Blog06 Oct 2023Forest Positive
Coalition engagement with certification schemes This impact story is part of a collection of narratives that bring to life some of the complex challenges Forest Positive Coalition members are facing on our forest positive journey and our lessons learned. We’re...
Press Release19 Apr 2023Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative
Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative Responds to Human Rights at Sea’s 2023 Review of Fisheries and Aquaculture Certification, Standards and Ratings PARIS, 19th April 2023 — The Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) has issued a response to Human Rights at Sea’s (HRAS) 2023 Review of Fisheries and Aquaculture Certification, Standards and Ratings, in which the SSCI...
Press Release05 May 2020Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative
Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative Invites Certification Schemes to Take Part in Benchmarking Process PARIS, 5th May 2020 – The consumer goods industry has extended a formal invitation to third party audit & certification schemes to undergo the Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative’s (SSCI) Benchmarking Process. This call to action follows the...
Press Release03 Feb 2016
GFSI Applauds New Canadian Policy on Private Certification of Food Facilities PARIS, 5th February 2016 – The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) applauds the new Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) policy on private certification schemes used by food facilities that was announced this week in Ottawa.
Blog09 Oct 2019Environmental Sustainability
Sustainable Packaging and Certification Solutions within the Circular Economy The forest sector, through its advancement of sustainably managed forests and forest-based products, has a significant role to play in the circular economy and can provide critical solutions for global sustainability challenges. Through sustainable packaging...
News Update13 Feb 2023Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative
Organic Certification Expert Luiza Reguse Joins CGF Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative Team The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) has been pleased to welcome a new addition to its Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) team. As the new Senior Manager of the SSCI, Luiza Reguse, a Brazilian native, brings...
News Update24 Aug 2022Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative
Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative to Develop Benchmark for Environmental Sustainability Certification Schemes The Consumer Goods Forum’s (CGF) Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) is extending its sphere of influence to third-party environmental sustainability audit, monitoring, and certification schemes. With the support from the CGF’s member companies’ CEOs and...
Press Release26 Jan 2024Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative
FSSC 24000 Achieves SSCI Recognition PARIS, 26 January 2024 – The Consumer Goods Forum’s (CGF) Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) is pleased to announce that Foundation FSSC has successfully completed the SSCI Benchmarking process and achieved SSCI Recognition for their FSSC 24000 Scheme.
Blog11 Jun 2024Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative
Interview with Luiza Reguse for the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative Spotlight Series An interview with Luiza Reguse for the GSSI Spotlight Series Passionate about the profound impact of food production on both people’s lives and the environment, Luiza Reguse embarked on her journey in the world...
Press Release10 Apr 2024Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative
Florverde® Sustainable Flower Achieves SSCI Recognition PARIS, 12th April 2024 – The Consumer Goods Forum’s (CGF) Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) is pleased to announce that Florverde® Sustainable Flowers (FSF) has successfully completed the SSCI Benchmarking process and achieved SSCI Recognition....
Blog23 Oct 2018Forest Positive
Certified Forest Products Help Meet Corporate Sustainability Targets and UN SDGs Zero-net deforestation is a key objective of the The Consumer Goods Forum and many of its member companies. To achieve it, the CGF has recognized forest certification as an important tool within its sourcing guidelines....
News Update20 Nov 2023Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative
New SSCI Benchmark Consultation Opens for FSSC 24000 The Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) is delighted to announce the opening of a stakeholder consultation for FSSC 24000, as it advances to the final stages in the SSCI Benchmark process. Foundation FSSC’s FSSC 24000...
Blog14 Oct 2020Sustainable Retail Summit
Forests as a Nature-based-solution to Address Climate Change and Reduce Carbon Emissions The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) share a belief that third-party forest certification is a proven, readily-available, consumer-facing assurance tool that supports supply chain management, responsible...
Blog15 Sep 2021Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative
Giving Consumers the Reassurance They Seek and Workers the Protection They Deserve Today’s conscious consumers are transforming their relationship with global brands. They are increasingly making more informed, ethical buying choices and although we saw signs of a consumer shift before the pandemic, recent reports indicate that...
Press Release21 Nov 2023Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative
Rainforest Alliance Applies for SSCI Benchmarking PARIS, 21 November 2023 — The Consumer Goods Forum’s (CGF) Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) is pleased to announce it has received an application from Rainforest Alliance submitting its Sustainable Agriculture Standard for the SSCI Benchmarking...
