The Most Ethical Manufacturers in the World [SLIDESHOW]

March 21, 2014
Ethical lapses can spell financial disaster for companies. The manufacturers in the 2014 World's Most Ethical Companies list work hard to mitigate such risks with programs to protect people and the planet.

The Ethisphere Institute, an independent center of research promoting best practices in corporate ethics and compliance, announced today the selection of the 2014 World’s Most Ethical Companies®. The World’s Most Ethical Company designation recognizes companies that truly go beyond making statements about doing business ethically and translate those words into action. World’s Most Ethical Company honorees not only promote ethical business standards and practices internally, they embed the theory of “conscious capitalism” into everything they do, every employee they hire, and every partner they bring into their network to ensure they deliver long-term value to key stakeholders including customers, suppliers, regulators, and investors. By leading their industries in compliance, corporate governance and social responsibility, the World’s Most Ethical Companies effectively align ethical business practices with performance and shape future industry ethical business standards.

“In today’s complex global economy, it can be increasingly challenging for companies to meet performance expectations, while addressing the varying regulatory, compliance and sustainability needs across geographies and cultures,” said Tim Erblich, CEO of the Ethisphere Institute. “Global economic and social challenges from anti-corruption to security and privacy are accelerating the need for companies and organizations to embrace ethics and governance as critical business imperatives. Failure to establish the highest ethical business standards and practices throughout an organization can result in unacceptable consequences that include both human impacts and operational risks. These organizations have taken this challenge head on and recognize that leading ethical business practices present an unprecedented opportunity to deliver significant tangible and intangible organizational benefits.

- See more at: http://ethisphere.com/ethisphere-announces-2014-worlds-most-ethical-companies/#sthash.iiMGaGoA.dpuf

The Ethisphere Institute, an independent center of research promoting best practices in corporate ethics and compliance, announced today the selection of the 2014 World’s Most Ethical Companies®. The World’s Most Ethical Company designation recognizes companies that truly go beyond making statements about doing business ethically and translate those words into action. World’s Most Ethical Company honorees not only promote ethical business standards and practices internally, they embed the theory of “conscious capitalism” into everything they do, every employee they hire, and every partner they bring into their network to ensure they deliver long-term value to key stakeholders including customers, suppliers, regulators, and investors. By leading their industries in compliance, corporate governance and social responsibility, the World’s Most Ethical Companies effectively align ethical business practices with performance and shape future industry ethical business standards.

“In today’s complex global economy, it can be increasingly challenging for companies to meet performance expectations, while addressing the varying regulatory, compliance and sustainability needs across geographies and cultures,” said Tim Erblich, CEO of the Ethisphere Institute. “Global economic and social challenges from anti-corruption to security and privacy are accelerating the need for companies and organizations to embrace ethics and governance as critical business imperatives. Failure to establish the highest ethical business standards and practices throughout an organization can result in unacceptable consequences that include both human impacts and operational risks. These organizations have taken this challenge head on and recognize that leading ethical business practices present an unprecedented opportunity to deliver significant tangible and intangible organizational benefits.

- See more at: http://ethisphere.com/ethisphere-announces-2014-worlds-most-ethical-companies/#sthash.iiMGaGoA.dpuf

Do sound ethics make sense in our hypercompetitive business environment?

The answer is a resounding yes, according to the Ethisphere Institute, which promotes best practices in corporate ethics and compliance. The institute has just released its annual list of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. The list includes 144 honorees, 21 for the first time, and represents 41 industries and 22 countries.

This slideshow presents the U.S.-based manufacturing companies that made the 2014 list.

“In today’s complex global economy, it can be increasingly challenging for companies to meet performance expectations, while addressing the varying regulatory, compliance and sustainability needs across geographies and cultures,” said Tim Erblich, CEO of the Ethisphere Institute. “Global economic and social challenges from anti-corruption to security and privacy are accelerating the need for companies and organizations to embrace ethics and governance as critical business imperatives. Failure to establish the highest ethical business standards and practices throughout an organization can result in unacceptable consequences that include both human impacts and operational risks.”

Among the major manufacturers making the list is repeat winner GE.

“We’re honored to be named one of Ethisphere’s 2014 World’s Most Ethical Companies, as it underscores GE’s unwavering commitment to our customers, business partners and employees to perform with integrity and lead by example every day,” said Brackett Denniston, senior vice president and general counsel for GE.

The World’s Most Ethical Company assessment is based upon the Ethisphere Institute’s Ethics Quotient framework. Scores are generated in five key categories: ethics and compliance program (25%), reputation, leadership and innovation (20%), governance (10%), corporate citizenship and responsibility (25%), and culture of ethics (20%).

The full list of the 2014 World’s Most Ethical Companies can be found here.

About the Author

Steve Minter | Steve Minter, Executive Editor

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An award-winning editor, Executive Editor Steve Minter covers leadership, global economic and trade issues and energy, tackling subject matter ranging from CEO profiles and leadership theories to economic trends and energy policy. As well, he supervises content development for editorial products including the magazine, IndustryWeek.com, research and information products, and conferences.

Before joining the IW staff, Steve was publisher and editorial director of Penton Media’s EHS Today, where he was instrumental in the development of the Champions of Safety and America’s Safest Companies recognition programs.

Steve received his B.A. in English from Oberlin College. He is married and has two adult children.

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