Press Release10 Dec 2020Human Rights
Major Retailers and Consumer Brands Commit to Eradicate Forced Labour from Global Supply Chains with Launch of New Coalition of Action PARIS, 10 December 2020 – Today, on annual Human Rights Day, 19 leading members of The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) announce their collective stance against forced labour with the creation of the CGF’s new Human...
Press Release06 Dec 2016
Consumer Goods Industry Sets Bar in Fight Against Forced Labour PARIS, 6th December 2016 – The consumer goods industry, through The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF), has advanced its social stewardship efforts in its bid to eradicate forced labour from global supply chains by establishing three “Priority Industry...
Press Release15 Mar 2021Human Rights
Coalition of Global Consumer Goods Companies Launches Framework for the Implementation of Human Rights Due Diligence Systems in Aligned Approach Against Forced Labour PARIS, 15 March 2021 – With a mission to help eradicate forced labour from consumer goods supply chains globally, The Consumer Goods Forum’s (CGF) Human Rights Coalition – Working to End Forced Labour (HRC) has...
Blog15 Sep 2022Human Rights
28 Million People in Forced Labour in 2021: CGF Response to Latest ILO Statistics on Modern Slavery This week, the International Labour Organization (ILO) announced that 50 million people were living in situations of modern slavery around the world in 2021, according to latest calculations. The new statistics, shared in the latest...
Press Release12 Jun 2018Human Rights
Global Business Leaders Call for Accelerated Action Against Forced Labour and Unethical Recruitment PARIS and SINGAPORE, 12th June 2018 – The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) has today called on businesses around the world to play their part in the fight to end all forms of forced labour. Issued...
Press Release27 Oct 2022Human Rights
Consumer Goods Companies Release Practical Guidance on Repayment of Worker-Paid Recruitment Fees PARIS and AMSTERDAM, 27th October 2022 – The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) Human Rights Coalition – Working to End Forced Labour (HRC), in partnership with AIM-Progress, has today released new “Guidance on the Repayment of...
Press Release20 Oct 2022Human Rights
In New Project, Consumer Goods Companies Team Up with Palm Oil Companies to Fight Forced Labour in Malaysia PARIS and KUALA LUMPUR, 20th October 2022 – The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) Human Rights Coalition – Working to End Forced Labour (HRC) has launched its People Positive Palm (P3) Project, designed to drive collaboration...
Press Release23 Jun 2021Human Rights
Human Rights Coalition – Working to End Forced Labour Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Fair Labor Association and International Organization for Migration PARIS, 23 June 2021 – The Consumer Goods Forum’s (CGF) Human Rights Coalition – Working to End Forced Labour (HRC) is pleased to announce today it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Fair...
Press Release14 Jan 2016
Fighting Forced Labour – A Rallying Call from the Consumer Goods Industry PARIS, 14th January 2016 — The Board of The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) today announced an ambitious, new resolution to fight forced labour issues throughout global supply chains, launching a rallying call to the industry.
Press Release21 Jan 2021Human Rights
CGF Joint Statement on Human Rights in the Palm Oil Sector PARIS, 21 January 2021 — As collectives of major global companies with supply chains in the palm oil sector, The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) Forest Positive Coalition and Human Rights Coalition — Working to End...
Blog07 Sep 2016Human Rights
Eradicating Forced Labour – Consumer Goods Industry Takes Significant Step Forward Modern slavery is an evil that persists despite twelve international conventions and over three hundred international treaties banning it. It is a crime that causes suffering to thousands in the UK and millions around the...
Blog02 Feb 2016Human Rights
Fighting Forced Labour – Building on an Industry’s Bold Commitment Consumer good companies have been long committed to promoting decent working conditions worldwide, notably through our work in the Global Social Compliance Programme (GSCP) and other industry initiatives. But as highlighted by the UN...
Blog28 Jun 2018Human Rights
Adding our Voice to the Global Call to End Forced Labour Think for just a moment about the challenges facing global agriculture and our food system over the coming decades, and you’ll realize—we have a lot of work to do. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization...
News Update10 Dec 2019Human Rights
Statement on the Occasion of International Human Rights Day Forced labour continues to affect people in every corner of the world, and reaches far and wide into our daily consumption. According to statistics from the International Labour Organization (ILO), there are now around 40...
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...
News Update29 Mar 2018Social Sustainability
CGF Social Sustainability Director Didier Bergeret speaks at North Atlantic Seafood Forum in Bergen, Norway CGF Social Sustainability Director Didier Bergeret spoke at the 13th North Atlantic Seafood Forum, held in Bergen, Norway, which took place on March 6th – 8th. The conference welcomed 960 delegates from 35 countries, (all...
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.
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
STANDARD: The GAA Seafood Processing Standard Issue 5.1 is currently being benchmarked under Scope AI — Social Compliance: Manufacturing & Processing.
A division of the Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA), Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) is an international certification program based on achievable, science-based and continuously improved performance standards for the entire aquaculture production chain – including processing plants, farms, hatcheries and feed mills. BAP standards cover environmental responsibility, social accountability, food safety and animal welfare. The BAP program is based on independent audits that evaluate compliance with the BAP standards developed by GAA.
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 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 1.0 is currently being benchmarked under Scope AI — Social Compliance: Processing and Manufacturing.
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.
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.
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.