MASHINIi

FMC Corporation.

FMC.US | Manufacture of pesticides and other agrochemical products

FMC Corporation is a global agricultural sciences company. It develops, manufactures, and markets a portfolio of crop protection, plant health, and professional pest control solutions. Its crop protection products include insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides, used to control a variety of pests a...Show More

Ethical Profile

Mixed.

FMC Corporation's ethics present a complex picture. Reports suggest approximately 30% of revenue derives from products with potential negative health impacts, though a phase-out is underway. FMC faces class-action lawsuits alleging false statements and securities violation investigations. Critics also cite historical environmental contamination and legal disputes with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes over hazardous waste and discontinued $1.5 million annual payments. Conversely, FMC committed $30.5 million to the Zero Hunger Pledge, targets net-zero emissions by 2035, and achieved significant Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions reductions. They are recognized for LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion and donated 3% of sales revenue to Ukraine demining efforts.

Value Scores

Better Health for All0
-100100
Fair Money & Economic Opportunity0
-100100
Fair Pay & Worker Respect20
-100100
Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing0
-100100
Honest & Fair Business-10
-100100
Kind to Animals10
-100100
No War, No Weapons10
-100100
Planet-Friendly Business-40
-100100
Respect for Cultures & Communities-10
-100100
Safe & Smart Tech10
-100100
Zero Waste & Sustainable Products-40
-100100

Better Health for All

0

FMC's core business of crop protection enables food production, which is essential for health, and the company is investing in biologicals, plant health, and direct health initiatives like providing safe drinking water to nearly 120,000 farming families in India.

1
In 2023, Highly Hazardous Pesticides accounted for approximately 0.1% of total sales.
2
The company achieved a record-low Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) of 0.05 in 2023, among the lowest in the chemical industry worldwide, with several sites incident-free for over 10 or 20 years.
3
FMC demonstrates strong risk transparency, with third-party assurance for environmental and safety data, and comprehensive GHG emissions reporting following multiple international standards. The company spent 7% of its revenues on R&D in 2023, focusing on sustainable agriculture and biologicals.
4
However, FMC is undergoing corrective actions for soil and groundwater contamination from past hazardous waste disposal at its Middleport, New York facility.
5
Despite this, it has committed to net-zero GHG emissions by 2035
6
and reduced Scopes 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 18% and Scope 3 emissions by 27% from a 2021 base year by 2023.
7
FMC provides significant healthcare education, reaching 100,000 farmers in India on soil nutrient levels
8
and partnering on garden-based education in U.S. schools.
9
As an agricultural sciences company, FMC's products do not have addiction potential, nor does it conduct clinical trials or hold healthcare-related patents.

Fair Money & Economic Opportunity

0

FMC Corporation is an agricultural sciences company and does not offer lending, insurance, or deposit services to consumers. Therefore, KPIs related to financial products, pricing, fees, data accessibility, and debt burden are not applicable, resulting in a score of 0 for these categories. While the company engages in various community and inclusion initiatives, such as supporting women-led businesses

1
, providing scholarships
2
, and committing to the Zero Hunger Pledge
3
, these programs do not constitute financial inclusion or wealth-building outcomes as defined by the specific financial metrics of the rubric's KPIs. For financial literacy initiatives, although FMC partners with The Community Grocer which will offer programming related to financial literacy
4
, the articles do not provide specific data on the extent or impact of these programs, which are required for scoring this KPI, leading to its omission.

Fair Pay & Worker Respect

20

FMC achieved a record-low Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) of 0.05 in 2023.

1
The company's CEO to median employee pay ratio was 201:1 in 2024.
2
The global voluntary employee turnover rate was 6.1% in 2013.
3
In the past three years, FMC had one Notice of Violation with penalty in 2021
4
and one substantiated harassment, discrimination, or retaliation report in 2023.
5

Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing

0

FMC's Sustainable Sourcing Statement outlines its dedication to ethical, sustainable, and safe operations, regularly screening and assessing suppliers for adherence to requirements and establishing corrective actions.

1
The company's Supplier Code of Conduct sets expectations for suppliers regarding ethics, legal requirements, human dignity, and labor.
2
FMC also requires suppliers to commit to not sourcing conflict minerals and to provide evidence of their conflict-free commitment.
3
The company was included in S&P Global's Sustainability Yearbook 2024
4
and recognized in the World Benchmarking Alliance's 2023 Nature Benchmark,
5
ranking 23rd out of 350 companies in the food and agriculture sector and 6th in the agricultural inputs segment.
6
FMC was also named one of America's Most Responsible Companies for the third consecutive year, ranking 60th out of 600 in 2023.
7
Additionally, FMC released its first Climate Transition Plan in May 2024,
8
detailing steps to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 across its value chain, including a supplier engagement strategy.
9
However, specific data on fair trade certifications, audit frequencies, or detailed supply chain traceability were not found in the available sources.

Honest & Fair Business

-10

FMC has an Ethics Response Line with mobile phone report submission capability, and an Ethics Office that manages internal reporting and investigation processes

1
. Communications and other awareness processes have led to significantly increased use of this line
2
. The company maintains a comprehensive anti-corruption policy, including a Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) compliance standard process
3
. Extensive compliance training is conducted globally for FMC employees and key third parties
4
. The Ethics Office, in partnership with Internal Audit and external resources, undertakes risk-based assessments
5
, and FCPA audits are performed to strengthen compliance processes
6
.

