Better Health for All

Brown-Forman's principal goods and services are alcoholic beverages, which cause severe, widespread negative health impacts, accounting for 100% of its product portfolio and revenue. The company provides nutritional information, including calories, carbohydrates, and alcohol content, on a brand nutrition website launched in 2017 to help consumers make informed decisions, reflecting efforts in risk transparency.

The 'Pause' campaign, launched in 2019 and reaching 4,800 employees globally by 2021, promotes mindful drinking, responsible consumption, and moderation, and includes resources for bystander intervention. This campaign, along with a 2017 Responsible Retailing Initiative in Hillsborough County, Florida, which achieved an 87-88% ID-checking pass rate to prevent underage alcohol sales, represents growing preventative health measures, moderate addiction controls, and substantial health education. The 'Pause' campaign also indicates a growing recognition of mental health needs with some practical support. During the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020, the company's R&D team produced and distributed hand sanitizer to healthcare providers and first responders in Louisville and Moore County.

Fair Money & Economic Opportunity

Brown-Forman Corporation is an alcoholic beverage producer, not a financial institution. The 'Fair Money & Economic Opportunity' value and its associated KPIs are specifically designed to assess companies offering lending, deposit, or other financial services. As Brown-Forman does not engage in these activities, all KPIs are scored 0, indicating they are not applicable to the company's core business model. While the company has made philanthropic commitments, such as a $50 million investment over ten years to support educational and economic opportunities in West Louisville

and a $1 million donation to COVID-19 relief funds , these initiatives do not constitute the provision of financial services or direct engagement with the specific financial metrics measured by these KPIs.

Fair Pay & Worker Respect

The CEO's total compensation in 2022 was nearly $16.7 million, while the median employee earned just over $10,000, resulting in a pay ratio of 1670:1.

The company faced seven substantiated labor-law violations in the past three years, including six safety-related violations and one violation of the National Labor Relations Act in 2024 for influencing a unionization vote at its Woodford Reserve distillery. Approximately 14% of U.S. employees were represented by a union as of April 2023. The Total Recordable Injury Rate (TRIR) was 2.61 in 2022 , with no work-related fatalities reported globally during that year. The latest employee engagement survey reported 84% of employees indicating high engagement, with a 95% participation rate. Global voluntary employee turnover was 5.5% in fiscal year 2020. The company plans to cut 12% of its global workforce, approximately 650 people , and close its Louisville cooperage by April 2025, affecting about 210 employees , who will receive severance, outplacement services, and other benefits.

Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing

By December 2024, Brown-Forman engaged all its direct farmers in regenerative agricultural practices, achieving this ahead of its 2025 target.

The company was recognized as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the third consecutive year in March 2024, acknowledging its ethical business practices and strong value chain initiatives. Brown-Forman has also publicly committed to eliminating slavery and human trafficking within its supply chains, ensuring compliance with labor laws, and implementing regular monitoring with a policy to cease business with non-compliant suppliers.

Honest & Fair Business

Brown-Forman has a comprehensive anti-corruption policy that prohibits bribery and other illegal or corrupt behavior, including a gift threshold of $100.

The policy covers international laws like the U.S. Foreign Corruption Practices Act and the U.K. Bribery Act. It includes risk-based due diligence and ongoing monitoring for suppliers and annual risk-based due diligence for direct customers. Employees are required to certify annually their compliance with the Code of Conduct, which covers anti-corruption, and are instructed to report suspected bribery. The company also has a comprehensive whistleblower policy communicated to all staff through its Code of Conduct, with employees certifying annually their compliance. It provides a third-party anonymous Compliance Hotline and email for reporting concerns and explicitly forbids retaliation against those who report issues in good faith.

Kind to Animals

The company does not conduct environmental and social audits of its supply chain.

In contrast, Brown-Forman has engaged 100% of its direct farmers in regenerative agricultural practices as of fiscal 2025, which promotes wildlife biodiversity and animal habitats. It collaborates with DendriFund on white oak sustainability and to bring rye back to Kentucky as a commercial cover crop, improving soil health and water quality. The company also supports the Tennessee Forestry Association with a grant for sustainable management practices to improve shortleaf pine and white oak forests. It co-founded the White Oak Initiative in 2017 and established the Old Forester Tree Nursery in 2021 for white oak growth and genetic study. A five-year, $2.8 million initiative supports Kentucky corn farmers in implementing regenerative practices. The company partners with The Nature Conservancy of Kentucky, restoring native vegetation at its Woodford Reserve Distillery to attract pollinators and improve water quality for local wildlife habitats. Its acquired company, Part Time Rangers, also supports wildlife and ecosystem preservation initiatives. Brown-Forman targets supporting regenerative practices on 50,000 acres by 2035, with 3,000 acres currently achieved, and sustainable forestry management practices on 50,000 acres by 2035, with 700 acres currently achieved.

No War, No Weapons

Brown-Forman Corporation shows no direct or indirect connections to military involvement or defense contracts

, maintaining operations free from ties to war or weapons sectors . Consequently, there is no defense business for the board to oversee, nor are there defense assets to divest . The company makes no significant investments in peacebuilding or disarmament efforts . In March 2022, Brown-Forman suspended its commercial operations in Russia due to the conflict in Ukraine .

Planet-Friendly Business

Brown-Forman achieved 88% renewable electricity usage by the end of fiscal year 2023

, supported by a power purchase agreement covering over 90% of its U.S. electricity and a rooftop solar array . The company also achieved a 91% recycling rate across its production facilities as of 2022 , diverting over 40,000 tons of waste from landfills .

Respect for Cultures & Communities

Brown-Forman has not had reported cultural appropriation incidents. In December 2024, the company launched premium spirits in Manila, Philippines, emphasizing cultural appreciation and aligning with Filipino traditions.

Historically, its Jack Daniel's brand acknowledged that its founder learned distilling techniques from Nathan 'Nearest' Green, an enslaved African American man, recognizing his cultural contributions. In March 2024, Brown-Forman allocated $20 million to the Brown-Forman Foundation, which partners with organizations focusing on enriching arts and cultural experiences in Louisville, Kentucky. However, in August 2024, the company ceased its corporate DEI programs, including the removal of quantitative workforce and supplier diversity ambitions.

Safe & Smart Tech

Brown-Forman experienced a significant cybersecurity incident in August 2020, where the REvil ransomware group exfiltrated approximately 1 terabyte of data, including employee and financial information.

However, there have been no documented data breaches in the past three years. The company maintains a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, incorporating regular assessments, audits, and simulations. , with security controls aligned with NIST standards and a move towards a 'Zero-Trust' architecture. The Board of Directors oversees cybersecurity risks through dedicated committees. The company has also been recognized by Ethisphere as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for three consecutive years, acknowledging its commitment to data protection and cybersecurity. There are no documented incidents of unauthorized data use by the company itself.

Zero Waste & Sustainable Products

Brown-Forman has implemented several waste reduction initiatives. Its Casa Herradura tequila distillery has enhanced waste-to-energy systems and is recognized as zero waste to landfill, with less than 1% of waste going to landfill

. The company introduced 50ml bottles for Woodford Reserve crafted entirely from recycled materials, eliminating 101 metric tons of virgin plastic annually . Similarly, 50ml bottles of Jack Daniel's are made from 100% PCR plastic, reducing virgin plastic use by 220 metric tons annually .