Better Health for All

ExxonMobil's core products, including petroleum products and petrochemicals like benzene, have been linked to severe health damage. A Pennsylvania jury ordered the company to pay $725.5 million to a mechanic who developed leukemia due to benzene exposure from its products

. A federal court upheld a $14.25 million penalty against ExxonMobil for Clean Air Act violations at its Baytown facility, where over 10 million pounds of carcinogenic and toxic pollutants were released from 2005 to 2013 . Residents near the Baytown plant continue to report health issues attributed to emissions . These incidents indicate significant undisclosed risks and ongoing community health impacts. While the company reported a 25% reduction in VOCs, SOx, and NOx emissions at operated assets from 2016 to 2024 , significant health-harming externalities persist. In positive initiatives, ExxonMobil has invested over $179 million in antimalarial programs since 2000 , which includes training over 1 million health workers and distributing 15.1 million bed nets and 5.6 million doses of antimalarial treatments , contributing to a global reduction in malaria cases and deaths . The company also donated $10 million to a cancer prevention initiative in Beaumont .

Fair Money & Economic Opportunity

ExxonMobil supports economic opportunities for women globally. Since 2005, the company has invested over $120 million in programs across more than 90 countries, focusing on developing women entrepreneurs, enhancing financial literacy, and improving the productivity of women farmers

. Specific projects include the PEMA initiative in Mozambique, which provides agricultural inputs, services, and finance to over 400 women farmers , and a three-year, $1.75 million project in Chad benefiting approximately 2,500 rural women in business enterprises . Additionally, ExxonMobil spends approximately $500 million annually with women-owned businesses globally through its supplier diversity program .

Fair Pay & Worker Respect

In 2023, the CEO's total compensation was $36.9 million, which was approximately 200 times the median employee pay of $185,376.

The median employee pay increased by 8% in 2023. In March 2023, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a lawsuit against the company, alleging a racially hostile work environment due to inaction after five nooses were found at its Baton Rouge complex between 2016 and 2020. The company's Standards of Business Conduct include an Equal Employment Opportunity Policy and a Harassment in the Workplace Policy, and it prohibits child labor across its global operations. In March 2024, a furnace fire occurred at its Baytown, Texas refinery, leading to a unit shutdown. The company states it aligns its operations with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the International Labour Organization's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, focusing on eliminating forced labor, child labor, and discrimination.

Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing

Exxon Mobil Corp. has faced scrutiny regarding its ethical sourcing practices, including legal cases alleging human rights violations by security forces hired by the company in Aceh, Indonesia

. Critics have raised concerns about the company's commitment to human rights and ethical sourcing, citing a lack of comprehensive auditing beyond tier-1 suppliers and limited public evidence of transformative supplier community programs . The company states its commitment to human rights and ethical practices in corporate policies , emphasizing compliance with the International Labour Organization's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, including the elimination of forced and child labor, and expects suppliers to adhere to similar standards . However, the effectiveness and transparency of these policies have been questioned due to historical controversies and the opaque nature of its supply chain practices .

Honest & Fair Business

Exxon Mobil faces multiple legal and regulatory challenges. In May 2025, the Colorado Supreme Court allowed a lawsuit to proceed, accusing the company of misleading the public about fossil fuels' environmental impact.

The State of California filed a lawsuit in September 2024, alleging ExxonMobil misled the public about plastic recyclability, which led to Exxon Mobil filing a defamation lawsuit against the California Attorney General and environmental groups in January 2025. Reports also emerged in January 2025 alleging the company hired a private investigator to hack environmental activists' emails, which Exxon Mobil denied. A National Labor Relations Board judge ruled in March 2023 that Exxon Mobil violated federal law by unilaterally suspending 401(k) contributions for approximately 1,775 employees from October 2020 to October 2021. Additionally, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued ExxonMobil in March 2023 for failing to address the display of five hangman's nooses at its Baton Rouge facility, creating a racially hostile work environment. The Federal Trade Commission approved an acquisition in May 2024 on the condition that the former CEO of the acquired company not join Exxon's board to avoid antitrust issues. Exxon Mobil maintains a comprehensive Code of Ethics, provides regular training on anti-corruption standards, and has mechanisms for reporting violations. The company released a report in April 2025 detailing its human rights policies and revised its annual report language in February 2025, replacing 'diversity' with 'meritocracy' and professional development.