Press Release30 Jan 2012
Study Shows Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) Results in Improved Food Safety for Consumers PARIS, 30th January 2012 – The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), managed by The Consumer Goods Forum, announced today that a recent study conducted by the University of Arkansas shows that food manufacturers who...
STANDARD: The BRCGS Global Standard for Ethical Trade & Responsible Sourcing Issue 2 achieved SSCI Recognition under Scope AI — Social Compliance: Manufacturing & Processing in November 2021.
BRCGS is an established global standards leader, with a rigorous GFSI recognised assurance program that touches every aspect of the 21st century supply chain – from food ingredients to packaging, distribution, retail and beyond. It sets the benchmark for best practice manufacturing, helping to provide reassurance that products and services are high quality, legal and safe. BRCGS is recognised across food and non-food categories as the global standard underpinning brand reputation through compliance, at over 30,000 certificated sites in 130 countries. Visit brcgs.com to find out more.
STANDARD: The Florverde standard for the sustainable production of flowers and ornamentals version 7.2.1 is currently being benchmarked under Scope BI – Social Compliance: Primary Production.
Florverde Sustainable Flowers (FSF) is an independent social and environmental standard which ensures that flowers certified under this scheme have been responsibly produced. This requires flower growers to adopt measures that will protect and enable worker’s rights, implement best environmental practices, and comply with national regulations. FSF also helps safeguard quality by requiring the proper care and handling of flowers.
STANDARD: FSSC 24000 Social Management System Certification Version 6.0 achieved SSCI Recognition under Scope AI — Social Compliance: Processing and Manufacturing in January 2024.
The aim of FSSC 24000 is to ensure that social sustainability management system requirements are met, resulting in certifications that assure organisations provide safe and fair working conditions, meet business ethics requirements, and apply due diligence in their supply chain management. FSSC 24000 provides a strategic approach incorporating the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle and risk-based thinking, which ensures the identification and control of social risk and continuous improvement. This process demonstrates corporate responsibility and facilitates improving the social management systems and performance thus driving impact.
FSSC 24000’s scope of certification includes the manufacturing and processing sector (food and non-food), including its related service provision. The certificate confirms that the organisation’s social sustainability management system is in conformance with the FSSC 24000 Scheme requirements based on the following normative documents:
BSI/PAS 24000:2022 – Social management system requirements (Publicly Available Specification)
FSSC 24000 Additional Requirements (as determined by the FSSC Board of Stakeholders)
The FSSC 24000 certification scheme is owned and governed by the non-profit Foundation FSSC and outlines the requirements for the audit and certification of a Social Sustainability Management System of an organization. More information on the FSSC 24000 Scheme is available on their website.
Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard
STANDARD: The Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard 2.1 achieved SSCI Recognition under Scope CI — Social Compliance: At-Sea Operations in November 2022.
In 2018, Global Seafood Assurances and the UK Sea Fish Industry Authority (Seafish) announced a memorandum of understanding to work together to create the next version of the Responsible Fishing Scheme (RFS), committing to expand its global applicability, which resulted in the creation of the Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard. Now part of the Global Seafood Alliance, GSA took ownership of the standards last year. The first RFVS-certified vessel was announced in Australia in January, and the second set of RFVS-certified vessels was announced in the United Kingdom in April. The standard addresses social responsibility, including working conditions and worker voice, about fishing vessels.
STANDARD: The SIZA Social Standard Version 6 achieved SSCI Recognition under Scopes AI — Social Compliance: Manufacturing & Processing, and BI — Social Compliance: Primary Production in June 2023.
SIZA, the Sustainability Initiative of South Africa, is enabling the South African agricultural sector to become a global leader in sustainable farming, ethical trade, and environmental stewardship. The aim is to encourage continuous improvement in practices over time. SIZA aims to have a cost-effective approach for growers by supplying one standard and one audit, no matter which market a producer supplies. SIZA engages directly with stakeholders throughout the value chain to improve supply chain sustainability, ensuring compliance and reducing risks while at the same time offering support and training with regard to best practices and continuous improvement. Verification occurs via third-party audits. For more information on SIZA, please visit our website: www.siza.co.za
Founded in 2003, the amfori BSCI enables companies to drive sustainability by setting up the human rights due diligence principles that business enterprises strive to implement in their global supply chain.
