BHP Group — Ethics Grade D

BHP Group receives an overall ethics grade of D (28/100) on CancelCo's corporate accountability database. Sector: Mining & Metals. Market cap: Large Cap.

Category scores

• labor: 35
• privacy: 80
• consumer: 60
• environment: 20
• humanRights: 25

Documented incidents (3)

• Samarco Dam Disaster (high, 2015) — BHP's joint venture dam collapsed in Brazil, releasing 60 million cubic meters of toxic mud, killing 19 people, and destroying the Doce River ecosystem. It is considered Brazil's worst environmental disaster.
• Destruction of Indigenous Sites (high, 2020) — While Rio Tinto gained more notoriety, BHP also faced criticism for its plans to destroy dozens of Aboriginal heritage sites in the Pilbara region to expand iron ore mines.
• Systemic Inappropriate Behavior (high, 2022) — A Western Australian government inquiry found a systemic failure to protect women at BHP's remote 'fly-in-fly-out' mining sites, documenting widespread sexual harassment and assault.

Documented good deeds

• Divestment of Thermal Coal — BHP successfully divested major thermal coal assets to align with a lower-carbon portfolio.

Ethical alternatives

• Fortescue Metals Group — Industry leader in green hydrogen transitions and indigenous partnership models.