Blog24 Sep 2019Human Rights
Facilitating a Race to the ‘Top’ for Business in Tackling Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Last year one of the most famous brands in the world, Apple, won the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s Stop Slavery Award, alongside The Consumer Goods Forum member, Unilever. The Stop Slavery Award does not credit either...
News Update02 Jul 2017
Social Sustainability Director to Speak at Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Conference We are delighted to confirm that Didier Bergeret, our Social Sustainability Director, has been invited to speak at the upcoming “The Public-Private Partnership in the Fight Against Human Trafficking” Conference in Moscow, which runs from...
News Update28 Feb 2018Human Rights
CGF Social Sustainability Initiative Serves on Advisory Board to the ILO Global Business Network On 6th February, CGF Social Sustainability Director, Didier Bergeret attended the US Consultation as part of his role on the Advisory Board to the ILO Global Business Network on Forced Labour and Human Trafficking. During...
News Update28 Mar 2018People
CGF Social Sustainability Director Didier Bergeret took part in panel discussion at UN Women’s 2018 Conference in New York On March 9th, The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF)’s Social Sustainability Director Didier Bergeret took part in a panel discussion at a conference co-hosted by the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women (UN Trust...
Blog27 Jul 2017Human Rights
Giving a Voice to Those with None – My Story and the Fight Against Modern Day Slavery Today, the International Labour Organization (ILO) states forced labour in the private economy generates US $150 billion in illegal profits per year, making it the world’s most profitable crime. There are almost 19 million victims...
Press Release15 Jun 2018People
The Future We Want Depends on Innovative Policies, Responsible Business Conduct and People-Centred Technology SINGAPORE, 15th June 2018 – ILO Director-General Guy Ryder has urged global business leaders to work together with the United Nations to build a future of work that is equitable and harnesses technology to enhance...
News Update28 Jun 2018People
CGF Hosts Global Forum on Responsible Recruitment and Employment with IHRB in Singapore The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) and the Institute for Human Rights and Business, alongside key partners, teamed up to host the 2018 Global Forum on Responsible Recruitment & Employment on 11th and 12th June in...
News Update23 Jun 2017
CGF Co-Hosts Berlin Event “Partnerships to End Forced Labour in Supply Chains” Over 120 experts came together to explore avenues of collaboration and partnerships in support of the eradication of forced labour. This event, titled Partnerships to End Forced Labour in Supply Chains, recognised the need for cross sectoral...
Blog16 Dec 2021Human Rights
Fighting Forced Labour of Children: First Steps for Businesses As we see out the 2021 International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour, one thing is clear: it’s time to step up action. Child labour has worsened. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO)...
News Update05 Mar 2018People
CGF Social Sustainability Director, Didier Bergeret speaks at “B20 Priorities and Challenges” seminar at Argentinian Embassy, London. CGF Social Sustainability Director, Didier Bergeret speaks at “B20 Priorities and Challenges” seminar at Argentinian Embassy, London. The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) was pleased to participate in “B20 Priorities and Challenges”, a seminar hosted by...
News Update12 Jun 2025Corporate
Digital Reinvention, Ethical Supply Chains and Leadership Takes Focus at The Consumer Goods Forum’s Global Summit Day 2 in Amsterdam From scaling AI to safeguarding human rights, Day 2 of the Consumer Goods Forum’s Global Summit brought together global leaders to explore how the industry is evolving in response to today’s complex challenges. While the...
News Update02 Dec 2024Human Rights
Human Rights Coalition Strengthening Ethical Recruitment Practices with Malaysian Government On 6-7 November 2024, a pivotal multi-stakeholder roundtable took place in Putrajaya, Malaysia, hosted by the Malaysian Government, to advance ethical recruitment practices and tackle forced labour. The event brought together government representatives from four...
Blog07 Oct 2021Human Rights
Stronger Together in Our Fight Against Forced Labor The social and economic devastation of the Covid pandemic has eroded years of progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2020 global labor income fell by USD $3.7 trillion; over 100 million people were...
News Update13 Jun 2016
Social Sustainability Director to Speak at NY Event on Partnerships to End Forced Labour in Supply Chains Didier Bergeret, director of the GSCP and the CGF’s work on social sustainability, will be joining a distinguished list of speakers at the upcoming “Partnerships to End Forced Labour in Supply Chains” event at the...
News Update13 Aug 2018People
Social Sustainability Director Didier Bergeret Attends Bali Process Government and Business Forum On 6th and 7th August, Didier Bergeret, Social Sustainability Director at The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) attended the second Bali Process Government and Business Forum, an important platform enabling public and private sector leaders across...
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...
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.