Carlsberg Group — Ethics Grade B-

Carlsberg Group receives an overall ethics grade of B- (62/100) on CancelCo's corporate accountability database. Sector: Food & Beverage. Market cap: Large Cap.

Category scores

• labor: 65
• privacy: 90
• consumer: 60
• environment: 70
• humanRights: 55

Documented incidents (3)

• Beer Cartel Price Fixing (high, 2021) — The Competition Commission of India fined Carlsberg for conspiring with other brewers to fix beer prices across several Indian states over an 11-year period. Internal emails revealed direct coordination with competitors.
• Water Consumption in High-Stress Areas (medium, 2020) — Carlsberg has faced criticism for operating high-volume water consumption breweries in water-stressed regions of India and China, potentially competing with local communities for scarce resources.
• Intellectual Property Theft Allegations (medium, 2023) — Following the seizure of its Russian business by the state, Carlsberg accused local management of 'stealing' its brands through illegal licensing agreements finalized just before the takeover.

Documented good deeds

• Together Towards Zero — Achieved a 40% reduction in carbon emissions per hectolitre of beer since 2015 and pioneered the 'Fibre Bottle'.

Ethical alternatives

• Heineken N.V. — Stronger water stewardship programs and earlier transition to 100% renewable energy in production.