Better Health for All

Cobham's products and services have a mixed health impact. While the company invests in and provides life support systems for aircrew and astronauts

, and supplies Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) for medical imaging (CT scanners) , a significant portion of its business is in defense and aerospace, which are largely neutral in terms of direct health impact. The explicitly health-positive products represent a small fraction of the company's overall revenue. For safety, Cobham reported a Lost Work Case Incident Rate of 0.503 incidents per 200,000 hours worked in 2017, equivalent to approximately 2.5 incidents per million hours worked. In May 2017, a defective electrical lead at its Aviation business in Australia led to a government prohibition notice , which the company addressed by immediately removing the leads and implementing a new worldwide inspection regime.

Fair Pay & Worker Respect

A class-action lawsuit was filed in July 2023 alleging that Cobham's nearly $1 billion retirement plan offered underperforming funds, claiming breaches of fiduciary duty.

Separately, a charge filed with the National Labor Relations Board in October 2022, alleging refusal to bargain and bad faith bargaining practices, was withdrawn in November 2022. No other substantiated labor-law or human-rights violations are reported.

Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing

Cobham audits a minimum of 30 key suppliers at least every two years.

The company has a Supplier Code of Conduct and an Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy, opposing modern slavery and human trafficking. In 2016, 100% of its own operations and high-risk operations completed detailed risk assessments. Additionally, 100% of existing and new suppliers (excluding CAES) were entered into a third-party supplier compliance software system in 2016. The company aims to eliminate child labor and never employs anyone under 16 years old or the national school leaving age. It commits to sourcing conflict-free minerals in accordance with OECD guidelines and phasing out materials with an indeterminable chain of custody. Since 2011, Cobham has collaborated with Action Sustainability to develop responsible supply chain management, implementing audit protocols and e-learning modules.

Honest & Fair Business

The company reported at least two financial restatements in its most recent financial reporting period (2023).

This included a material restatement for 2022 financials, finalized in 2023, due to the finalization of a purchase price allocation exercise, and a re-presentation in 2023 for the sale of Forensic Technology. The company maintains a global Code of Business Conduct with a zero-tolerance anti-bribery and corruption policy, supported by mandatory annual training completed by all employees. A Chief Compliance Officer was recruited in 2023 to enhance group-wide compliance. For whistle-blowing, a confidential 'Speak Up' platform and an 'Ethics Helpline' are available for employees and customers, allowing for anonymous reporting, but there is no evidence of independent investigation processes.

No War, No Weapons

Cobham plc derived approximately 65% of its revenue from military and defense sectors.

In 2017, 60% of Group revenue came from US defense/security (36%) and UK, RoW defense/security (24%). The company was involved in apparent violations of Ukraine-related sanctions, making three shipments to a subsidiary of a Russian entity (JSC Almaz-Antey) after it was added to the SDN list in July 2014. This resulted in an $87,507 settlement with OFAC. Cobham sold the subsidiary, Metelics, in December 2015 after discovering these problematic shipments. Prior apparent violations of Iranian sanctions were also noted. The board for the Advanced Electronics Solutions Sector (CAES) was strengthened in 2017 with the appointments of retired US military personnel, indicating regular review of defense exposure.

Planet-Friendly Business

The Ultra Group, associated with Cobham, has set an objective to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

In 2016 and 2017, Cobham received an A- grade in the CDP's environmental performance assessment for its efforts in mitigating climate risks and managing carbon emissions. An environmentally conscious composite manufacturing facility, established in 2010, adhered to LEED certification, utilized locally manufactured and recycled materials, and was designed to use 30% less water than standard baselines. Since 2011, the company has implemented a sustainable supply chain strategy, including a policy, integration into its operating framework, and guides on sustainability issues. More recently, in 2023, Cobham, in partnership with Ultra Electronics, launched a £5 million scholarship program for over 100 university students from underrepresented backgrounds pursuing engineering degrees. In 2024, their STEMCrew Roadshows engaged over 500 students, with 98% expressing increased interest in STEM careers, aligning with national net-zero goals.

Respect for Cultures & Communities

In 2020, Cobham Aviation Services launched its 'Reflect' Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) to enhance engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and improve awareness of their cultures

. The company has two formal partnerships: one with Yalari, a not-for-profit organization, through which it sponsored two Indigenous children from Western Australia for secondary education and hosted several intern placements ; and another as a member of Supply Nation, an organization connecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses with corporate Australia .

Safe & Smart Tech

Cobham's Ultra division maintains a strong regulatory compliance posture, defaulting to the most stringent global security and data protection requirements.

It holds ISO 27001 accreditation for identified information security management systems, and its threat-hunting framework and incident response procedures are subject to annual CREST accreditation, demonstrating comprehensive security standards. The company has no documented incidents of unauthorized data use. Furthermore, Ultra acts as a National Cybersecurity Alliance Data Privacy Day Champion, publicly committing to privacy sustainability and empowering employees to respect privacy and safeguard data.

Zero Waste & Sustainable Products

Cobham has implemented waste reduction initiatives, including the "ONE Ultra approach" of Avoid, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Offset, which is continuously applied across all sites.

These efforts have resulted in a reduction of more than 75,000 single-use plastic items and 46,000 single-use plastic cups from vending machines. The company has committed to eliminating single-use plastic cutlery, plates, straws, and cups by the end of 2022. For hazardous waste, each site plans and manages compliance with environmental requirements, and processes for storage, handling, and disposal are continuously reviewed and monitored by regulatory bodies. Cobham expects all suppliers to comply with environmental standards and works with them to reduce the environmental impact of products and to consider environmental factors in materials and components used. Additionally, a composite manufacturing facility in Suffolk, Virginia, was designed to align with LEED certification, utilizing locally manufactured and recycled materials and reducing water usage by 30%.