Nestlé S.A. — Ethics Grade D

Nestlé S.A. receives an overall ethics grade of D (32/100) on CancelCo's corporate accountability database. Sector: Food & Beverage. Market cap: Large Cap.

Category scores

• labor: 25
• privacy: 85
• consumer: 35
• environment: 45
• humanRights: 20

Documented incidents (3)

• Child Labor in Cocoa Supply Chain (high, 2021) — Nestlé was named in a class-action lawsuit for allegedly using child slavery in Ivory Coast cocoa farms. Despite promises to eradicate the practice, independent reports have consistently found children performing hazardous work on farms supplying the company.
• Controversial Water Extraction (medium, 2020) — The company faced intense criticism for extracting millions of gallons of water from drought-stricken areas in California and Canada for its bottling operations. Critics argue the extraction fees are negligible compared to the ecological impact on local watersheds.
• Unethical Formula Marketing (high, 2018) — A report by Changing Markets Foundation found Nestlé provided inconsistent nutritional advice across global markets. The company was accused of marketing formula as 'closer to breast milk' in developing nations, violating WHO guidelines.

Documented good deeds

• Net Zero Roadmap — Nestlé has invested $3.5 billion to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, including a transition to regenerative agriculture and 100% renewable electricity.

Ethical alternatives

• Danone — Danone is a certified B Corp in many regions and maintains higher transparency scores in its supply chain.