Sector and company selection

We selected companies in five high-risk sectors for this first iteration of the index: technology, apparel, extractives, automotive and agrifood. Within these sectors, we selected companies based on their size as indicated by ranking on the 2025 Fortune 500 list and inclusion in existing human rights-focused benchmarks.

Indicator development and review of companies’ policies/commitments

We developed indicators in consultation with peer civil society organizations and investors and based on existing scorecards and benchmarks, then reviewed companies’ public statements related to numerous indicators. Our reviews covered topics such as policy or commitment to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and ILO Core Conventions, commitments related to Indigenous Peoples’ rights and women’s economic empowerment, processes for conducting human rights due diligence, membership in select multi-stakeholder initiatives, human rights reporting and high-level oversight for human rights. Companies were invited to provide additional public information on their policy and commitment reviews prior to launching this index.

Reviewing company policies/commitments over time

We will review the same companies’ policies and commitments again in the first half of 2026 to determine whether companies are maintaining their core human rights policies and commitments or backsliding.

Tracking news and trends

In addition to monitoring policy and commitment changes, we are also assessing how companies are responding to changing policies, regulations and rhetoric. See our first analysis and related news below.