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...
News Update03 Dec 2024Forest Positive
Advancing Forest Positive Landscapes with SourceUp The Consumer Goods Forum’s (CGF) Forest Positive Coalition of Action (FPC), a collective of 22 of the world’s largest consumer goods retailers and manufacturers, is advancing its mission to eliminate deforestation, forest conversion, and degradation...
News Update03 Dec 2024Plastic Waste
Advancing the Global Plastics Treaty: Reflections from INC-5 Cédric Dever, Director of The Consumer Goods Forum’s (CGF) Plastic Waste Coalition of Action, has returned from a pivotal week in Busan, where he participated in the 5th session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5)...
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...
News Update28 Nov 2024Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative
SIZA Successfully Completes Its Annual SSCI Monitoring Of Continuous Alignment Process The Consumer Goods Forum’s (CGF) Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) is pleased to announce that SIZA, the Sustainability Initiative of South Africa, completed its annual Monitoring of Continued Alignment process, required for maintaining its SSCI Recognition. SIZA’s...
News Update20 Nov 2024Forest Positive
Commodity Value Chain Actors Unite For Forest Positive Cerrado Landscapes “The science is undeniable: shifting to responsible land use and land management practices, including deforestation- and conversion-free (DCF) commodity production, is key to achieving the balance between production and conservation in Brazil’s crucial Cerrado region.”...
News Update14 Nov 2024Towards Net Zero
CGF and Bain & Company Drive Sustainability Dialogue at CIIE 2024 At the 7th CIIE in Shanghai, The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) and Bain & Company co-hosted a roundtable focusing on sustainable consumption and green transition, launching The CGF China Green Transition initiative. Key discussions included...
News Update08 Nov 2024Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative
SSCI Benchmark Consultation Opens For WIETA The Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) is happy to announce the opening of a public stakeholder consultation for the Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trade Association (WIETA), as it advances in the SSCI Benchmark process. WIETA...
News Update06 Nov 2024Plastic Waste
CGF Plastic Waste Director Cedric Dever Speaks on Sustainability and Innovation at the Retail Sustainability Conference in Canada Cedric Dever, Director of the Plastic Waste Coalition of Action at The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF), recently participated in a dynamic panel discussion at the Retail Sustainability Conference in Canada on October 16th. Joined by...
News Update05 Nov 2024Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative
The Consumer Goods Forum’s Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative Coalition Holds Stakeholder events In Atlanta Industry leaders convened in Atlanta last month for the The Consumer Goods Forum’s Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) Coalition Steering Committee meeting. Key discussions revolved around responsible sourcing, collaboration opportunities, and aligning with environmental and...
News Update05 Nov 2024Forest Positive
Forest Positive Coalition Holds In-Person Stakeholder Engagement Workshop In Virginia On 10 October 2024, the Consumer Goods Forum’s (CGF) Forest Positive Coalition (FPC) held a successful in-person workshop, bringing together over 20 key stakeholder companies. The Coalition recognises that the fight against deforestation requires collective...
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 Update14 Oct 2024Plastic Waste
Plastic Waste Coalition Completes 2024 Review of Golden Design Rules for Plastic Packaging The Consumer Goods Forum’s (CGF) Plastic Waste Coalition is pleased to announce the successful completion of the 2024 review of the Golden Design Rules (GDRs) for plastic packaging. The GDRs are nine simple yet powerful packaging design principles...
News Update06 Oct 2024E2E Value Chain
IOO·HORIZON – CGF’s Annual Data and Supply Chain Conference Explores the Intersection of Data, Sustainability and Supply Chain Transformation SPAIN, 5TH OCTOBER 2024: The Consumer Goods Forum’s (CGF)’s Product Data Coalition of Action hosted the 1OO·HORIZON conference from 3rd to the 5th October held across various locations in the Catalan countryside. The conference enables...
News Update30 Sep 2024Corporate
Leading the Charge on Climate and Sustainability: The CGF at New York Climate Week 2024 As New York Climate Week (NYCW) 2024 has now come to an end, The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) reflects on a week of impactful discussions and collaborations centered on climate action. Throughout the event, the...
News Update19 Sep 2024Corporate
The CGF at New York Climate Week 2024: Climate Action at the Core of Our Sustainability Vision As the world gathers for New York Climate Week (NYCW) 2024, The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) is ready to bring together our global network of retailers and manufacturers to drive meaningful progress toward one unifying...
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.
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.
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.