Blog17 Dec 2020
From Laggard To Leader: Scaling Digital Operations & Extracting Value It’s a tricky time for Manufacturers. Technological advances, global trade tensions and market evolutions and, most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic, have accelerated the shift to digital, end to end, from consumer to supply chain and...
Blog21 Apr 2023Industry Solutions
Aligning Purpose with Profits: How Consumer Goods Companies can Unlock Business Growth by Integrating Sustainability into their Operations The rapid advancement of technology and social media has created a new generation of well- informed, empowered, and discerning consumers. These individuals prioritise brands that not only provide high-quality products and services, but also resonate...
Press Release12 Apr 2023Industry Solutions
Consumer Goods Companies Boost Technology Budgets by 34% to Align Sustainability and Operations and Drive Growth, Finds New Study by IBM and The Consumer Goods Forum Consumer products leaders are focusing on improving supply chain operations, leveraging analytics, AI and other technologies in an effort to drive greater efficiencies and help achieve sustainability goals.
News Update08 Oct 2017People
Business Partners Come Together in Bangkok for CGF’s “Responsible Operations and Sourcing” Event On September 25th, The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) held its first “Responsible Operations & Sourcing” conference, in partnership with AIM-PROGRESS and ELEVATE, in Bangkok, Thailand. The event brought together over 220 business partners of the CGF and AIM-PROGRESS...
Press Release01 Jul 2020Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative
Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative and Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative Launch Public Consultation on At-Sea Operations Social Benchmarking Criteria PARIS, 1 July 2020 – Marking a significant milestone in a two-year partnership, The Consumer Goods Forum’s (CGF) Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) and the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) are pleased to launch a...
News Update02 Sep 2017
The CGF to Host First “Responsible Operations and Sourcing” Event in Bangkok We are pleased to announce that The Consumer Goods Forum’s first Responsible Operations and Sourcing event, supported by AIM-PROGRESS & ELEVATE will take place in Bangkok, Thailand on 25th September 2017. The purpose of the event is for Thai based...
Podcast15 Jan 2021Industry Solutions
Delving Into Digital Manufacturing & Operations For the first End-to-End Value Chain podcast episode of 2021, we’re taking a deep dive into digital manufacturing and operations. Tune in to hear insights from Tracey Countryman, Senior Managing Director, Industry X Manufacturing and...
Blog22 Nov 2021Industry Solutions
Improving Global Food Supply Chain Operations with Virtual Twin Technology Agribusiness continues to be a major player in the US economy, contributing $1.109 trillion to national GDP in 2019. Global agribusiness revenue is expected to hit $10.2 trillion as the global economy rebounds from the...
News Update24 Sep 2020Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative
SSCI Concludes At-Sea Operations Public Consultation The Consumer Goods Forum’s (CGF) Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) has concluded its 60-day public consultation on the At-Sea Operations benchmark criteria. The criteria were jointly developed between the SSCI and the Global Sustainable Seafood...
News Update13 Jan 2021Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative
SSCI Launches Second Public Consultation on Social Criteria for At-Sea Operations Scope Taking the last steps to finalise the At-Sea Operations (ASO) scope of the Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI), the SSCI today launches a second public consultation on the Social Criteria under the ASO scope. The ASO scope...
News Update16 Feb 2021
End-to-End Value Chain Publishes Digital Manufacturing & Operations SpringBoard Executive Summary The Consumer Goods Forum and Accenture hosted the first in a series of three unique virtual SpringBoard events on 19 January 2021. The event brought together senior supply chain, operations and product development executives to...
News Update23 Feb 2021Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative
SSCI Closes Second Public Consultation on Social Criteria for At-Sea Operations Scope The CGF Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) has closed its latest public consultation on the Social Criteria for its At-Sea Operations (ASO) Scope. This was the second public consultation opened for the scope; the first...
Publication12 Apr 2023Industry Solutions
Redesigning Brand Values: Purpose and Profit Converge in Core Operations New study by IBM and The Consumer Goods Forum finds that Consumer Goods Companies boost technology budgets by 34% to align sustainability and operations and drive growth. Consumer products leaders are focusing on improving supply...
News Update16 Nov 2020Human Rights
CGF HRC Concludes Stakeholder Consultation for Palm Oil Roadmap and HRDD in Own Operations Framework Eradicating forced labour is a task that no one person, company or organisation can achieve acting alone. The CGF Human Rights Coalition—Working to End Forced Labour (HRC) is committed to engaging with key stakeholders to...
Blog22 Feb 2021Data-Driven Value Chain
How Accurate & Harmonised Product Data Streamlines Global Industry Operations & Builds Consumer Trust Presently, it is near impossible to accurately estimate the number of products traded across global markets, and even more so to understand how many of them have unique identifiers and find each product’s history and...
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...
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.
Fairness, Integrity, Safety, and Health (FISH) Standard for Crew
STANDARD: FISH Standard for Crew Version 1.0 achieved SSCI Recognition in March 2025 for 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 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.
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.