top of page

Companies who Have Contributed to the Prison Industrial Complex 

Learn about prominent companies that profit off of prison labor and find alternatives that you can support.

Companies with Prison Ties
Unknown-1.jpeg

Starbucks uses prisoners to package their products and surge ahead of competitors 

RE2qVsJ_edited.jpg

 In the 1990s, Microsoft hired Washington state prisoners to package software and mouses. At the time, a spokesman said, "We don't see this as a negative." 

Victoria-Secret-Logo.png

VS uses inmates to cut production costs. In South Carolina, female inmates were used to sew products. Also, inmates reportedly have been used to replace “made in” tags with “Made in USA” tags.

retailers-walmart-logo-1.png

Walmart says it won't sell products made with prison labor, but the company still contracts companies that use inmate labor to dispose of customer returns and excess inventory.

mcdonalds-the-m-logo-1968_edited.jpg

 McDonald’s uses inmates to produce frozen foods. Inmates process beef for patties. They may also process bread, milk and chicken products..

Target-Logo_edited.png

In 2000, Target used suppliers that rely on prison labor. Earlier in the '90s, big companies like AT&T and Microsoft hired inmates, but most backed away after the arrangements were exposed. Some big companies such as Target, however, still use suppliers that employ prisoners.

According to the international Center for Research on Globalization, makeup company Revlon has used prison labor.

929d788def661775e1bc4d54fae9cb85.png
maxresdefault-1.jpg

Fruit of the Loom uses prison labor for manufacturing retail products 

nintendo-logo.original.jpg

Nintento hired a subcontractor called Signature Packaging Solutions to package their Nintento Game Boys. The company uses prison labor.

unicorLogo.png

Unicor is a government-owned company that produces helmets and military uniforms for the Department of Defense, employing over 20,000 inmates at wages as low as 23 cents an hour. 

e403a193698ac1f1277ab10dc0ae32f5.jpg

Boeing used prisoners making $7 for an hour for work that is typically $30 an hour to cut airplane components. 

bp_logo_463_edited.jpg

After the Deepwater Horizon explosion in 2010, BP hired Louisiana prison inmates to clean up the oil spill. The workers were not paid at all.

EXXON-MOBIL-LOGO-1-1920x1264.jpeg

ExonMobile previously partnered with ALEC, although they joined other firms in cutting ties in 2018. However, they also use prison labor for manufacturing 

fidelity-investments-logo-vector_edited.

Money invested by Fidelity is used for prison labor. The investment firm funds the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), which has created laws authorizing and increasing the use of inmates in manufacturing.

bofa-og-logo.jpg
Ethical Alternatives
peets-coffee-vector-logo.png

Peet's Coffee offers ethically grown coffee and the company is committed to diversity internally 

page-image-master.1b6efe3d5631.jpg

Looking for an ethical browser? Mozilla Firefox was created by a nonprofit dedicated to making the internet accessible 

35a0c6c2beeac09408e6d6ec05e98c05.jpg

Bare Reverie is a eco-friendly, women-owned, and locally manufactured alternative to Victoria's Secret  

ross_logo2.jpg

Ross department stores value diversity and inclusion and recently donated $500k to the NAACP and Boys and Girls Club

In-N-Out_Burger_font.png

In-N-Out is family-owned and created a foundation for child-abuse and human trafficking prevention 

1200px-Costco_Wholesale_logo_2010-10-26.

Costco pays around 40% more and provides more health and retirement benefits than Walmart and Target. The company also resists layoffs and invests in training its employees. 

L’Oréal-Logo.jpg

L'Oreal is a leader in environmental stewardship, and philanthropy. It recently rehired a black model who was fired for speaking out about racism and gave her a seat on the company's diversity board

1200px-Adidas_Logo.svg.png

Adidas champions sustainability and is ranked high for labor conditions 

top-og.jpg

Sony, which makes the PlayStation, launched a $100 million fund to support social justice

1200px-Great_Seal_of_the_United_States_(

Airbus has been willing to make administrative changes to promote ethic practices 

wp3212938.png
SO-10years_Logo_Color.png

Alternative energy companies like Solar Optimum are protecting our environment while maintaining ethical practices 

1.jpeg

One United Bank is black-owned and finances loans to low and middle income commuities 

Bank of America  uses prison labor and supports private prisons. 

500x309.png

The popular airlines has inmates working in their call centers taking reservations for less than minimum wage 

Unknown.png

United Airlines has used prison labor in the past and has also supported ALEC 

Delta-Logo-21-700x296.jpg

 Delta Air Lines signed a letter with dozens of companies calling for police reforms, including mandating de-escalation training to reduce the use of force.

bottom of page