Better Health for All

Corteva faces over 15,000 claims related to widespread contamination by PFAS chemicals, which are linked to various health issues

. A subsidiary pleaded guilty to criminal negligence following a 2014 chemical release incident that resulted in four fatalities . The company paid $3.84 million for environmental violations between 2011 and 2020, including a $3.195 million settlement for federal pollution control laws . Despite these issues, Corteva collaborates with Gates Agricultural Innovations, CIMMYT, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop novel seed technologies and improve pearl millet through gene editing , . These initiatives aim to enhance global food security and extend the shelf life of pearl millet flour, particularly benefiting smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia , . In 2022, Newsweek and Statista recognized Corteva as one of America's Most Responsible Companies for 2023, ranking 25th out of 500 .

Fair Pay & Worker Respect

Corteva has faced four substantiated labor-law violations in the past three years.

In December 2024, a federal judge ruled the company liable for mishandling pensions, leading to lost early retirement benefits for workers. In January 2024, Corteva settled a lawsuit for $3.8 million with on-call plant workers who claimed they were not paid for on-call hours. In August 2024, Corteva and its subsidiary settled a lawsuit with migrant agricultural workers who claimed they were sprayed with pesticides in 2019, alleging violations of the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act. In December 2021, the company settled another wage and hour class action lawsuit for $3.8 million concerning employees required to remain on duty without adequate breaks. The CEO to median employee pay ratio for fiscal year 2024 was 178:1. Additionally, in 2024, the company reported 39 substantiated internal policy violations related to discrimination, harassment, and retaliation globally, which led to 14 involuntary terminations and 25 disciplinary actions or remediation plans. Eligible regular, full-service employees working at least 20 hours a week are offered various benefits, including medical plan options, global family formation benefits, and parental leave.

Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing

Corteva employed a contractor, T. Bell Detasseling, which has a history of over a thousand labor law violations since 2009, including wage underpayment and improper hiring practices.

Investigations in September 2023 and September 2024 revealed that temporary laborers working for this contractor reported unauthorized payroll deductions. Despite these findings, Corteva continued its association with the contractor. Corteva states it has a Supplier Code of Conduct that mandates fair wages and prohibits child or forced labor, and publishes sustainability reports aligned with frameworks like GRI and TCFD.

Honest & Fair Business

Corteva ranked 41st out of 50 companies in the 2023 ChemScore report, placing it in the second-worst decile for its production of 14 hazardous chemicals, including persistent substances.

Additionally, an investigation revealed the company continued to engage a contractor with a history of labor violations, raising concerns about its supply chain oversight. While Corteva supports efforts to enhance transparency by making scientific assessments available to European regulators and emphasizes openness in its operations, no specific, quantifiable data was provided for other KPIs such as regulatory fines, whistleblower policy strength, financial restatements, audit coverage, complaint resolution time, board conflict of interest, anti-corruption policy details, or the extent of third-party verification of ethical claims.

Kind to Animals

Corteva demonstrates significant commitment to wildlife conservation, with projects benefiting multiple species across ecosystems. The company collaborates with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to restore 8,000 acres of dry mixed prairie in Texas

and improve 56,000 acres of grazing lands in Colorado, including 5 miles of wildlife-friendly fencing and 6,000 acres of grassland restoration. The Pecos Watershed Conservation Initiative, supported by Corteva, has invested $6.49 million in 34 projects benefiting migratory grassland birds, pronghorn, Pecos pupfish, Pecos gambusia, Texas hornshell, Rio Grande cooter, and Bell’s vireo. Additionally, 90% of Corteva-owned sites have active biodiversity initiatives, and a partnership with Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever aims to improve up to 5 million acres of rights-of-way and energy corridors. Regarding animal testing, Corteva has a policy to conduct animal studies only when necessary for regulatory or internal safety requirements, after all viable alternatives have been considered inadequate. The CEO and Board of Directors annually review progress on animal testing. Corteva actively advocates for policy change at the regulatory level, having campaigned to amend Brazil’s animal testing requirements and contributed to the reduction or elimination of animal-testing requirements for certain studies in the United States, the European Union, Brazil, Japan, and Korea. The company continually assesses and implements alternative, non-animal methods wherever possible, such as computer modeling or cell-based assays, and animal testing exceptions require high-level oversight.

Planet-Friendly Business

No specific, quantifiable evidence was found in the provided articles to assess Corteva Inc. against the defined Key Performance Indicators for the 'Planet-Friendly Business' ethical value. The articles mention general sustainability efforts, emission reduction targets, and participation in carbon initiatives, but lack the precise data points (e.g., total emissions in tCO₂e, current percentage of renewable energy used, SBTi validation status, or financial investment percentages) required by the rubric's quantitative thresholds. Information such as being recognized as a 'Most Responsible Company' is a general accolade and does not provide specific, auditable data for any KPI. Corteva has been recognized by Newsweek and Statista as one of America's Most Responsible Companies for 2023

. It ranked 25th on the list of 500 companies .

Respect for Cultures & Communities

Corteva has established over 20 formal partnerships with various organizations and community groups, including the National Audubon Society, 4-H, USAID, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Samunnati Foundation, and the DELTA program, many of which focus on local communities, women, or underserved students.

The company has reported no cultural appropriation incidents.

Safe & Smart Tech

Corteva implements a comprehensive cybersecurity program based on NIST standards, which includes mandatory employee training.

The company's privacy policy and global privacy statement emphasize compliance with applicable privacy laws.

Zero Waste & Sustainable Products

Corteva has set company-wide waste reduction targets, including a commitment to transition to 100% recyclable or reusable packaging by 2030.

The company also aims for all newly developed products to meet specific sustainability criteria by 2025 , a milestone already achieved for 100% of new solutions in 2023 , indicating integration of circular design principles. Waste reduction initiatives include the development of high stability oils that extend shelf life and reduce food waste , and a shift to non-PET product containers for Corteva Crop Protection, with elimination planned by early 2025 .