Kind to Animals

Exxon Mobil has faced significant criticism and legal action related to its impact on wildlife. The company pleaded guilty in 2009 to charges for the deaths of 85 protected birds

and was responsible for the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, which killed thousands of wildlife . More recently, in 2024, it faced lawsuits from Maine and California concerning its alleged contribution to climate change impacts on coastal ecosystems and global plastic pollution . Operations in the Arctic and off Sakhalin Island have also threatened caribou and critically endangered whales . In terms of public policy engagement, PETA urged ExxonMobil in 2020 to end its sponsorship of the Iditarod race due to documented animal cruelty concerns, highlighting the event's inhumane practices . While Exxon Mobil has engaged in some conservation efforts, such as 14 sites certified by the Wildlife Habitat Council as of early 2023 , and supported the preservation of over 20,000 hectares of land in Papua New Guinea , these initiatives lack specific, measurable biodiversity outcomes like species recovery or population increases.

No War, No Weapons

The provided articles indicate that ExxonMobil Marine Limited secured a $40.3 million contract with the U.S. Navy in October 2024 for a worldwide lubrication program

. Additionally, ExxonMobil was awarded a contract by the Defense Logistics Agency in February 2023 to supply aviation turbine fuel, with obligations totaling $264.5 million to date and a ceiling value of $345.3 million . The company has also provided fuel to military operations, including for Israel's military, used in equipment involved in conflicts causing civilian casualties . However, the articles do not provide the percentage of company revenue derived from these defense contracts, which is required to score the 'revenue_arms_contracts' KPI. While a 2023 settlement for past human rights abuse allegations in Indonesia was noted , the articles do not specify the frequency of current human-rights due diligence in conflict-affected areas. A general commitment to human rights is mentioned , but not explicit alignment with UN Guiding Principles. No other specific, quantifiable evidence was found for the remaining KPIs to meet the rubric's exact quantitative thresholds.

Planet-Friendly Business

The company faced a $14.25 million penalty for air pollution violations at its Baytown, Texas, complex

, with a federal court rejecting its appeal and affirming responsibility for excess emissions impacting local communities . Between 2005 and 2013, the company violated the Clean Air Act over 16,000 times .

Respect for Cultures & Communities

ExxonMobil demonstrates strong actions for cultural site protection, including implementing a Cultural Heritage Management Plan and a cultural heritage tracking system in Papua New Guinea

, with trained personnel ensuring respect for cultural sites . The company also facilitated the return of over 3,000 artifacts to Alaska from the Canadian Museum of History and collaborated with seven Indigenous communities in Canada on a lake reclamation project, incorporating traditional knowledge . ExxonMobil's affiliate, Imperial Oil, signed five-year agreements with two Indigenous-owned companies in Canada for services like earthwork and land reclamation , totaling nine formal partnerships with indigenous or local community groups . However, in 2019, a performance at ExxonMobil's Port Moresby headquarters was considered culturally insensitive, leading to accusations of disrespect . Furthermore, while a Cultural Heritage Management Plan exists in Papua New Guinea , evidence does not confirm consistent implementation of such protocols across all operations.

Safe & Smart Tech

U.S. prosecutors alleged that an Israeli private investigator employed hackers to steal emails from climate activists opposing Exxon Mobil between 2015 and 2018.

Over 500 email accounts were hacked, and these emails were reportedly used by Exxon's legal team to counteract investigations on climate activities. Democratic senators and environmental groups called for investigations into Exxon Mobil's alleged role, though Exxon and its consultant denied involvement. This incident was noted to underscore significant ethical lapses in handling data privacy.

Zero Waste & Sustainable Products

ExxonMobil's advanced recycling operations at its Baytown facility have processed over 70 million pounds of plastic waste as of October 2024.

The company has invested $200 million to expand these operations at Baytown and Beaumont, Texas, with a target to process up to 1 billion pounds of plastic waste annually by 2027.