News Update10 Dec 2024Human Rights
Human Rights Day 2024 – Forging a Better Tomorrow Together Today, on Human Rights Day 2024, we join the global movement to honour the theme “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now.” This theme underscores the urgent need to protect human rights as a foundation for...
Press Release07 Jun 2023Human Rights
Business and Government Convene to Advance Collaboration for Human Rights in Japan KYOTO, 7th June 2023 – Officials from leading businesses, the Japanese government, and the United Nations today met in Kyoto for a roundtable discussion to strengthen collaboration and accelerate respect for human rights in Japan’s...
Press Release14 Mar 2023Human Rights
Human Rights Coalition Hosts Human Rights Due Diligence Workshop With Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia and Malaysian Palm Oil Suppliers KUALA LUMPUR and PARIS, 14th March 2023 – In collaboration with the Malaysian Ministry of Plantation and Commodities, The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) Human Rights Coalition (HRC) today hosted a practical workshop for Malaysian palm...
Blog10 Dec 2023Human Rights
The Imperative for Holistic Corporate Responsibility: Tackling Worker Rights Violations and Climate Crisis Together #CloserThanYouThink: Why we’re calling for urgent action on forced labour for Human Rights Day 2023 Despite much progress, there has been a record level of worker rights violations around the world this year, according to...
Press Release26 Apr 2024Human Rights
The Consumer Goods Forum and Malaysian Government Unite Leaders to Advance Responsible Recruitment Practices Kuala Lumpur, 25 April 2024 – On the eve of the final adoption of the Corporate Sustainability Directive by the European Union, business, CSOs and policymakers gathered in Kuala Lumpur to discuss the next practical...
News Update04 May 2021Human Rights
CGF Sustainability Director Joins Ksapa, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Office for Legally Binding HRDD Webinar On 27th April 2021, CGF Sustainability Director, Didier Bergeret, joined a virtual roundtable hosted by Ksapa, The session, entitled “Human Rights Due Diligence: Legally-Binding Instruments to Date,” was part of a series of webinars about...
Blog24 May 2021Human Rights
Human Rights Due Diligence: Tesco’s Journey Tesco is a proud member of The Consumer Goods Forum’s Human Rights Coalition — Working to End Forced Labour (HRC), which shares our ambition to eradicate forced labour from consumer goods supply chains and own...
Press Release22 Nov 2024Human Rights
Launch of the Converged Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence Assessment Tool Paris, 22 November 2024 — Members of AIM-Progress and The Consumer Goods Forum Human Rights Coalition, which includes major fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies, are delighted to have partnered with the Fair Labor Association (FLA) and...
Press Release11 Jan 2023Human Rights
Advancing Due Diligence and Responsible Recruitment to Respect Human Rights: The Consumer Goods Forum and AIM-Progress Announce Renewed Collaboration PARIS and BRUSSELS, 11th January 2023 — The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) Human Rights Coalition (HRC) and AIM-Progress are excited to announce they have reaffirmed their commitment to collaboratively address human rights challenges in the...
Video28 May 2024Human Rights
Expert Series: Accelerating Human Rights Due Diligence through Collaboration and Remedy On Wednesday 15 May 2024, we hosted an Expert Session on Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD), featuring esteemed experts from PepsiCo and Unilever. This important session highlighted the critical role of HRDD in today’s evolving...
Video31 May 2024Human Rights
Expert Series: Driving Effective Human Rights Due Diligence in the Consumer Goods Industry On Thursday 30 May 2024, we hosted an Expert Session on Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) within the context of evolving regulatory frameworks, featuring esteemed experts from McDonald’s, Mondelēz International and The Coca-Cola Company. This...
News Update05 Jul 2022Human Rights
Human Rights Lawyer Maria Isabel Cubides Sanchez Joins CGF Sustainability Team The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) is pleased to welcome human rights lawyer Maria Isabel Cubides Sanchez to the sustainability team as Senior Manager of the Human Rights Coalition – Working to End Forced Labour (HRC)....
News Update30 Oct 2024Human Rights
The Consumer Goods Forum’s Director of Sustainability leads panel on Human Rights in Logistics at Engaging Business Forum On 15 October 2024, The Consumer Goods Forum’s Director of Sustainability, Didier Bergeret, representing our Human Rights Coalition (HRC), expertly moderated an insightful panel discussion at the Engaging Business Forum on Human Rights in Logistics....
News Update15 Feb 2022Human Rights
Human Rights Coalition – Working to End Forced Labour Launches Human Rights Due Diligence Training Series In February 2022, The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) Human Rights Coalition – Working to End Forced Labour (HRC) launched a new virtual training series to help raise awareness of the importance of deploying Human Rights...
News Update06 Nov 2020Human Rights
CGF Sustainability Director Meets with French-Operating Companies to Discuss Human Rights Due Diligence Engagement On 6th November, Director of Sustainability at The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF), Didier Bergeret, joined an event with French association, Entreprises pour les droits de l’homme, to commence discussions with French-operating companies around engaging with human...
News Update19 May 2021Human Rights
Paul Lalli, The Coca-Cola Company, Appointed Manufacturer Co-Chair of CGF Human Rights Coalition – Working to End Forced Labour The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) is pleased to announce that Paul Lalli, Global VP, Human Rights, at The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC) has been appointed Manufacturer Co-chair of the CGF Human Rights Coalition – Working to...
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 achieved SSCI Recognition under Scope BI – Social Compliance: Primary Production in April 2024.
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
Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trade Association (WIETA)
STANDARD: WIETA Standard Version 4.0 achieved SSCI recognition under Scope AI — Social Compliance: Manufacturing & Processing, and BI — Social Compliance: Primary Production in January 2025.
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.
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.
STANDARD: The MPS-SQ Standard is currently being benchmarked under Scope BI — Social Compliance: Primary Production.
MPS, owned by Stichting MPS, is a leading organisation dedicated to supporting sustainability in the agricultural sector through its trusted certification schemes. The MPS-SQ Standard, introduced in 2002, is designed to ensure that agricultural products are produced under good working conditions. The standard applies to growers and their entire company, addressing key areas such as employee working conditions, health, and safety. It is built on universal human rights, the codes of conduct of local representative organisations, and international agreements of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
The MPS-SQ Standard also ensures fair treatment for family members working in family-run agricultural operations and sets minimum requirements for working conditions, encouraging compliance with stricter national, local, or international laws to provide the highest level of worker protection. By promoting ethical labour practices, My MPS aims to improve worker safety, health, and well-being while enhancing the image of the agricultural sector. MPS is applying for SSCI’s Scope BI — Social Compliance: Primary Production, reaffirming its commitment to advancing sustainable and responsible practices across the agricultural supply chain.
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.