British American Tobacco plc

London, United Kingdom

British American Tobacco plc is one of the world’s largest tobacco companies, manufacturing and selling cigarettes and other tobacco products in over 180 markets globally. The company is recognized for its longstanding presence in the tobacco industry and its diverse portfolio of brands.

CCI Score

-39.90

0.01% April 18

Latest Event

BAT Lobbying to Weaken Vape Regulations

British American Tobacco actively lobbied governments in New Zealand and Australia to delay stricter vape regulations, using a flawed study to support their position and influence policy outcomes.

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TOADIE

British American Tobacco plc is currently rated as a Toadie.

-30 to -44 CCI Score

Companies scoring in this range actively seek to please authoritarian regimes. They offer proactive support and assistance in exchange for preferential treatment, compromising ethical standards for business gains and political favor.

Latest Events

MAR

21

2025

BAT Lobbying to Weaken Vape Regulations
-65.00

British American Tobacco actively lobbied governments in New Zealand and Australia to delay stricter vape regulations, using a flawed study to support their position and influence policy outcomes.
MAR

21

2025

BAT Lobbying Against Stricter Vaping Regulation
-60.00

British American Tobacco actively lobbied governments in New Zealand and Australia by citing a flawed study to weaken vaping regulations, a move that undermines robust public health policy and transparency in political influence.
JAN

01

2024

British American Tobacco Supplier Communities: Enhanced Labor and Supply Chain Audits
35.13

BAT has implemented a comprehensive supplier audit process that mandates independent labor audits and responsible sourcing reviews for its suppliers, aiming to ensure better working conditions and ethical supply chain practices.
+40

Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices

March 20

BAT’s process requires in-scope suppliers to undergo independent labor audits with corrective actions for those falling short, indicating a proactive stance towards improving labor relations and human rights practices within its supply chain.

British American Tobacco - Supplier Communities
+40

Supply Chain Ethics

March 20

The initiative includes strict supply chain evaluations such as independent risk assessments and audits, along with clear actions like terminating contracts for non-compliant suppliers, which underlines a commitment to ethical sourcing practices.

British American Tobacco - Supplier Communities
OCT

13

2023

British American Tobacco Challenges U.K. Cigarette-Packaging Order
-60.15

British American Tobacco, alongside Philip Morris, has initiated legal action by filing lawsuits against the UK government's proposed plain packaging law for cigarettes, a move seen as an effort to maintain corporate branding and influence regulatory outcomes.
-70

Regulatory Capture

March 20

By suing to block the UK plain packaging regulation, British American Tobacco is attempting to undermine a public health measure that restricts corporate branding. This action exemplifies corporate regulatory capture, aiming to preserve profit-driven interests at the expense of public welfare and robust regulatory policy. Such actions contribute negatively to corporate complicity in undermining public accountability and democratic regulatory processes.

Philip Morris, British American Tobacco Challenges U.K. Cigarette-Packaging Order
JUL

01

2022

BAT Donation to Australian Nationals Raises Concerns Over Political Influence
-37.78

British American Tobacco donated $55,000 to the Nationals party in the 2022-23 financial year amid tightening vape regulations. The donation is seen as a strategic move to gain political access and influence regulatory decisions, echoing longstanding concerns over the tobacco industry's role in shaping policy.
-50

Political Contributions and Lobbying Efforts

March 20

British American Tobacco's $55,000 donation to the Nationals party represents a classic case of leveraging financial contributions to secure political influence. This move comes at a time of significant regulatory reform in Australia regarding tobacco and vaping, potentially undermining public health measures and democratic accountability. Such actions contribute to the broader trend of corporate complicity in political processes that favor profit over public welfare.

British American Tobacco makes first donation to Nationals in over a decade amid vaping crackdown
DEC

01

2020

Malawi Lawsuit Highlights Exploitative Labor and Supply Chain Practices at BAT
-51.61

In December 2020, a UK lawsuit filed on behalf of tobacco farmers in Malawi alleged that British American Tobacco profited from child labour and worker exploitation on tobacco farms. The claim, arising from a Guardian investigation, raises serious concerns over BAT's labor practices and ethical supply chain management.
-80

Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices

March 20

The lawsuit alleges that BAT engaged in severe labor rights violations by profiting from child labour and exploiting local workers on tobacco farms in Malawi. Such practices undermine basic human rights and contribute to unethical working conditions.

Malawi: Lawsuit filed against British American Tobacco and Imperial Brands
-80

Supply Chain Ethics

March 20

The case highlights that BAT’s supply chain practices are complicit in unethical activities, including profiting from child labour and exploiting workers on tobacco farms, thereby failing to uphold standards of ethical sourcing.

Malawi: Lawsuit filed against British American Tobacco and Imperial Brands