Better Health for All

Reckitt Benckiser faces severe negative health impacts and safety violations related to its Enfamil baby formula. In March 2024, a US court awarded $60 million in compensation for the death of a premature baby due to necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), and the company faces over 400 similar cases.

There is an allegation that Reckitt failed to adequately warn about the risks associated with the infant formula. Despite these issues, Reckitt demonstrates strong efforts in public health education, with its Dettol Hygiene Quest reaching 24.5 million children in over 15 countries and the Sehat Kahani initiative impacting more than 20 million people through health education, promotion, and counselling. The company also shows commitment to mitigating health externalities, having zero fines for environmental breaches in 2022 and 2023, and actively working to reduce its chemical footprint by 65% by 2030. It is evaluating the impact of active pharmaceutical ingredients in effluent and investing in zero effluent discharge at key sites. Furthermore, Reckitt provides substantial mental health support through a global partnership with Heart on My Sleeve, access to wellbeing experts, a partnership with Ambitious about Autism, and the Reckitt Cancer Experience Network.

Fair Money & Economic Opportunity

The provided articles describe Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc's activities related to sustainable products, manufacturing, supply chain due diligence, economic contribution through employment, anti-corruption efforts, and support for WIC-eligible infants through rebates and maternal health initiatives. In its 2023 Sustainability Report, Reckitt highlighted that 29.6% of its net revenue came from more sustainable products

. The company also achieved zero waste to landfill from manufacturing sites and exceeded science-based targets to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions . Reckitt's operations in the U.S. contributed $4.6 billion to GDP and supported 27,600 jobs across all states , underscoring its role in economic activity and employment. Reckitt supported over 680,000 WIC-eligible infants with $700 million in rebates in 2020 . Their partnership with March of Dimes 'Better Starts for All' committed $6 million to improve maternal health in underserved areas . None of the articles provide evidence that the company offers lending, deposit, insurance, or other financial services to consumers or businesses. Therefore, the KPIs under the 'Fair Money & Economic Opportunity' value, which are designed to assess financial institutions, cannot be scored based on the available evidence.

Fair Pay & Worker Respect

Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc achieved Fair Wage Network Global Living Wage Certification in 2024.

This certification confirms that all its employees are paid above the living wage in all locations. In 2023, contractors on Reckitt sites also received a Fair Living Wage, with only one small group of workers in the Middle East being an exception. The CEO-median pay ratio for 2024 was 1:104. As of April 2024, the UK median gender pay gap was -9.1% in favor of women. , and pay equity analyses across its top 10 markets and European countries yielded positive results in 2024. However, the company received a $15,000 penalty for employment discrimination in 2024. Additionally, 48 cases related to discrimination, harassment, working hours, pay, and health and safety were substantiated through its internal Speak Up! Service in 2023.

Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing

In 2024, 36 non-compliances related to forced labor and human trafficking were identified in the supply chain.

Critical and high-risk suppliers are audited at least every three years. The Natural Raw Materials (NRM) standard is shared with 100% of all NRM suppliers as part of the contracting process, including specific categories like fats blends, soap noodle, palm derived surfactant, paper and board, and direct soy suppliers. Additionally, the Third-Party Code of Conduct applies to all third parties, with breaches potentially leading to contract termination.

Honest & Fair Business

Reckitt faced over $61 million in ethics-related penalties in the past three years. This includes a $60 million jury award against a subsidiary in March 2024 for negligence and failure to warn regarding baby formula

, fines exceeding $1 million for environmental violations in May 2025 , and a PKR 15 million (approximately $50,000) fine for deceptive marketing in Pakistan in July 2024 . The company received a score of 18.32 out of 100 on the Green Supply Chain Corporate Information Transparency Index in November 2023 . Reckitt has a Speak Up policy and a confidential whistleblower helpline operated by an external organization , with whistleblower reports leading to internal audits and suspensions in 2024 . In 2023, 87% of total assets were covered by external audit . The company has faced multiple significant controversies, including a securities fraud investigation in February 2025 , predatory pricing concerns in November 2024 , and the $60 million baby formula lawsuit in March 2024 . Reckitt maintains a robust anti-bribery policy that mandates compliance with global anti-corruption laws , provides a framework for handling violations, and includes formal training with mandatory online tests . In 2022, it showed significant improvements in its anti-corruption program by effectively managing third parties and risk assessment .

Kind to Animals

Reckitt Benckiser actively opposes the EPA's efforts to ban d-CON rodenticides, which are documented to cause gruesome deaths in wildlife such as bobcats, foxes, owls, and hawks.

