These expectations are clearly detailed in our Supplier Code of Conduct — which serves as the basis for how we evaluate and help our suppliers meet our high ethical and quality standards in the procurement of our product ingredients and materials.
We aim to continuously enhance our responsible and ethical sourcing practices in line with goals and objectives and with stakeholder expectations. This means reviewing our relevant policies, working closely with our brands and suppliers, and collaborating with industry groups and peers — such as the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and the Natural Resources Stewardship Circle (NRSC) — to improve supplier practices and performance.
Our work in this area is governed by our Global Supplier Relations (GSR) team, which has representatives in each of our regions. The GSR team is responsible for ensuring that the suppliers with whom we do business meet or exceed applicable environmental, human rights, labor and health and safety laws and regulations in countries where we do business.
Supplier Sustainability Assessment
To evaluate supplier sustainability performance, we use a number of tools. For instance, our raw-material suppliers complete an online Green Chemistry sustainability assessment. Our packaging-component suppliers and third-party manufacturers are asked to complete a Sustainability Scorecard, which assesses their environmental impacts.
