Better Health for All

Goldman Sachs demonstrates a strategic focus on health-positive impact through significant investments and initiatives. Its One Million Black Women initiative, launched in 2021, has committed $10 billion in direct capital and $100 million in philanthropic support, with $4.1 billion in investment capital and $44 million in philanthropic capital deployed to date.

This initiative aims to impact one million Black women by 2030, with healthcare as a core pillar, and has positively impacted over 215,000 Black women. The company has also committed $750 billion in sustainable financing, investing, and advisory activities by 2030, with $555 billion achieved, which includes support for healthcare initiatives. Furthermore, Goldman Sachs supports healthcare workforce capacity through initiatives like additional training for perinatal professionals, a rural maternity health residency program in Georgia, and empowering caregiving professionals with online tools and training via CareAcademy. The company's core financial services business has no direct health impacts or externalities, and it does not offer health-related products requiring price accessibility, risk transparency, or data responsibility.

Fair Pay & Worker Respect

Goldman Sachs settled a class-action lawsuit in 2023 for $215 million, resolving allegations of systemic pay and promotion discrimination affecting approximately 2,800 current and former female employees

. The firm also reported a mean hourly gender pay gap of 54% at Goldman Sachs International in the UK, indicating that women earn 46% of men's mean hourly pay .

Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing

Goldman Sachs operates in the financial services sector and does not directly procure physical goods. The firm has a comprehensive Vendor Code of Conduct outlining expectations for ethical business practices, labor and human rights, environmental stewardship, and governance

, requiring vendors to adhere to principles such as paying living wages and fostering inclusive workforces . Goldman Sachs assesses 100% of its vendors for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks , including modern slavery, using a vendor management platform for deeper assessments . The company publishes an annual Statement on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking . Additionally, a Vendor Diversity Program is in place to support small and diverse enterprises .

Honest & Fair Business

Goldman Sachs has faced significant ethics-related regulatory penalties. In the past three years, the company was fined $45 million and ordered to pay $19.8 million in consumer redress for mishandling credit card transaction disputes

, and paid over $12 million to settle a complaint regarding a sexist workplace culture . These recent penalties total $76.8 million. The company also previously settled charges related to its role in the 1MDB fraud, paying over $2.9 billion to the U.S. and $3.9 billion to Malaysia in 2020 . A former executive was sentenced to 10 years for involvement in the 1MDB scheme , and another former executive was charged by the SEC in 2019 for violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act .

Kind to Animals

Goldman Sachs invested $300 million in 10 intensive poultry farms in China, contributing to factory farming practices associated with animal cruelty.

This indicates a lack of humane certifications for animal operations, no cage-free sourcing, and unethical animal agriculture practices. The firm received low scores in a global animal cruelty scorecard, indicating weak policies and enforcement regarding animal welfare. The firm lacked strong commitments to animal welfare with policies that were not enforceable or trackable, suggesting no welfare audits for its animal-related suppliers and minimal public policy engagement. As a financial services firm, Goldman Sachs has no animal-derived products, animal testing operations, or related R&D.

No War, No Weapons

Goldman Sachs has demonstrated significant exposure to controversial weapons, investing $8.7 billion in cluster munition producers and $8.595 billion in nuclear weapon producers between 2015 and 2018.

This indicates a lack of codified ethical red lines banning such weapons and a 0% compliance rate with ethical boundaries against them. Furthermore, the firm's GQG Partners International Opportunities Fund holds $2.7 billion in military contractors, representing 5.4% of the fund's portfolio , and Goldman Sachs maintains a $141.5 million position in TransDigm Group, a supplier to military procurement agencies. These investments confirm the company's ongoing links to controversial weapons and military contractors, demonstrating it cannot claim zero exposure.

Planet-Friendly Business

Goldman Sachs has sourced 100% of its global electricity from renewables since 2020

and has been carbon neutral across its operations since 2015 . The firm aims for net zero carbon emissions in its operations and supply chain by 2030 . It has reduced global energy use by 27% and 100% of its operationally controlled facilities are certified under ISO 14001 . The company aims for $750 billion in sustainable financing by 2030, having reached $555 billion by 2024 . It launched a biodiversity bond fund to raise $300 to $500 million and a climate credit fund for clean energy and sustainable transport investments . Goldman Sachs Alternatives invested $440 million in a 31-gigawatt renewable energy project portfolio and allocated $25 million in concessional capital to unlock $500 million in climate solutions across South and Southeast Asia . However, between 2016 and 2023, the firm provided approximately $184.9 billion in financing to the fossil fuel industry , including $9.33 billion in 2023 for companies involved in fossil fuel expansion . In January 2025, Goldman Sachs exited the Net-Zero Banking Alliance .

Respect for Cultures & Communities

Goldman Sachs has 33 non-profit organizations identified as Community Development Champions in its Utah and New York-New Jersey assessment areas.

The company has no reported cultural appropriation incidents. Goldman Sachs has an Indigenous rights policy that expects clients to align with IFC Performance Standard 7, which includes obligations for engagement and free, prior, and informed consent. However, the application of this protocol has been inconsistent, as evidenced by its financing of companies involved in the Dakota Access Pipeline, which critics stated infringed on sacred Sioux Nation land. Following public and shareholder pressure regarding such incidents, the company's response has been reactive, with shareholder requests for enhanced oversight on human and indigenous rights.

Safe & Smart Tech

Goldman Sachs has appointed Daniel Marcu as Global Head of AI Engineering and Science to lead AI platform development.

The firm's Chief Information Officer, Marco Argenti, emphasizes the need for robust safety measures, compliance, and privacy considerations for responsible and ethical AI use. Goldman Sachs also underscores the necessity of human oversight to maintain ethical standards in AI applications. and recognizes Protect AI, aligning with its commitment to responsible technology use.

Zero Waste & Sustainable Products

Goldman Sachs has established 2025 sustainability goals to eliminate 100% of plastic disposables and divert all business waste from landfills

. The company also supports the transition to a circular economy and has invested in firms focused on sustainable cold chain materials , reusable metal containers , renewable natural gas from food and beverage waste , and recycled cotton fiber .