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Commitments & Achievements

Harmonising standards across the industry

Committed to Building Trust in the Industry

Ensuring that supply chains respect sustainability standards at all levels is key to protecting people, products and the planet, whether supply chains are large or small, global or local, at-sea or on land. Third-party auditing, monitoring and certification schemes offer a sense of confidence to suppliers, buyers and consumers, but with each scheme taking its own approach to evaluating sustainability, the process of choosing a scheme can be confusing when presented with hundreds of options to choose from. 

The Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) builds confidence in sustainability standards and audits by recognising third-party auditing, monitoring and certification schemes that cover key sustainability requirements and apply relevant governance and verification practices. In only three years, the SSCI has become a leading industry source for defining social sustainability criteria with its large network of SSCI members, stakeholders, and partners.

The SSCI is committed to building trust in the consumer goods industry by benchmarking third-party auditing, monitoring and certification schemes, focusing first on social compliance. The SSCI currently operates a social compliance benchmark for schemes covering activities in the Manufacturing & Processing, At-Sea Operations, and Primary Production sectors. In the future, SSCI will also evaluate schemes on environmental compliance.

Building Trust and Alignment

With hundreds of schemes on the market, each with their own sustainability standards and methodologies, choosing a programme can be challenging. The SSCI is committed to providing trusted and clear guidance on which programmes meet key sustainability standards and employ key governance and verification practices.

View SSCI-Recognised Schemes

Achievements

  • The CGF Officially Launches the SSCI

    Following a decision made by the CGF Board of Directors, the SSCI is launched. Two Technical Working Groups are created to develop the benchmark criteria on Social and Scheme Management Compliance under the SSCI’s first benchmarking scope on Manufacturing & Processing. More than 50 selected stakeholders are engaged for additional feedback and expert comments.

  • The SSCI Launches Partnership with the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative

    The SCCI announces its partnership with the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) to collaborate and develop a benchmarking scope for the seafood industry at the Seafood Expo Global in Brussels.

  • The SSCI Launches First Benchmark Scope for Manufacturing & Processing Sector

    The SSCI publishes its first benchmarking requirements on Social and Scheme Management Criteria under its Manufacturing & Processing scope.

  • First Two Schemes Apply for SSCI Recognition; the SSCI Launches Public Consultation on At-Sea Operations Criteria

    The SSCI receives its first benchmarking applications, from GAA Best Aquaculture Practices and the BRCGS, under its Manufacturing & Processing Scope. In collaboration with the GSSI, the SSCI also launches a 60-day public consultation on the criteria for its At-Sea Operations scope. 

  • The SSCI Opens Social Benchmark to Fishing, Agriculture and Aquaculture Sectors with New At-Sea Operations and Primary Production Scopes

    The SSCI opens its social benchmark to the fishing, agriculture and land-based aquaculture sectors with the launch of benchmark requirements for its new At-Sea Operations and Primary Production scopes. The benchmark requirements, which include Social and Scheme Management Criteria, have been developed in close collaboration with the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI), bringing together the SSCI’s experience in supply chain social compliance and the GSSI’s expertise in the seafood sector, with support from IDH, the Sustainable Trade Initiative.

  • First Scheme Receives SSCI Recognition: BRCGS

    The SSCI announced that BRCGS completed the benchmarking process and achieved SSCI recognition against the SSCI Benchmarking Requirements for Processing & Manufacturing Version 1.0. As the first scheme to be recognised, BRCGS demonstrated leadership in the effort to build credibility among sustainability standards worldwide.

  • The CGF Board Issues Statement Asking Scheme Owners to Undergo SSCI Benchmark

    CEO members of  the CGF Board of Directors publishes a statement encouraging relevant supply chain partners to undertake the Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) benchmarking process by the end of 2023. The statement highlights the CGF Board’s ambition to benefit the wider industry by ensuring that third-party certification schemes and programmes are meeting evolving global supply chain due diligence requirements.

  • The SSCI Releases New Benchmark Criteria for Manufacturing & Processing Scope

    Following a 30-day public consultation, the SSCI releases SSCI Processing and Manufacturing Scope Benchmarking Requirements Version 1.1, covering:

    Part I: Benchmarking Process 
    Part II: Requirements for the Management of Schemes

  • The SSCI Initiates Work to Benchmark Environmental Sustainability Certification Schemes

    The SSCI announces it is extending its sphere of influence to third-party environmental sustainability audit, monitoring, and certification schemes. With the support from the CGF’s member companies’ CEOs and the experience gained assessing an increasing number of schemes against the SSCI’s social benchmark scopes, the SSCI’s Steering Committee voted in July 2022 in favour of resuming work on the development of a scope within the SSCI Benchmarking Requirements addressing environmental sustainability.

  • Second Scheme Achieves SSCI Recognition: Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard

    The SSCI announces the Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard (RFVS) has completed the benchmarking process and achieved SSCI Recognition against the SSCI Benchmarking Requirements for At-Sea Operations Version 1.0. As the first scheme to be recognised under this scope, RFVS demonstrates leadership and excellence in the fishing sector.

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