Bic - 1792 Exchange

Rating Overview

Bic is Medium Risk.

Societe Bic (Bic) is Medium Risk. The company often yields to political activism in shaping corporate governance, potentially alienating consumers, dividing employees, and harming shareholders. Bic elevates merit, excellence, and integrity ahead of race and identity-based policies. The company occasionally embraces corporate initiatives that redirect its central focus from business goals to partisan policies and divisive issues at times. This approach fails to safeguard free exercise, free speech, and free enterprise.

Rating Criteria

Corporate Weaponization Risk Levels
Criteria	Risk Level
Cancellations	Medium Risk
Discriminatory Philanthropy	Lower Risk
Employment Protection	Medium Risk

Corporate Weaponization ⓘ

Corporate Governance and Public Policy Risk Levels
Criteria	Risk Level
Advocacy Bias	High Risk
Funding	Medium Risk
Political Actions	No Data

Corporate Governance and Public Policy ⓘ

Rating Criteria Detail

Criteria Risk Level Rationale

Corporate Weaponization

Criteria:

Has canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors due to their political views or religious beliefs OR corporately boycotts, divests, or sanctions regions, people groups, or industries.

Risk Level:

Medium

Rationale:

Bic promotes divisive sex and gender policies. Its Supplier Code of Conduct requires international vendors to include sexual orientation and gender identity in their nondiscrimination policy (1). However, the company has not canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs (2).

Criteria:

Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.

Risk Level:

Lower

Rationale:

Bic does not appear to discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or beliefs (1).

Criteria:

Employment policies fail to protect against viewpoint or other discrimination and/or are ideological in nature.

Risk Level:

Medium

Rationale:

Bic does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (1)(2).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy

Criteria:

Uses corporate reputation to support causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level:

High

Rationale:

Bic’s CEO, Gonzalve Bich, signed the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge, which includes a commitment to promote DEI through bias education training in the workplace, strategize on DEI programs/initiatives with other signatories, and engage boards of directors when developing and evaluating DEI strategies (1)(2). The company supports DEI within its business practices. From its “Diverse Perspectives, One Team: How BIC Promotes Unity” Article: “BIC is proud to fulfill its mission of empowering inclusivity through its DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) Allyship program, an initiative that began with 56 members and has now grown to include over 250 BIC team members supporting diversity initiatives in BIC offices and working sites around the globe” (3). Bic supports ESG within its business practices. From its ESG Investor Presentation: “BIC’s ESG Key Achievements in 2025: 100%
of strategic suppliers involved in at
least one responsible procurement
action to ensure the most secure, innovative, and efficient sourcing; 37%
current female representation
in leadership roles at level 4 and
above (Executives, including
Executive Committee); -47% Scope 1 Greenhouse Gas
(GHG) emission vs. 2019” (4). The company launched Pride Body Pens, an LGBTQ-related product (5).

Criteria:

Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level:

Medium

Rationale:

Bic donated 10% of their rainbow-colored cupcakes bake sale proceeds to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, “a nonprofit that offers health and wellness programs to the LGBTQIA+ community in New York City” (1). Otherwise, there are no publicly known cases of the company using corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies (2).

Criteria:

Uses corporate political actions and/or financial contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.

Risk Level:

N/A

Rationale:

Bic does not operate a PAC or engage in lobbying at this time (1)(2)(3).