Kind to Animals

10

FMC has an Animal Welfare Policy, updated in February 2024,

1
committing to the "Three Rs" (Replace, Reduce, Refine)
2
with the ultimate goal of eliminating animal testing
3
. The policy states a commitment to using scientifically validated alternative methods where feasible to reduce the need for animal studies
4
, acknowledging that animal testing is still required for regulatory approval for many new products
5
. All animal studies are conducted in research facilities certified for high quality science and internationally accepted standards of animal care and use
6
, with partners required to be accredited through AAALACi
7
. FMC partners with the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA), contributing $300,000 over three years to support wildlife conservation and animal welfare programs in South Africa
8
. The NSPCA plays a significant role in upholding compliance with new policies and legislations for wildlife conservation developed by the South African government
9
. FMC also engages in discussions with PETA on alternatives to animal testing
10
and collaborates with industry and government on non-animal testing methods
11
.

No War, No Weapons

10

FMC Corporation donates 3% of its 2023 sales revenue in Ukraine to The HALO Trust's demining efforts.

1
The company ended direct military engagements in 1994, shifting its focus to agricultural sciences, demonstrating a public commitment to an arms-free business.
2
FMC's products currently do not contain any conflict minerals, and it requires suppliers to commit to being conflict-free and sourcing from conflict-free smelters.
3
The company complies with U.S. export control laws, restricting sales to embargoed countries, and ceased operations in Russia in April 2022 due to conflict, indicating zero procurement from active conflict zones.
4
,
5
FMC's human rights policy is guided by the UN Global Compact Principles, and it is a long-standing signatory to the UN Global Compact, with regular reporting under GRI guidelines.
6
,
7
The company is committed to complying with Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Act regarding conflict minerals.
8
As an agricultural sciences company, FMC has no dual-use technology, AI with military potential, surveillance activities, or defense business for board oversight, and is not subject to the Arms Trade Treaty.

Planet-Friendly Business

-40

FMC Corporation's net-zero GHG emissions target across its value chain by 2035 was verified by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in March 2023, aligning with a 1.5-degree trajectory.

1
The company has set near-term targets to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42%
2
and Scope 3 emissions by 25% by 2030.
3
In 2023, FMC achieved 75% waste to beneficial reuse globally.
4
The company supports and reports following the guidance of the Taskforce for Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
5
and utilizes scenario analysis to help shape its overall strategy and risk management approach, evaluating both physical and transitional risks and opportunities across multiple time horizons.
6

Respect for Cultures & Communities

-10

FMC Corporation was involved in a legal dispute with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes on the Fort Hall Reservation.

1
After ceasing plant operations in 2001, FMC discontinued an agreed $1.5 million annual fee for a hazardous waste storage permit.
2
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review a case, effectively upholding the Ninth Circuit Court's decision that affirmed the Tribes' authority and required FMC to honor its agreement.
3
No cultural appropriation incidents have been reported.
4
Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) processes are not applicable to the company's operations.
5

Safe & Smart Tech

10

FMC Corporation reported no direct cybersecurity breaches within its systems in 2024

1
and no material breaches from third-party vendors in the same year.
2
The company requires employees and contractors to complete annual IT Security Awareness training
3
and conducts multiple email phishing tests throughout the year, with a disciplinary approach for failures.
4
Users are provided with comprehensive data control options, including the ability to access, rectify, erase, and port their data, as well as manage cookie settings.
5
FMC has strong data governance, limiting personal data use to business purposes
6
and having an Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy.
7
The company adheres to stringent regulatory frameworks,
8
complies with laws governing international data transfer using European Commission-approved standard contractual clauses,
9
and received no penalties or settlements from security breaches in 2024.
10
FMC performs periodic penetration tests by independent third parties
11
and adds encryption to personal data as appropriate.
12
The company utilizes AI with a focus on data privacy, fair access, and regulatory compliance,
13
including anonymizing farm data and ensuring fair access for small-scale farmers.
14

Zero Waste & Sustainable Products

-40

FMC Corporation achieved a 75% waste to beneficial reuse rate in 2023

1
and has committed to achieve 100% waste to beneficial reuse by 2035.
2
The company reduced waste generated by 6% in 2024
3
and 14,000 metric tons in 2023
4
through initiatives such as onsite wastewater treatment, material recycling, water reuse at two zero-liquid discharge sites, and rainwater harvesting at three sites.
5
These efforts earned Responsible Care® Awards in 2023.
6
However, FMC has a history of significant hazardous waste management issues, including a Superfund site with over 20 million tons of radioactive, carcinogenic, and poisonous hazardous waste from a former plant that operated until 2001.
7
The company was charged with violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) in 1997, resulting in an $11.8 million civil penalty.
8
A Unilateral Administrative Order (UAO) issued in 2010 for phosphine gas extraction and treatment remains in effect.
9
As of March 2018, FMC was also disputing the remedy selection for RCRA corrective action at its Middleport, New York facility in court.
10

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AI-generated analysis based on publicly available data. Not financial advice. Ratings are expressions of opinion derived from automated models and may contain inaccuracies. See our Risk Disclosure for full details.