PepsiCo
Corprate Bias Ratings
Risk Level:
Summary:
PepsiCo vets vendors according to LGBTQ policies, is a member of GARM, and does not provide its employees with protections against viewpoint discrimination. However, PepsiCo has not publicly terminated business relationships based on views or beliefs. PepsiCo covers the cost of "medically necessary transition-related care” for its employees and their children. The company pledged $400 million toward BLM and related causes and matches employee donations to Planned Parenthood. PepsiCo is a corporate partner of the HRC, a founding member of PGLE, and requires unconscious bias training for all its employees. The company discriminates against religious organizations in its charitable giving, is a member of the Business Coalition for the Equality Act, supports transgender participation in girls' sports, and federalized voting systems. PepsiCo is a signatory of the Business Roundtable's 2019 Statement on the Purpose of Corporation, which promotes stakeholder capitalism. The company is committed to carbon neutrality by 2040 and lobbies in an ideological manner. For these reasons, PepsiCo receives a High Risk rating.
Has denied service to customers, suppliers, or vendors due to their political views or religious beliefs OR corporately boycotts, divests, or sanctions regions, people groups, or industries.
PepsiCo received a score of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign. Among other requirements, this means PepsiCo has pledged to vet vendors based on LGBTQ policies (1)(2). The company is also a member of the GARM, which aims to demonetize advertisements and suppress content that “vilifies” individuals based on sexual orientation and gender identity, discusses “debated social issues in a negative or partisan context” or spreads “hate speech” (3)(4)(5). However, PepsiCo has not publicly fired customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs.
Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.
PepsiCo will not match employee donations to churches or religious organizations (1).
Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.
PepsiCo does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (1).
Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.
PepsiCo’s PGLE membership reflects its commitment to “operationalize” company coverage of transgender surgery and treatment, the vetting of business partners based on LGBTQ+ policies, and the financial support of LGBTQ organizations on a global level (1)(2)(3). PepsiCo is a member of the Business Coalition for the Equality Act and supports transgender participation in women’s and girls’ sports (4)(5). PepsiCo signed a public letter supporting the federal John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and opposed the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act, which prohibits teaching gender identity and sexual orientation in schools to kids in K-3rd grade (6)(7). The company issued mandatory unconscious bias training regarding race (8). CEO Ramon Laguarta is a member of the Business Roundtable and signed its 2019 Statement on the Purpose of Corporation, which promotes stakeholder capitalism over traditional obligations to shareholders and customers (9)(10). PepsiCo is a Ceres Network Member, committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2040 (11)(12).
Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.
PepsiCo is a bronze corporate partner of the HRC and is a Gold corporate partner of GLAAD (1)(2). PepsiCo offers an employee matching gift program for Planned Parenthood to its employees (3). In 2020, PepsiCo pledged $400 million to Black Lives Matter and related causes (4)(5)(6). PepsiCo is a silver sponsor of Out & Equal and a corporate partner of the NGLCC (7)(8). PepsiCo has a perfect score on the HRC’s 2022 Corporate Equality Index. This score indicates the company covers the cost of “medically necessary transition-related care” for its employees and their children (9)(10). PepsiCo is a PGLE member (11). PGLE is a member of the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (12)(13)(14).
All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
September 5, 2023
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Voting History
| Date | ESG Category | Proponent | Summary of Resolution | Mgmt Rec | Total Vote % in Favor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/3/23 | Governance | Paul Chesser, National Legal and Policy Center | Independent Board Chair | Against | 24.60% |
| 5/3/23 | Social | John Harrington | Global Transparency Report | Against | 18.10% |
| 5/3/23 | Social | As You Sow, on behalf of Longview Largecap 500 Index | Report on Risk of State Policies Restircting Reproductive Healthcare | Against | 16.10% |
| 5/3/23 | Social | As You Sow | Report on Impacts of Reproductive Healthcare Legislation | Against | 15.60% |
| 5/3/23 | Environmental | National Center for Public Policy Research | Report on Net-zero Emissions Policies | Against | 1.90% |
| 5/4/22 | Governance | Kenneth Steiner | Require Independent Board Chair | Against | 31.12% |
| 5/4/22 | Social | Harrington Investments, Inc. | Report on Global Public Policy and Political Influence | Against | 17.63% |
| 5/4/22 | Social | John Bishop Montgomery Trust | Report on Public Health Costs of Food and Beverages Products | Against | 13.74% |