About the source:

On a daily basis, RepRisk scans several thousand independent sources in 13 languages, searching for reports that criticize corporations in the areas of environmental-, human rights-, labor rights- and corporate governance- issues. Typical accusations include: environmental pollution, greenwashing, human rights abuses, forced relocation, slave- and child labour, corruption, fraud, controversial products and other violations of national legislation or international standards. The criticism is then summarized, analysed and evaluated. The RepRisk index (RRI) is a quantification of the risks and allows for controversial companies to be identified. The RRI does not reflect the actual sustainability achievements of a company as it only looks at negative criticism. The RRI is thus a risk measurement rather than a reputational- or sustainability evaluation. The Peak RRI is a measure for the environmental- and social risks of a corporation and is interpreted as follows: 0-24 = low risk (green), 25-49 = medium risk (amber), 50-74 = high risk (red), 75-100 = very high risk (red). The online tool RepRisk is primarily used by banks, asset managers and pension funds. The source is considered "hard", if more than 5 media reports are listed and the Peak RRI was higher than 24. Therefore the source has a threefold impact on the Sustainability Footprint, otherwise a twofold. More detailed information can be found on our methodology page.

About the source:

The "Tomorrow´s Value Rating" monitors the major manufacturers worldwide and evaluates their sustainability efforts. This includes the consideration of ecological and social aspects throughout the production, with the companies' suppliers and the design of the product. The evaluation emphasizes the alignment of the theory in the sustainability reports with the actual implementation of activity and their monitoring. The ranking is developed by the "Two Tomorrows" consulting agency. Chosen from the Fortune 500, the respective major companies for different sectors are being compared. To identify the green, yellow and red light companies, the percentage of achieved points in relation to the total possible points was determined. From 66,6% of the possible points on the company receives a green light, from 33,3% on a yellow light. This source is considered as "hard" and therefore has a threefold impact on the Sustainability Footprint. More detailed information can be found on our methodolgy page.

About the source:

The Newsweek Magazine publishes the Newsweek Green Ranking once a year. The 500 biggest US companies are checked upon their environmental friendliness. The ranking consists of a substantial criteria catalogue that takes into account aspects of all dimensions of sustainability. A special focus is put on environmental protection. Questions concerning the planned decrease of CO2- emissions of the company, the degree of environmental friendly fabrication of the products and the ban of polluting ingredients once discovered are raised. To identify the green, yellow and red light companies, the ranking was divided into three parts. The first 167 ranks receive green, the next 167 ranks yellow and so forth. This source is considered as "hard" and therefore has a threefold impact on the Sustainability Footprint. More detailed information can be found on our methodolgy page.

About the source:

The non- profit organization (NGO) Climate Counts analyses the climate policy of big brand manufacturers. They research if the companies measure their own CO2- emissions, if they publish their results and at last if they can provide evidence for a reduction of the emissions. There is a total of 100 points that can be achieved. Climate Counts publishes Company profiles on their webpage, to show how the individual assessment came about. This source already indicates the green, yellow and red companies on its own. This source is considered as "medium" and therefore has a twofold impact on the Sustainability Footprint. More detailed information can be found on our methodolgy page.

About the source:

Companize.com is a social network, mapping out corporations reputation as seen by their employees and other citizens. The latest news and information concerning a company's reputation, such as environmental scandals, data misuse and awards won for being a fair employer are displayed and rated by the networks users. One mouse click shows if they perceive a certain information as negative or positive. As an employee of an evaluated corporation, you can also give your opinion about their employer performance. Whether a company scores green, amber or red depends on the number of "image points" they score. Those 33% of companies that score best at companize receive green. The 33% worst companies receive red and the centre span receives amber. The source is considered “soft” and therewith has a onefold impact on the Sustainability Footprint. There is one exception to that if more than five notifications about a company exist. In this case the source is considered “medium”.More detailed information can be found on our methodology page.