Better Health for All

PZ Cussons maintains a perfect product safety record, with no significant product recalls or safety alerts reported as of January 2023.

The company demonstrates very limited health-harming externalities with exemplary remediation efforts, having achieved a 42.8% reduction in scopes 1 and 2 carbon emissions and a 9.2% reduction in virgin plastic usage. Additionally, 85.6% of its packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable, and it organized a community cleanup in Lagos State, Nigeria, to reduce plastic pollution. , As a consumer goods company, its business model does not involve healthcare-related patents, products with addiction potential, or clinical trials, making these KPIs not applicable.

Fair Money & Economic Opportunity

PZ Cussons PLC is a consumer goods manufacturer and does not directly engage in financial services such as lending, deposits, or insurance. The provided evidence explicitly states that the company "does not directly engage in fair money practices."

Consequently, all KPIs related to financial products, pricing, fees, lending practices, customer financial data, and financial literacy programs are not applicable to its operations. The company's indirect contributions to local economies through sourcing and employment are noted but do not align with the specific financial service definitions of the KPIs.

Fair Pay & Worker Respect

PZ Cussons holds ISO 45001 for occupational health and safety and ISO 9001 for quality management systems

. In December 2023, the company joined the UN Global Compact . PZ Cussons states its commitment to the Modern Slavery Act 2015, emphasizing that neither modern slavery nor human trafficking occurs within its operations or supply chains . A new people strategy was established in August 2023 , and the company renewed its commitment to diversity and inclusion . Its brand Childs Farm achieved B Corp certification in July 2022 . Employee reviews on Glassdoor rate the overall compensation and benefits package at 2.9 out of 5 stars , with some positive feedback on benefits and work environment , alongside concerns about a toxic work environment, limited growth, and low salaries relative to workload . UK Brand Managers earn an average base pay of £40,000 , and Senior Brand Managers earn an average base pay of £55,000 .

Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing

PZ Cussons has achieved 55.7% traceability to mill in its supply chain

. Regarding high-risk materials, 1% of crude palm oil and palm kernel oil, and 2% of palm oil derivatives, are not sourced from direct suppliers committed to No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation (NDPE) standards . Conversely, 99% of crude palm oil and palm kernel oil, and 98% of palm oil derivatives, are sourced from NDPE-committed suppliers . The company has established a Supplier Code of Conduct that requires suppliers to adhere to ethical standards and encourages participation in third-party rating programs such as SEDEX . PZ Cussons has also extended its no-deforestation commitment beyond palm oil to include pulp and paper .

Honest & Fair Business

PZ Cussons has implemented a comprehensive Code of Ethical Conduct, applicable to all employees and business partners

, and supported by global compliance measures . Supplier codes of conduct are in place to prevent human trafficking . However, there has been a temporary decline in Code of Conduct training .

Kind to Animals

PZ Cussons maintains a global policy against animal testing, explicitly stating it does not test finished products or ingredients on animals, nor does it permit suppliers or third parties to test on its behalf.

The company commits to not selling products in any manner requiring animal testing. This approach implies that alternative methods are standard in product development and safety dossiers. All personal care and beauty brands are certified cruelty-free through PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies Programme, and all personal care products in the UK are accredited by the Vegan Society. The acquired brand, Childs Farm, is also certified cruelty-free and vegan.

No War, No Weapons

PZ Cussons PLC focuses on consumer goods and personal healthcare, with no involvement in military contracts, arms manufacturing, or defense industries

. Consequently, the company has no defense assets to divest and no exposure to controversial weapons . However, there is no evidence of active engagement in peace-building or disarmament initiatives, nor any significant advocacy for peace .

Planet-Friendly Business

PZ Cussons achieved a 42.8% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2024, compared to its baseline.

The company has attained carbon neutrality in all operations outside of Africa and has a target to achieve carbon neutrality in all operations by 2025. As of FY24, 85.6% of PZ Cussons' packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable, an increase from 84.4% in the previous year. The introduction of refill pouches has led to at least a 75% reduction in plastic usage per refill. PZ Cussons is a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and has committed to sourcing 100% of its palm oil from producers verified as compliant with NDPE standards. The company joined the UN Global Compact in December 2023 and secured a £325 million credit facility in November 2022, with terms linked to sustainability goals including achieving B Corp certification across all business units by 2026 and reducing virgin plastic packaging by one-third by 2030.

Respect for Cultures & Communities

The provided articles detail PZ Cussons' commitment to environmental sustainability, including initiatives for sustainable palm oil

, plastic waste reduction , and carbon footprint targets . They also highlight the PZ Cussons Foundation's work in Nigeria, focusing on education, health, potable water, and infrastructure development in local communities . However, the articles do not contain specific, quantifiable evidence or explicit details pertaining to the defined KPIs for 'Respect for Cultures & Communities,' such as formal partnerships with indigenous groups, cultural appropriation incidents, cultural impact assessment protocols, or specific cultural preservation investments. Therefore, no KPIs could be scored based on the available information.

Safe & Smart Tech

PZ Cussons' business model focuses on consumer goods, and there is no available information on its direct involvement in tech ethics, data privacy, or AI concerns for the company as a whole.

No specific data privacy or cybersecurity initiatives were disclosed, leaving the company's alignment with 'Safe & Smart Tech' values unclear. While PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc is strengthening its legal and compliance framework with a focus on data protection regulation (NDPR) , and a Carex UK privacy policy outlines data collection and use , these instances are specific to a subsidiary or brand and do not provide company-wide evidence for the assessed KPIs. The adoption of Microsoft's Fabric data analytics platform is a general technology adoption and does not provide specific, measurable data for any of the detailed KPIs.

Zero Waste & Sustainable Products

PZ Cussons has achieved a 9.2% reduction in virgin plastic usage compared to their baseline.

The company has set a target to reduce single-use plastic by 25% by 2025. , which also includes goals for 100% reusable, recyclable, or compostable plastic packaging and at least 30% recycled content in plastic packaging. They have implemented multiple waste reduction initiatives, including launching Carex hand wash refill pouches that use up to 85% less plastic, partnering with TerraCycle for a take-back scheme for these pouches, and joining the 'Re' initiative for packaging reuse. Additionally, the company has engaged in community clean-up exercises in Lagos, Nigeria, to encourage recycling and promote reduce, reuse, recycle principles, and has achieved a 49% reduction in landfill waste.