RPM International Inc.
RPM
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exclusion reason
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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.
RPM International Inc. is a global manufacturer of specialty coatings, sealants, and building materials. Its operations have resulted in significant environmental contamination and ongoing remediation liabilities. The company has been designated as a Potentially Responsible Party (PRP) at multiple federal Superfund sites due to historical releases of hazardous substances. For example, RPM subsidiary Rust-Oleum is listed as a PRP for the cleanup of the Omega Chemical Corporation Superfund site in Whittier, California, where groundwater contamination from chlorinated solvents and Freon requires long-term remediation.
ViolationTracker documents RPM subsidiaries accumulating over $2.5 million in environmental penalties since 2000. These include a 2019 settlement where RPM subsidiary Carboline Company paid a $425,000 penalty to the EPA for violations of the Clean Air Act’s Risk Management Program at its St. Louis, Missouri facility. The company’s 10-K filings consistently disclose accruals for environmental remediation, acknowledging ongoing obligations at numerous locations where past operations caused soil and groundwater contamination.
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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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