] Human Rights Benchmark 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 10-20 band range. The overall average score was a disappointing 24%. [Source 2019][More on Human Rights] 22.8% in Newsweek Green Ranking 2017 This company received a score of 22.8/100 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] 31/100 S&P Global ESG Score This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 31/100 in the Food 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]	Climate action commitments As listed on the We Mean Business website, this company has committed to the following climate action initiatives: develop low carbon action plan. [Source 2017][More on Climate Change] Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef member This company is a member of the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB), who's stated mission is to advance continuous improvement in sustainability of the global beef value chain through leadership, science and multi-stakeholder engagement and collaboration. However the GSRB has been criticised by a group of NGOs for its failure to address misuse of antibiotics and animal welfare concerns, among other things (http://bit.ly/1xWw5pV). [Source 2017][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives] 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 2020][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives] CDP Forests Score of C 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 C. [Source 2019][More on Forests] 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 2016][More on Human Rights] 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 2014]

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White King returns to Australian ownership
26th Dec 2010 — (FOREIGN >> AUST) Sara Lee, who has been selling off its non-food divisions, sold Australian brand White King to Pental Products in Dec 2010.   [source]