The company is not certified by any cruelty-free organizations. Its animal testing policy prohibits discretionary testing but permits animal studies when legally mandated by government agencies or ethically obliged for infant nutrition products. While committed to minimizing animal testing and using alternatives wherever feasible, animal studies are still required by regulations on limited occasions. Reckitt is present on the Board of the International Collaboration on Cosmetic Safety (ICCS) and works with industry associations and government bodies to advance animal-free safety science. The company does not have in-house animal husbandry or captive operations.

No War, No Weapons

Reckitt Benckiser began the process of transferring ownership of its Russian business in April 2022

, halting advertising and capital investments , but continued supplying essential health and hygiene products to consumers in Russia . The company publicly condemned the war in Ukraine and contributed £1 million to humanitarian efforts . Historically, during World War I, Reckitt produced non-combative equipment instead of weapons . The company has a Corporate Responsibility, Sustainability, Ethics, and Compliance Committee to oversee ethical standards . Reckitt also partnered with the Danish Institute for Human Rights to develop a human rights strategy .

Planet-Friendly Business

Reckitt's total Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions were 7.91 million tCO2e in 2024.

Science-based targets are validated by SBTi and align with a 1.5°C climate scenario, including a 65% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions and a 50% reduction in Scope 3 emissions by 2030 from a 2015 baseline. 96% of operational electricity is sourced from renewables, with one-third of sites generating some of their own renewable energy. Factories have achieved zero waste to landfill. In 2023, 8% of plastic packaging contained post-consumer recycled content. The company does not currently use carbon offsets. Climate-related risks and opportunities, including TCFD recommendations, are published in the annual report. 17% of total water withdrawals occur in water-stressed locations. The company has a formal No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation (NDPE) policy for palm oil supply chains, with 44% of palm oil used in fats blends and soap noodles verified deforestation-free in 2022. Traceability to mill for these products is 99% and to plantation is 81%, supported by real-time satellite analysis. 99% of paper and board is from certified or recycled sources. The company is investing $3 million in the Climate Gender Equity Fund (CGEF).

Respect for Cultures & Communities

Reckitt has established numerous formal partnerships, including over 60 social entrepreneurs since 2020, and collaborations with organizations such as UNFPA, Water.org, WWF, and the British Red Cross.

No cultural appropriation incidents have been reported, and in 2022, brands like Lysol were recognized for authentic representation of diverse cultures in marketing strategies. The company's operations do not involve indigenous communities, making Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) processes not applicable. Reckitt provides communications in 24 languages, offers programs in multiple languages including Braille, delivers health support in local languages, and supports bilingual doctors for Latino communities.

Safe & Smart Tech

Reckitt's last documented significant data breach was the NotPetya ransomware attack in June 2017, which caused an estimated £100 million revenue loss.

There have been no documented breaches in the past five years. The company has implemented a Cyber Transformation Programme, increased IT security headcount, improved cyber response playbooks, and operates a cyber security control framework aligned with ISO and NIST standards, including active monitoring and penetration testing. Reckitt introduced a group policy and an AI Tools Policy in 2023 for responsible AI use, with IT&D and Legal teams ensuring AI tools are fully risk assessed and policies are regularly updated. Mandatory Cyber Awareness training is rolled out to all employees. The company has no documented incidents of unauthorized data use and introduced Responsible Consumer Data Principles to enhance data transparency, control, reasonableness, and fairness. Users have comprehensive rights over their data, including access, correction, deletion, and portability. The company states it complies with applicable privacy laws and regulations globally, but no specific details on proactive compliance programs or exceeding requirements are provided.

Zero Waste & Sustainable Products

Reckitt has achieved a 21% reduction in waste per tonne of production since 2015.

By 2022, 94% of its sites reached zero waste to landfill status. The company has committed to making 100% of plastic packaging reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2025, effectively recycling 50% of it, and incorporating 30% recycled content on average. Reckitt uses a Sustainable Innovation Calculator, which facilitated over 700 product analyses, and 24.4% of its 2022 revenue came from more sustainable products. The company has implemented several waste reduction initiatives, including introducing paper-based packaging for Finish dishwashing tablets, reducing plastic usage by 75% per pouch and eliminating over 2,000 tonnes of plastic annually. It also collaborates with Plastic Bank to collect 100,000 kg of plastic, partnered with Veolia to develop collection systems and improve recycling, and launched a free recycling program with TerraCycle for all brands of vitamins and supplements.