An online database that contains details of the social and environmental performance of more than 15,000 companies has been revamped in an attempt to increase the number of people that use it.
The Corporate Critic site, run by UK-based Ethical Consumer Information Systems since 1995, has been simplified to broaden its appeal. ECIS now offers a daily rate for access, in addition to monthly and annual subscriptions.
Helen Middleton, ECIS business development director, said: ‘The site will be more practical for small companies, charities and clubs to check out the companies they do business with.’ She also felt it would be of value to institutional investors.
ECIS, a sister company of the Ethical Consumer Research Association, which runs Ethical Consumer magazine, is also to develop a budget version of Corporate Critic for individual consumers. Its 15-point rating system assesses companies on their marketing practices and whether they operate in countries with oppressive regimes, among other issues.
