Monsanto Co.
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2015)
Reporting Period: 2015
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Environmental
- Social
- Governance
Environmental Achievements
- Established the Upper Blackfoot River Initiative for Conservation to improve water quality in the Blackfoot River in Montana.
Climate Goals & Targets
Environmental Challenges
- Water pollution charges for toxic chemical discharges.
- Contamination of the Welsh Brofiscin quarry with Agent Orange derivatives, dioxins and PCBs.
- Failing to report uncontrolled toxic chemicals releases at the Soda Springs facility.
- Allegations linking Roundup herbicides to the decline of monarch butterfly populations.
- Legal challenges regarding the planting of GM maize and soybeans in Mexico.
- Lack of proper safety measures for workers handling pesticide containers in Brazil.
- Lawsuits alleging false and misleading advertising of Roundup.
- Discovery of unapproved genetically modified wheat in Oregon and Montana.
- Lawsuit alleging intoxication of a farmer due to inhalation of Lasso weedkiller.
- Studies linking DDT, a Monsanto pesticide, to breast cancer risk.
- Numerous controversies related to the potential health hazards of glyphosate herbicides and genetically modified seeds, including the WHO classification of glyphosate as potentially carcinogenic.
Mitigation Strategies
- Clean-up of the Welsh Brofiscin quarry completed in 2012.
- Paid USD 600,000 fine to the EPA for failing to report toxic chemical releases.
- Settled contamination issue with farmers from seven states for USD 350 million.
- Settled with farmers in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho for USD 2.1 million due to unapproved GM wheat.
- Fully compensated the farmer intoxicated by Lasso weedkiller.
- Adequate product stewardship program, environmental and health and safety policies and programs, and regulatory compliance program (although implementation details are limited).