iRobot

How ethical is iRobot?

iRobot is an appliance brand which was founded in 1990 by roboticists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to make practical robots a reality. It’s products include the Roomba and Braava domestic robots.

iRobot has achieved an acceptable score on The Good Shopping Guide’s Ethical Vacuum Cleaners Ratings Table but Ethical Accreditation has not yet been achieved. This is important because it provides additional warranty on the company’s wider ethical, sustainable, and social policies and records.

Read more about the issues facing the Ethical Vacuum Cleaners sector and find out which companies have achieved accreditation for their commitment to being ethical and sustainable.

 

In which areas does iRobot perform well?

iRobot performs well for most of our criteria, with the exception of its Environmental Report and Political Donations. It scores especially well for Armaments, as the company sold off its military business in 2016, and is awarded a middle rating for its Code of Conduct.

The above benchmark score that iRobot is awarded on The Good Shopping Guide’s Ethical Vacuum Cleaners Ratings Table is the result of an evaluation of multiple ethical criteria.

 

What can iRobot do to improve its ethical score?

iRobot is encouraged to apply for Ethical Accreditation. If successful in its application, iRobot would join the certified ethical brands leading the way in progressive and sustainable practices and be permitted to display The Good Shopping Guide’s Ethical Mark in its communications.

To further increase its score, iRobot could add some more details and targets to its CSR Report and reduce its political donations which were above our threshold for a middle rating in recent election cycles. Currently iRobot is awarded a bottom rating for both our Environmental Report and Political Donations criteria.

If you’re interested in learning more about achieving Ethical Accreditation for your brand, please contact us or complete a Free Initial Assessment form.