Family businesses shine in 2010 "most ethical companies" list

The 2010 list of the world's most ethical companies includes many family-owned or –controlled businesses, confirming the sector's commitment to corporate social responsibility.

The list, compiled by the Ethisphere Institute, includes 100 companies from a wide range of countries and industries.

Family businesses on the list include: insurance firm Aflac, the Ford motor company, clothing retailer Gap, Germany-based conglomerate Henkel, furniture specialist IKEA, cosmetics giant L'Oreal, textile manufactuer Milliken and Co, food and facilities management services business Sodexo and supermarket chain Wegmans.

"Ford Motor Company is honoured and pleased to receive this recognition," said Ford executive chairman and family member Bill Ford (pictured). "At Ford, we're not only committed to making great products and building a strong business, we believe in contributing to a better world and doing business in an ethical way."

This is the fourth year that Ethisphere, an international think-tank, has published the list. Criteria used included a review of each company's codes of ethics, litigation and regulatory infraction histories; an evaluation of investment in innovation and sustainable business practices; and activities designed to improve corporate citizenship.

"This honour underscores the efforts by the men and women at Ford Motor Company who diligently and consistently work every day to do the right thing on behalf of all of our stakeholders," said Ford.

Twenty six of the companies are new to the list in 2010 and 24
companies dropped off from the 2009 list. These “drop offs” generally
occurred because of litigation and ethics violations, as well as
increased competition from within their industry, according to
Ethisphere.

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