Bayer Australia
OVERALL |
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Owned |
GER |
Rating |
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Chemical products manufacturer
Bayer's Australian operations are divided into four groups: Consumer Health, Animal Health, Crop Science and Pharmaceuticals.
Company Ownership
Bayer Australia Ltd | AUS | website | ||||
Bayer AG ![]() owns 100% of Bayer Australia Ltd |
GER | website | ||||
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. |
Company Assessment
PRAISE | CRITICISM | INFORMATION | ||
Bayer Australia Ltd | ||||
This company received a packaging performance level of 4 (Leading) in its 2023 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 (2023) |
In 2014, 2013 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 (2014)
According to the democracyforsale.net website, this company donated $83,140 to Australia's major political parties between 2012 and 2018, as disclosed to the Australian Electoral Commision (AEC).
Source: Democracy For Sale (2018)
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)
This company is a member of the Australian chapter 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 Australia (2023) |
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Bayer AG | ||||
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)
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)
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)
The Access to Seeds Index evaluates and compares seed companies according to their efforts to improve access to quality seeds of improved varieties for smallholder farmers. This company received a score of 3.34/5.
Source: Access to Seeds Index (2019)
This company received the ninth highest score in the Access to Medicine Index 2022, a ranking of the world's 20 largest pharmaceutical companies on their efforts to increase access to medicine in developing countries. The ranking is based on their scores in each Technical Area, with Product Delivery weighted most highly, followed by R&D and Governance of Access.
Source: Access to Medicine Foundation (2022)
The 2021 Food and Agriculture Benchmark assessed 350 keystone companies across the entirety of the food system, from farm to fork. It covers three dimensions where transformation is needed: nutrition, environment and social inclusion. This company ranked #26/350, with a total score of 42.4/100.
Source: World Benchmarking Alliance (2021)
The 2022 Nature Benchmark ranks 400 companies across eight industries on their efforts to protect our environment and its biodiversity. The companies were assessed using three measurement areas: governance and strategy; social inclusion and community impact; and ecosystems and biodiversity. This company ranked #15/400, with a total score of 36.4/100.
Source: World Benchmarking Alliance (2022) |
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)
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)
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 (2018)
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)
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 (2022)
The Green Supply Chain Corporate Information Transparency Index (CITI) evaluates consumer-facing companies that have a sizeable supply chain in China. The evaluation uses government supervision data and public information to assess the environmental management of their supply chains in China. This company received a score of 17/100 (retrieved 24 Nov 2023).
Source: IPE (2023)
The PalmOil Scan app, produced by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), rates companies on their commitment to sourcing sustainable palm oil. Companies are scored on their use of certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO), commitment to sourcing CSPO, on-the-ground conservation action, and membership to the RSPO. Companies can earn a rating of Excellent, Good, Poor or No Commitment. This company is rated "Poor" (retrieved 18 Nov 2023).
Source: WAZA (2023)
In October 2019 the Kentucky Attorney General secured a US$17 million settlement with Bayer Corporation, a subsidiary of this company, over claims that it misled Kentucky women about risks associated with its birth control drugs Yasmin and Yaz.
Source: Kentucky Govt (2019)
In July 2020 this company agreed to pay US$52 million in settlement of allegations that its subsidiary Monsanto Company sold polychlorinated biphenyls while aware they were more toxic than generally known and misled consumers and regulators about their toxicity resulting in damage to the environment and clean up costs. The lawsuit alleged that Monsanto sold PCBs for nearly 50 years, despite knowing that these chemicals would pollute waterways, kill wildlife, and cause significant health problems in humans, including cancer and liver damage.
Source: Columbia Attorney General (2020)
In November 2019 Monsanto Company, a subsidiary of this company, agreed to plead guilty to illegally using a banned pesticide known as Penncap-Mon on research crops at one of its research facilities on the Hawaiian island of Maui. It also agreed to pay a US$6 million criminal penalty and US$4 million in community service payments to Hawaiian government entities.
Source: US Dept of Justice (2019)
In February 2020 a Missouri court awarded US$263 million in damages from the herbicide Dicamba. A US peach grower blamed the weedkiller for crop damage after it drifted onto his orchard from nearby fields destroying it. The costs will be shared between this company and BASF SE. The companies were ordered to pay the farmer US$15 million in actual damages and US$250 million in fines. The company faces another 140 or so US cases against dicamba.
Source: BBC News (2020) |
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)
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)
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)
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; climate smart agriculture.
Source: We Mean Business (2021)
This company appears on the 2021 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, signifying a commitment to supporting gender equality through policy development, representation, and transparency.
Source: Bloomberg (2021)
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 (2023)
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)
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)
This company has sustainability claims on its website under that headings of Health Care, Food Security and Climate Protection.
Source: company website (2021)
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 (2023)
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 14.33 out of a possible total of 24.
Source: WWF Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard (2021)
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)
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)
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) |
Company Details
Type | Wholly-owned subsidiary |
Revenue | 891 million AUD (2012) |
Employees | 660 (2018) |
Aus Manufacturing | Yes |
Contact Details
Address | 875 Pacific Hwy, Pymble, NSW, 2073, Australia |
Phone | 02 9391 6000 |
Freecall | 1800 033 111 |
Website | www.bayer.com.au |
Products / Brands
Bayer Australia
Alka Seltzer Digestive Care Amolin Baby Toiletries Amolin Laundry Detergent Aspro Clear Pain Relief Tablets Bepanthen Antiseptic Bepanthen Baby Toiletries Berocca Vitamins Canesten Stain Removal & Prewash Canesten Foot Care |
Claratyne Cold & Flu Demazin Cold & Flu Elevit Vitamins Penta-vite Vitamins Rennie Digestive Care Roundup Garden Care Supradyn Vitamins |