Representing over 2,400 participants in 46 countries, the amfori BSCI operates in a variety of sectors, the two largest being General Merchandise, and Garment & Textile with a combined annual turnover is evaluated to EUR 1.6 trillion.
The amfori BSCI Code of Conduct set out the values and principles for the implementation of supply chain due diligence, based on the OECD’s six-step framework. The amfori BSCI System Manual outlines the supporting tools and methodology for participants to exercise human rights due diligence and environmental protection set out in the amfori BSCI Code of Conduct.
Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA)
STANDARD:The Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) is currently being benchmarked under Scope BI – Social Compliance: Primary Production.
Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) is a business membership organisation which was established in 2002. It is an organisation meant to promote the interest of its members who are engaged in the production and export of cut flowers, fruit, vegetables, herbs, cuttings as well as vegetable seeds.
Fairness, Integrity, Safety, and Health (FISH) Standard for Crew
STANDARD: FISH Standard for Crew Version 1.0 is currently being benchmarked under Scope CI — Social Compliance: At-Sea Operations.
The Fairness, Integrity, Safety, and Health (FISH) Standard for Crew is a voluntary, third party labour certification program for wild harvest fishing vessels. FISH is designed to provide harvesters a tool to demonstrate to customers and other stakeholders that the seafood harvested comes from responsible sources with respect to crew treatment, compensation, and conditions. It was developed with input from the full seafood supply chain, including large and small harvesters, processors, retailers and restaurant groups, in consultation with labour non-profit organisations, to create a program that is open to vessels and fleets of all sizes around the globe. Read more about the Standard here.
STANDARD: The KFC Flowers and Ornamentals Sustainability Standard Version December 2021 is currently being benchmarked under Scopes AI — Social Compliance: Manufacturing & Processing, and BI — Social Compliance: Primary Production.
Kenya Flower Council (KFC) is the country’s leading Business Membership Association for growers and exporters of cut-flower and ornamentals. KFC members account for approximately 80 percent of Kenya’s floricultural exports.
KFC also owns the Flowers and Ornamentals Sustainability Standards (FOSS), a trusted standard worldwide. It is one of only three internationally benchmarked standards that demonstrate sustainable social, environmental and good agricultural business practice benchmarks set by the EU-based Floriculture Sustainability Initiative (FSI). The standard encourages commitment to ethical practices, innovation and promoting equitable trading practices, thus ensuring that certified producers foster sustainable, responsible and safe production of cut flowers and ornamentals.
The Council is in the forefront promoting Kenya as a reliable source of quality cut flowers and ornamentals and the country’s competitiveness in the global floriculture trade. KFC is actively engaged in all major trade negotiations in existing, new and emerging markets and in amplifying Kenya’s image in the international market as the most trusted source of cut flowers and ornamentals.
Currently, Kenya is the third largest producer of cut-flowers and ornamentals in the world and exports to over 60 destinations globally. Floriculture is the fastest growing export sector in the Kenyan economy, providing direct employment for over 200,000 workers.
KFC engages with key actors locally for a favourable business environment for growers and exporters of cut flowers and ornamentals.
The Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard, is designed to deliver more value to the more than four million farmers and workers and thousands of businesses that use Rainforest Alliance certification to drive more sustainable agricultural production and responsible supply chains. The Sustainable Agriculture Standard is used in more than 70 countries around the globe. Their program focuses on coffee, cocoa, tea, bananas, and many other important commodity sectors facing urgent environmental and social challenges.
Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trade Association (WIETA)
STANDARD: WIETA Standard Version 4.0 is currently being benchmarked under Scope AI — Social Compliance: Manufacturing & Processing.
The Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trade Association T/A WIETA was the first South African social standard, established in 2002, to establish an appropriate social auditing methodology for fruit and wine suppliers in South Africa. WIETA proudly demonstrates how a multi-stakeholder model can successfully promote a world class ethical trade and human rights programme within the wine value chain. Innovative social dialogue engagements, a rigorous capacity building and training programme for both workers and producers, coupled with a participative multi-pronged approach to auditing and remedial approach to ensure sustained corrective actions.