NewMarket Corp
NEU
Materials
2
exclusion reasons
2 themes
This page is part of our public exclusion list — a transparency tool that shows which companies we screen out and why. It is not investment advice, and it is not an accusation. But it is subject to change as our understanding of the facts evolves.
NewMarket Corporation operates as a holding company for subsidiaries that manufacture and market petroleum additives, a critical product line for the fossil fuel industry. Its primary business, conducted through its Afton Chemical and Ethyl Corporation segments, is the production of fuel and lubricant additives that enhance the performance of gasoline, diesel, and other petroleum-based transportation fuels. These products are essential for the operation and efficiency of the internal combustion engines that power the global fossil fuel-dependent transportation sector.
The company's core revenue is intrinsically linked to the continued consumption of gasoline, diesel, and other refined petroleum products. By providing specialized chemical compounds that reduce emissions, improve fuel economy, and protect engine components, NewMarket's business model is designed to support and extend the operational life of the existing fossil fuel vehicle fleet. This places the company firmly within the oilfield services and equipment ecosystem that primarily serves fossil fuel operators.
NewMarket Corporation manufactures and markets petroleum additives, including lubricant and fuel additives derived from chemical processes involving hazardous substances. The company’s operations inherently involve the handling, storage, and transportation of materials that pose risks of explosions, fires, and toxic releases. Its own disclosures acknowledge liabilities associated with the investigation and cleanup of hazardous substances, as well as related personal injury and property damage claims.
While specific, dated incident reports or EPA enforcement records linking directly to NewMarket Corp were not identified in the provided evidence, the company’s core business model centers on the production of chemical additives for the fossil fuel industry. This sector has a well-documented historical pattern of contamination events, from spills to Superfund site liabilities. The absence of a public transition plan away from these inherently hazardous activities underscores the ongoing environmental risk profile.
Research Sources
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Companies appear on our exclusion list based on our investment judgment — not because they've done anything illegal. This is a difference of values and opinion, not an accusation of wrongdoing. Exclusion does not constitute a recommendation against investing in any company, and absence from the list does not constitute a recommendation to invest.
This information is provided for educational and transparency purposes only and should not be relied upon as investment advice. Data is drawn from independent watchdogs, NGOs, government registries, and Ethical Capital's ongoing research — see Research Sources for the full list.
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