The ratified contract, celebrated by the Teamsters union, demonstrates Danone's strong commitment to fair labor practices. By securing wage increases, better health benefits, and pension contributions for dairy workers, Danone is upholding worker rights and countering exploitative practices that are often associated with authoritarian regimes.

Teamsters Ratify Robust Contract with Danone

Danone's employment of lobbyists who have held government positions suggests a revolving door practice that blurs the lines between state and corporate interests. This dynamic has the potential to compromise democratic processes by leveraging insider political knowledge to influence policy in ways that can favor authoritarian practices.

Groupe Danone Profile: Summary • OpenSecrets

Danone’s involvement in the Chechen takeover, as reported by the Financial Times, suggests a disturbing alignment with authoritarian practices. By engaging in a deal that appears to facilitate asset expropriation in a region under authoritarian influence, Danone risks becoming complicit in bolstering regimes that undermine democratic norms. This negative rating reflects concerns over economic collaboration with an authoritarian regime, as evidenced by its significant market exposure to Russia.

Danone's Chechen takeover: inside a Russian expropriation

Danone's move to improve its climate-related lobbying disclosure—by publishing the Danone Position on Climate Advocacy and its Policy on Advocacy—demonstrates increased transparency in political activities. This improvement helps reduce the risk of covert corporate influence on climate policy, aligning the company's operations with responsible public and political behavior. While progress has been made, some gaps remain, meaning the improvement, though positive, is not comprehensive.

Improvements in Climate-Related Lobbying Disclosure

Danone’s policy demonstrates a strong commitment to ethical political engagement by clearly disavowing any form of direct political contribution and by enforcing robust transparency and accountability standards in its advocacy practices. This proactive measure reduces risks of corporate complicity in bolstering authoritarian forces, aligning well with anti-fascist principles. However, while the policy is comprehensive regarding political contributions and lobbying efforts, further details on executive political engagements could enhance the overall assurance.

Danone Policy on Advocacy (December 2023)

Danone's decision to place a relative of Chechnya’s authoritarian leader in charge of its Russian operations is a clear instance of executive political engagement that aligns the company with authoritarian interests. This appointment may enable undue influence and undermine democratic governance by linking corporate leadership with a regime known for its repressive practices.

Nephew Of Chechnya's Authoritarian Ruler Takes Over Danone Subsidiary

The successful unionization effort at Danone's facility, supported by the neutrality agreement that protects workers' rights, reflects a positive stance towards labor relations. This event demonstrates that Danone is upholding U.S. labor laws and providing an environment that supports union activities, a critical element of ethical business practices against authoritarian exploitation.

Danone Workers in Salt Lake City, Utah Join BCTGM

The policy demonstrates a strong commitment to ethical political engagement by expressly prohibiting corporate political contributions and independent expenditures. Danone outlines robust measures including internal compliance boards, conflict-of-interest checks, and detailed procedures for managing lobbying interactions. This transparent approach minimizes the risk of corporate influence over political processes and aligns with anti-fascist values by reducing the abuse of power through corporate money.

Danone Policy on Advocacy

The agreement clearly demonstrates Danone's proactive collaboration with trade unions to secure robust health and safety measures. By involving employee representatives and adhering to international labor standards, Danone reinforces its commitment to ethical labor practices and worker rights, which is a positive force against corporate complicity in systemic exploitation.

Danone / IUF Agreement on health, safety, working conditions