Johnson Controls Earns Recognition as One of the World's Most Ethical Companies for 2025
Johnson Controls: A Leader in Ethical Business Practices
In a remarkable feat of dedication to ethical business standards, Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) has been named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies® for 2025 by Ethisphere, a globally recognized leader in establishing and promoting ethical standards in business practices. This achievement marks the 18th consecutive year that Johnson Controls has made it onto this prestigious list, placing it among an elite group of only five companies that have received this monumental recognition for nearly two decades.
Commitment to Ethics and Integrity
Mara Murphy, Vice President and Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer at Johnson Controls, emphasized the company's unwavering commitment to integrity in business dealings. According to Murphy, this commitment is deeply ingrained in the workforce, with employees across the globe actively embracing ethical practices to create solutions that benefit customers. “Doing business with integrity is something we take seriously,” Murphy stated, emphasizing that the organization aims to maintain the highest standards in all operations.
The foundation of Johnson Controls’ ethical practices can be found in its Values First program, which serves as the cornerstone of its Ethics and Compliance initiative. This program integrates individual conduct, business operations, and the overall corporate culture to ensure adherence to ethical standards. The company's approach to navigating ethics and compliance issues involves robust leadership, transparent communication, comprehensive training programs, vigilant monitoring, and structured reporting mechanisms.
A Rigorous Assessment Process
The evaluation process utilized by Ethisphere to determine its honorees involves the Ethics Quotient®, a proprietary tool emphasizing a comprehensive review of companies' ethical standards and governance. This assessment includes over 240 distinct proof points, assessing practices that underpin strong ethical and compliant behavior, governance structures, cultural integrity, and environmental and social impact.
In 2025, a total of 136 companies across 19 nations and 44 industries were honored with this distinction, highlighting a universal commitment to ethical business practices.
The Business Case for Ethics
Ethisphere’s Chief Strategy Officer, Erica Salmon Byrne, congratulated Johnson Controls on this noteworthy achievement, pointing out that such recognition is a testament to the company’s genuine commitment to promoting business integrity.