• values in action
• social integrity
  • responsible marketing
  • alcohol and society
  • diversity and inclusion
• environmental stewardship
  • waste reduction
  • energy management
  • water conservation
  • employee involvement
• brand leaders
  • Fetzer
  • Bonterra
  • Jack Daniel's
  • Finlandia
  • Brown-Forman Distillery
• community relations
  • apply for a donation or grant
• corporate responsibility report
  • report survey
• corporate responsibility news
• corporate responsibility contacts

Values in Action

Corporate Responsibility at Brown-Forman means putting our values of integrity, respect, trust, teamwork, and excellence into action by enhancing social integrity, practicing environmental stewardship, and generating economic value. We realize this is a journey and that there is more to be done down the road. Learn more about our perspective, progress and performance in our first Corporate Responsibility Report.

Responsibility and Our Stakeholders

Ultimately, corporate responsibility at Brown-Forman must be integral to our relationship with our entire value chain - from raw materials suppliers to distributors, employees, consumers and our shareholders. Our future depends on encouraging and learning from one another.

Employee Alcohol Policy

Brown-Forman recognizes that due to the nature of its business, certain company functions may include the serving of alcoholic beverages. The policy of Brown-Forman is such that products shall be made available in a manner that encourages responsible consumption and avoids abuse.

The emphasis here is placed on the responsibility all of us have to each other as friends to ensure that alcoholic beverages enhance life and increase our enjoyment of the occasion without posing any danger to ourselves or others. Like any other form of unacceptable employee behavior, a pattern of excessive consumption will result in discipline up to or including termination of the offending employee.

Brown-Forman's commitment to responsible consumption includes the freedom of an employee to not consume alcoholic beverages at all. For those who do choose to consume our beverages, it is required that such consumption be responsible at all times, thus showing deep regard for the welfare and safety of ourselves and others.

Code of Conduct

In recent years, American business has been shaken by instances of unethical conduct at major corporations. We are committed to conducting our business with the highest degree of ethical integrity.

Each year, all of our employees are required to sign our Code of Conduct and Compliance Guidelines. The standards set forth in the Code serve as the basic compass and the Guidelines provide more detailed advice in specific areas. Working together, and using these compliance tools, we will maintain our good reputation and the confidence of our many stakeholders.

Read our Code of Conduct and Compliance Guidelines

Responsibility and Rights

Brown-Forman has established the Responsibility and Rights Sub-Committee within the Executive Committee to help maintain our strong governance structure. This committee ensures that we are at the forefront of responsibility in marketing of wines and spirits, preserving commercial freedoms, and promoting commercial equity. The Sub-Committee drives Brown-Forman’s alcohol policy agenda and proactively engages with communities, regulators, industry, consumers, employees and other interested parties.

The Executive Committee believes the Sub-Committee’s efforts are a critical component of our business success. Not only must we promote our brands in ways that do not suggest misuse, but we must also use the influence of our brands to encourage and educate about responsible consumption. The misuse and abuse of our products, which includes everything from underage and binge drinking to drunk driving, can cause great harm to customers, friends, family, society, and ultimately our business.

The Sub-Committee's roles include:

• Study and research topics related to responsibility, and bring them to the full Executive Committee as appropriate
• Recommend policies, strategies, and approaches for ensuring responsible marketing of our brands
• Develop and recommend policies and procedures for educating employees about responsibility
• Develop metrics for measuring our progress in responsible marketing of wine and spirits

Environment Matters Working Group

The Environment Matters Working Group, a cross-functional team representing the diversity of business units and activities within Brown-Forman, works collaboratively to optimize environmental performance at Brown-Forman by reducing our environmental footprint. This team develops and executes programs, policies, and practices to reduce waste, maximize energy efficiency, maximize water use efficiency, and improve utilization of natural resources throughout our products’ lifecycle, including our interactions with customers and consumers.

To accomplish this mission, the team:

• Executes plans and programs to improve Brown-Forman's environmental performance, specifically in the areas of energy and greenhouse gas management, waste minimization and material selection, and water conservation and quality.
• Monitors and documents our performance relative to key measures of success
• Influences other business partners and vendors to engage in practices that demonstrate our company’s commitment to environmental stewardship and environmental protection
• Involves our key stakeholders (both internal and external) and informs them of our efforts to optimize our environmental performance.
• Engages relevant governmental, non-governmental, and non-profit organizations as resources and partners on significant strategic initiatives.

The team is led by the Global Environmental Performance and Governmental Compliance Department.