Linde plc — Ethics Grade C-

Linde plc receives an overall ethics grade of C- (48/100) on CancelCo's corporate accountability database. Sector: Mining & Metals. Market cap: Large Cap.

Category scores

• labor: 60
• privacy: 85
• consumer: 40
• environment: 55
• humanRights: 30

Documented incidents (3)

• Oxygen Shortage Crisis in Manaus (high, 2021) — Linde's subsidiary, White Martins, failed to maintain adequate supply of medical oxygen during a COVID-19 surge in Brazil, leading to dozens of preventable asphyxiation deaths in hospitals. Critics cited a lack of emergency preparedness and local inventory.
• Cartel Investigation in Russia (medium, 2022) — Russian authorities investigated Linde for allegedly using its dominant market position to inflate prices of industrial gases, and the company faced asset seizures following its exit strategy from the country.
• Clean Air Act Violations (medium, 2018) — Linde/Praxair facilities were fined for violating the Clean Air Act by failing to implement risk management programs for hazardous substances like anhydrous ammonia, posing risks to nearby communities.

Documented good deeds

• Green Hydrogen Global Scale-up — Linde has invested heavily in electrolyzer technology to produce green hydrogen at scale, aiming to decarbonize heavy industry.

Ethical alternatives

• Air Liquide S.A. — Better historical safety record and superior ESG transparency in emerging markets.