Geneva-based Covalence has released a ranking of 581 companies based on ethical issues like corporate social responsibility, environmental performance and information provided to consumers and Ryanair is in the bottom 10 of this ranking.
Covalence measured qualitative data on different 45 criteria some which are waste management, labor standards and human rights policy. This “reputation index” is distributed by Thomson Reuters, Bloomberg and Capital IQ and claimed as “a barometer of how multinationals are perceived in the ethical field” by Covalence.
Monsanto, a genetically modified food manufacturer is evaluated at the bottom of the list. Whereas Ryanair placed at 575th position is followed by Occidental Petroleum, US tobacco company Phillip Morris and oil giant Chevron.
There is only one Irish firm in this list – CRH plc at 557th position and it is placed in between Exxon Mobil and Japan Tobacco.
IBM is placed at the top of the list and some other companies in the top 10 are Intel, HSBC Holdings, Unilever, Xerox, General Electric etc. British Telecom, Samsung Electronics and Kimberly-Clark are identified as the most progressive companies during 2009. Some other well known companies securing the top positions are Pepsico, Nike, Microsoft, Alcoa Aluminium, BASF and Danone. On the other hand companies like Royal Dutch Shell, AIG, British American Tobacco and Halliburton are dominating the lower region.
As said by Covalence, “Environmental initiatives, eco-innovative products and social sponsorships enabled companies to generate positive coverage in 2009, while issues related to downsizing, CO2 emissions and working conditions caused the most criticisms.”