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 body for ecological economic research (IÖW) and the ecological initiative "future e.V." publish a ranking of the sustainability reports of the 160 biggest German companies every second year. The focus of this ranking is on the transparency of the report about the social, ecological and economical activities of the companies, NOT on the actual implementation of those. This report ranking is a major incentive for more transparency on the German market. To identify the green, yellow and red light companies, the percentage of achieved points in relation to the total possible points was determined. Companies without a sustainability report receive a red light. 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:

The CSR company check is executed by the Consumer Initiative Federal Association e.V. With the help of a comprehensive questionnaire created by the Eco-Institute retail enterprises are asked and tested about their sustainability. The valuation consists of many criteria which evaluate the core business, the supply chain and the support of sustainable consumption. A part of the valuation is for example the task to identify if companies have socially conscious consuming guidelines or which actions are taken regarding the internal sustainability management. After a severe validation the best enterprises get a gold, silver or bronze medal. All companies on the podium receive a green Sustainability Footprint because they can be seen as sort of CSR trailblazers. Anyhow there is neither a publication of the companies that have not participated in the survey nor of those that come off badly. This source is classified as a “middle strong” one and therefore flows in twofold into the Sustainability Footprint. More detailed information about the methodology of the Sustainability Footprint can be found on the Method site.

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.

About the source:

Der Deutsche Nachhaltigkeitspreis wird jährlich von einer Expertenjury vergeben. In verschiedenen Bereichen werden Unternehmen ausgezeichnet die sich um den Preis beworben haben und die Jury von ihrer Nachhaltigkeitsleistung überzeugen konnten. Jedes Unternehmen, welches aktueller Preisträger des Preises ist, erhält grün. Diese Quelle gilt als „weich“ und fließt somit einfach in die Nachhaltigkeitsampel ein. Genaueres zu Methodik der Nachhaltigkeitsampel findet ihr auf unserer Methodik-Seite.

About the source:

Brandoscope is an independent sustainability index. Companies that are certified in one or multiple areas of the sustainability dimensions are listed in the index. The certifications are divided into the areas of health, protection of the environment, organic farming, regional products, CO2- emissions reduction, fair conditions of employement, social responsibility, anti- corruption, fair trade and animal protection. Brandoscope leaves it to the individual, to rate the different aspects based on their personal moral concepts. Every company that is listed at the index therefore gets green. This source is considered as "soft" and therefore has a onefold impact on the Sustainability Footprint. More detailed information can be found on our methodolgy page.