Crown Holdings

How ethical is Crown Holdings?

Crown Holdings is a metal packaging manufacturer which has fallen below The GOOD Shopping Guide’s ethical benchmark on our Ethical Packaging Ratings Table. Crown Holdings’ below-benchmark performance is driven by poor ratings for pollution, political donations, and public record criticisms.

What does Crown Holdings do?

Crown Holdings, Inc. is headquartered in Yardley, Pennsylvania, and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The company operates more than 190 plants across over 40 countries, employing approximately 24,000 people. Crown Holdings manufactures metal beverage cans, aerosol cans, food cans, and other metal packaging products for the food, beverage, personal care, and industrial sectors.

Why does Crown Holdings fall below The GOOD Shopping Guide’s benchmark?

Crown Holdings’ below-benchmark performance is driven by three significant poor ratings. The public record criticisms poor rating is the most serious. Crown Holdings has faced long-running asbestos litigation arising from its acquisition of Mundet Cork in 1963, a company alleged to have manufactured asbestos-containing insulation products. Crown Cork & Seal, Crown Holdings’ predecessor, has been named as a defendant in a substantial number of asbestos lawsuits across the United States, with one case resulting in a $5.1 million damages award including punitive damages. Unlike many companies facing similar liabilities, Crown has not established an asbestos trust fund. The accumulated weight of this litigation is reflected in the poor public record criticisms rating.

Crown Holdings also receives a poor rating for pollution. The company’s global manufacturing operations across 190 plants have attracted environmental violations documented by regulators in the United States, contributing to the pollution poor rating alongside the public record criticisms.

The company additionally receives a poor rating for political donations. Crown Holdings has documented political donation activity in the United States. For consumers and businesses seeking to purchase from companies free of political financial influence, this represents a concern.

Crown Holdings also receives a poor rating for vegan options, indicating limited focus on plant-based or vegan-certified packaging solutions within its product range.

It is worth acknowledging that Crown Holdings achieves good ratings for environmental report, eco certifications, animal welfare, armaments, and responsible marketing. These reflect areas where the company demonstrates genuine commitment. However, the combination of asbestos litigation, pollution violations, and political donations activity across five poor ratings represents a record that places Crown Holdings well below the ethical standard required by The GOOD Shopping Guide.

Consumers seeking packaging solutions that meet The GOOD Shopping Guide’s ethical benchmark are encouraged to consult our Ethical Packaging Ratings Table and our guide to ethical packaging, and prioritise brands that hold Ethical Accreditation. Several higher-ranking alternatives in this sector have achieved independent ethical verification and represent stronger choices for ethically conscious consumers. Our how we rate page explains the criteria used to assess all brands in this sector.