Corporate Research Database

Our Database

Our Corporate Research Database is a unique resource that contains over 25 years of high quality, stress-tested research, compiled by the independent, not-for-profit co-operative Ethical Consumer Research Association.

The database contains information on over 25,000 companies and brands, including data on their environmental reporting, supply chain management, animal testing policies and much more.

We track company practice as well as company policy, through monitoring news and business media as well as campaign group sources from around the world. Read more about how we conduct our research >

The records are regularly updated by our team of highly qualified researchers, who specialise in a range of topics

Unlike most business databases, we rely on the accuracy of our data for regular publication (in Ethical Consumer print magazine and consumer website).

The Corporate Research Database was previously marketed as the Corporate Critic database by Ethical Consumer since 1993, but we changed its name in 2019 to align it more closely with the Ethical Consumer brand.

How it works

Once you subscribe, you are able to use the search tools to easily search for the records of suppliers, sponsors, contractors and competitors.

Access is 24x7, 365 days a year. 

• View corporate structure, ownership data and related brands.
• View an organisation’s overall ethical rating from 0 to 15.
• View individual stories with referenced sources for ethical issues relating to a company.
• Refine and sort results by date and ethical category.

Company Search allows you to search for a specific company, organisation or brand. For example, searching for ‘Apple Inc’ will bring up information about the company, along with all the research and analysis Ethical Consumer has conducted relating to this company.

Story Search allows you to search for a specific topic or issue. For example, searching for ‘palm oil’ would bring up all stories and analyses relating to palm oil.

Watch a video about the database and how to use it

Limitations to the database

The Corporate Research Database offers live access into the working database of the Ethical Consumer Research Association.

When you search for a company, there are three types of possible result:

• Type 1: A company recently assessed by Ethical Consumer researchers
• Type 2: A company with only historic records
• Type 3: No results are found

Please note that all the company data returned from searches is clearly dated so you can see when the research was carried out.

Type 1: A company recently assessed by Ethical Consumer researchers

If a company has an Environmental Reporting ranking dated within the last two or three years then it will be a company of this type. The ethiscore is likely to be a reliable guide to the ethics of this company.

Type 2: A company with only historic or anecdotal records

If a company has an ethiscore of 14, or lacks a recent Environmental Reporting ranking, then it is likely to be a company of this type. The data may be of historic or anecdotal interest, but further research will be needed to get a good view about the wider ethical performance of this company. Our screenings team can help with this if necessary.

Type 3: No results are found

Although the database contains records of more than 25,000 companies, there are more than 4 million companies in the UK and more than 200 million in the world. Whilst we are likely to have recorded data about most of the well-known global consumer brands, and also of other companies which are the target of campaigns addressing ethical controversies, there is a high chance that no results are returned for company searches. Our screenings team can help with this too.

Pricing

We offer different rates depending on whether the subscription is for a commercial business or a not-for-profit / academic institution.

We also offer discounts depending on size of institution.

Commercial

• 3 months: £500 (+VAT)
• 12 months: £1200 (+VAT)

Academic / Not-for-Profit / Co-operative

• 3 months: £360 (+VAT)
• 12 months: £850 (+VAT)

Discounts according to size of institution

If your organisation has an annual turnover of under £10.2m a discounted rate is available:

• Under £5m: 10% discount
• Between £5m-£10.2m: 5% discount

Subscribe today to gain full access to data on over 25,000 companies, brands and organisations, from multinational corporations to small independent co-operatives.

To find out more, to request a free demonstration or to subscribe, please email database@ethicalconsumer.org, or telephone Alex Crumbie on +44 (0)161 226 2929.