Bayer

OVERALL
Owned	GER
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Pharmaceuticals and chemicals manufacturer

Bayer was founded in Germany in 1863 and created aspirin in 1897. Previously part of IG Farben, a company which had deep connections to the Nazis in WWII. Completed its acquisition of Monsanto in June 2018, creating the world's largest seller of farming chemicals and seeds.

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Company Assessment

PRAISE	CRITICISM	INFORMATION
Bayer AG
CDP Climate Change Score of A 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 A. Source: CDP (2019) CDP Water Security Score of A 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 A. Source: CDP (2019)	Bee-harming pesticides This 2013 report by Greenpeace, 'Bees in Decline', shows that the dramatic overall global decline in bee populations is the result of multiple factors such as diseases and parasites, climate change and wider industrial agricultural practices. Among the latter, scientific evidence highlights the deadly role of some pesticides, particularly neonicotinoids. Bayer and Syngenta are the world's largest producers of neonicotinoid based pesticides. Source: Greenpeace (2013) Supply chain practices in China This company received a score of 5.6/100 (retrieved 25-Feb-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) Producing unsafe birth control pills Blood clots, stroke and other dangerous side effects associated with the use of Yaz and Yasmin birth control pills drove more than 10,000 US patients to file lawsuits against Bayer. As of January 2016, Bayer had agreed to pay $2.04 billion to settle over 10,000 claims for blood-clot injuries. Source: Drug Watch (2016) Access to Medicine ranking This company received the fifth lowest score in the Access to Medicine Index 2018, a ranking of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies on their efforts to increase access to medicine in developing countries. Source: Access to Medicine Index (2018) Human rights violations This company appeared on Global Exchange's 2014 list of "Most Wanted" Corporate Criminals for manufacturing and using bee-killing pesticides, pinning the bee crisis on other causes, exposing farmers to harmful pesticides, and working to monopolize drug prices. Source: Global Exchange (2017) Roundup settlements In 2020 Bayer agreed to pay US$10.9 billion to settle a lawsuit over Monsanto's weedkiller Roundup, which has faced numerous lawsuits over claims it causes cancer. Bayer said the Roundup settlement would 'bring closure to approximately 75%' of the current 125,000 filed and unfiled claims. Bayer has also paid millions more settling other cases related to Roundup and other chemicals it produces. Source: The Guardian (2020) 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 either test on animals or pay a laboratory to conduct tests on animals. Source: PETA (2020) 41.1% in Newsweek Green Ranking 2017 This company received a score of 41.1/100 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)	Genetic Engineering Bayer has been criticised for its commercial production of genetically modified crops. [Listed under Information due to age of report] Source: Boycott Bayer, Corporate Watch, UK (2004) Hazardous chemicals in pesticides Of the world's big pesticide makers, Bayer's pesticides pose the biggest threat to human health and the environment, according to the Greenpeace Germany report 'The dirty portfolios of the pesticides industry' [Listed under Information due to age of report] Source: Greenpeace International (2008) Gender equality This company appears on the 2020 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, signifying a commitment to supporting gender equality through policy development, representation, and transparency. Source: Bloomberg (2020) Sustainability Consortium member This company is a member of The Sustainability Consortium, an organization of diverse global participants that work collaboratively to build a scientific foundation that drives innovation to improve consumer product sustainability. They develop transparent methodologies, tools, and strategies to drive a new generation of products and supply networks that address environmental, social, and economic imperatives. Source: Sustainability Consortium (2019) UN Global Compact participant The United Nations Global Compact asks companies to embrace, support and enact, within their sphere of influence, a set of 10 values in the areas of human rights, labour standards, the environment, and anti-corruption. However it's non-binding nature has been widely criticised, and many signatory corporations continue to violate the Compact's values. Source: UN Global Compact (2020) 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) 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 is rated 'middle of the pack' with a score of 13.8 out of a possible total of 22. Source: WWF Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard 2019 (2019) 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: Modern Slavery Registry (2017) Coalition Against Bayer Dangers This website contains details about Bayer's tainted history including connections to the Nazis in WWII and the production of bee-killing pesticides. Source: Coalition Against Bayer Dangers (2020)

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Bayer-Monsanto mega-merger
11th Jun 2018 — After two years of negotiations, Bayer has become the sole shareholder of Monsanto. The Monsanto company name will cease to exist. Over the past few years, Bayer has slowly distanced itself from the polymer business and concentrated on pharmaceutics and agriculture. The latter doubled in size after the Monsanto acquisition, becoming as large as the company’s pharma section. With the approval of the Bayer-Monsanto merger, only three companies will be in control of nearly 60 per cent of the world’s seeds and nearly 70 per cent of the agrochemicals and pesticides.   [source]

Roche sells consumer health business to Bayer
19th Jul 2004 — Roche Consumer Health sold to Bayer for a price of 3.6 billion Swiss francs   [source]