SWEETGREEN INC
SG
Consumer Discretionary
5
exclusion reasons
4 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.
Sweetgreen paid $750K to settle Richardson v. Sweetgreen for New York Labor Law violations including wage theft. Documented pattern of labor law non-compliance affecting hourly restaurant workers.
Alvarado v. Sweetgreen (Case No. 804089/2023E): systemic race and sex discrimination lawsuit. Alleges pattern of discriminatory treatment in hiring, promotion, and workplace environment.
Sweetgreen claims "Carbon Neutral by 2027" while simultaneously adding beef to the menu and reporting rising emissions. Greenwashing: sustainability messaging contradicted by business decisions.
Only approximately 40% of chicken sourced at GAP Step 2 as of 2024. Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) alignment pushed to 2027-2029. Majority of animal products sourced from conventional factory farming operations.
Sweetgreen operates a fast-casual restaurant chain featuring chicken, steak, and fish as central menu items alongside salads and bowls. The commercial sale of animal-based proteins is a core revenue driver.
Research Sources
14 organizations
Related Exclusions
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A digest of changes to our exclusion list — new additions, removals, and the evidence behind them. We review the list continuously as new evidence surfaces.
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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