ExxonMobil
Long-documented history of funding climate denial research while internally acknowledging climate risk since the 1970s.
Divestment: Drawing The Line
Adaptive Intelligence is at the forefront of ethical, sustainable innovation. We want to partner with clients who do the same.
Values That Set The Standard
Outside of Adaptive Values
At Adaptive Intelligence, sustainability is not a side project — it's at the core of how we work. Building the future of industries means being honest about who is working against them. The relationships listed here have been declined based on their environmental track records, ESG performance, and active contributions to climate harm across three core industries.
We publish this list for the same reason we host the NOAA papers: transparency matters. The more clearly we state what's wrong, the better equipped we all are to build what's right.
Non-Compliant Industry: #1
Big Oil & Petroleum
Every strategy we create, every campaign we launch, and every solution we deliver is designed with both growth and responsibility in mind. Partnering with fossil fuel companies means lending our creative intelligence — and our reputation — to the active dismantling of the future we're working to build. Adaptive Intelligence does not accept clients in the petroleum or fossil fuel extraction sector. This isn't a political position; it's a business one. We believe the brands that will define the next era of industry are building sustainable energy systems, not defending the old ones. Our work belongs there.
Shell
Responsible for oil spills, methane leaks, and obstructing climate policy.
Valero Energy
Operates refineries responsible for significant air and water quality violations across multiple U.S. communities.
Chevron
Ongoing carbon emissions at industrial scale while lobbying against clean energy regulation.
BP
Responsible for the Deepwater Horizon disaster — one of the largest marine oil spills in history. Continues to expand fossil fuel extraction capacity.
ConocoPhillips
Operates oil extraction projects in ecologically sensitive areas including Alaska's North Slope. Consistently among the top U.S. corporate greenhouse gas emitters.
Marathon Petroleum
Has exhibited a pattern of environmental compliance failures and air quality violations across refinery communities.
Saudi Aramco
The world's single largest corporate emitter of greenhouse gases. Holds little accountability to environmental standards.
Non-Compliant Industry: #2
Defense Contractors
Adaptive Intelligence was built on the belief that creativity and responsibility must go hand in hand. Defense contractors — particularly those whose core business is weapons manufacturing, military surveillance, and the production of systems deployed in active conflict zones — operate in direct contradiction to that principle. We do not partner with companies whose primary revenue is derived from weapons systems, military contracting, or the development of technology designed to harm. Where AI is concerned, we hold an especially firm line: we believe ethical AI deployment means building tools that expand human potential, not tools designed to target, track, or surveil people without accountability. That's not a market we're interested in serving.
Lockheed Martin
Responsible for Superfund sites and ongoing toxic contamination from manufacturing facilities across the U.S.
RTX Corporation (Raytheon)
Implicated in Superfund contamination sites and the production of technologies used in conflicts with documented civilian impact.
Palantir Technologies
Raises serious concerns around ethical AI deployment, civilian surveillance, and accountability in conflict zones.
Northrop Grumman
Linked to toxic groundwater contamination and listed on multiple EPA Superfund registers. Primary contractor for nuclear weapon systems.
General Dynamics
Historical pollution from manufacturing sites and ongoing involvement in contested international arms contracts.
Boeing (Defense)
Defense division produces fighter jets, missiles, and surveillance systems. Has faced environmental enforcement actions tied to hazardous chemical disposal.
BAE Systems
Involved in weapons exports to conflict zones, including sales linked to human rights concerns. Manufacturing legacy includes significant hazardous waste sites.
Leidos
Deeply embedded in government surveillance systems. Raises transparency and accountability concerns around data use in national security contexts.
Non-Compliant Industry: #3
Mining, Fracking & Drilling
Mining, fracking, and drilling operations sit at the intersection of environmental destruction and community harm — contaminating water systems, destabilizing land, and disproportionately impacting the communities with the least power to push back. Adaptive Intelligence does not work with companies in the extractive industries whose business models depend on the disruption of ecosystems or the displacement of communities. We're committed to helping build the next era of industry — one where innovation doesn't come at the cost of the environment it depends on. Infusing modern business with real sustainability efforts is work we take seriously, and it starts with who we choose to work with.
USA Rare Earth
Tied to significant land disruption and habitat destruction. Extraction of rare earth elements carries documented risks to soil, water, and surrounding ecosystems.
Glencore
Multiple regulatory actions across Africa, South America, and Australia related to toxic spills, bribery, and human rights violations in mining communities.
Freeport-McMoRan
Responsible for massive tailings dumping in Indonesia's Ajkwa River system — one of the largest aquatic disposal operations of mining waste in the world.
EQT Corporation
Fracking operations linked to groundwater contamination, methane leaks, and community health impacts.
BP
Faced significant scrutiny following the Deepwater Horizon disaster, in which its cement work played a role.
Newmont Corp.
Operations in Ghana, Peru, and Nevada have been linked to mercury contamination, water system disruption, and community displacement.
Chesapeake Energy
Documented record of environmental violations. Previously filed for bankruptcy while continuing to lobby against fracking restrictions.
Anglo American
Linked to water contamination, land degradation, and displacement of communities in South Africa, Chile, and Brazil.
Our Scoring Standards
The ESG scores linked to each organization are sourced from publicly available ratings agencies. Our eco initiatives are available on the Eco page. To submit a resource, flag an update, or suggest an addition, contact us.
Working With Adaptive Intelligence
Qualifications
We intentionally choose our clients just as carefully as our clients choose us.
Our Preferred Partner Program is best suited for organizations that:
- Champion innovation and forward-thinking ideas
- Value strategic collaboration over transactional execution
- Are committed to sustainable, long-term growth
- Prioritize quality, creativity, and thoughtful decision-making
- Understand the importance of building meaningful relationships with their audiences
Whether you're an emerging company creating a new category or an established brand evolving for the future, we look for partners who are dedicated to building something that lasts.
Innovation & Responsibility Can Coexist
We're building a community of businesses, creatives, and leaders who are ready to do both. If you believe your company is working toward something better — explore our Preferred Partners program, or reach out to collaborate on sustainable strategy.