We work hard with our supply chain partners to source raw materials, goods and services ethically. Our Human Rights and Ethical Trading (HRET) policy applies to all our business units and supply chain partners.
We tested our HRET policy by conducting pilot visits with suppliers to countries where we source key ingredients. These pilot studies also helped us develop our HRET Management Communication Programme.
We hold training sessions for our procurement staff to share the findings of the pilot studies and to equip them with tools to communicate our policy and standards to our suppliers.
We communicate our HRET policy and Ethical Sourcing Standards to all suppliers, including detailed engagement with key suppliers.
Our Ethical Sourcing Standards, Working with suppliers, has been published in English, French, Indonesian Bhasa, Brazilian-Portuguese and Spanish.
Working with suppliers
Ethical trading and respect for human rights are core inherited values at Cadbury where we have long sought to treat our suppliers justly. We not only believe that this is the right thing to do, we know it also makes sound business sense. Good practice in our supply chain underpins the integrity, sustainability, quality and safety of our products.
The quality and consumer appeal of our products and their longterm sustainability depends among other important considerations, on the productive and mutually beneficial partnerships we forge with our supply chain partners around the world.
For quality and food safety we require all suppliers to agree to meet the requirements of the Cadbury Supplier Standard
.
Our supplier approval strategy focuses on working with suppliers who meet the requirements of one of the following international food safety standards:
- BRC Global Standard for Food Safety issue 5
- BRC Global Standard for Packaging
- IFS Standard
- Dutch HACCP
- SQF 2000
Our ethical sourcing strategy focuses on working with our suppliers to continue to improve workplace conditions and sustainable agriculture. Our supplier assessment and auditing is built on positive engagement and working collaboratively with our supply chain partners. Its aim is to ensure our suppliers meet our Ethical Sourcing Standards.
We are developing specialist auditing support as well as training our procurement teams on ethical sourcing and have begun to secure some audit activity through locally based NGOs. It is through such activity that we will help build auditing and assessment capacity in local markets where we benefit from local understanding.
We are working collaboratively with our suppliers to help make their own systems more effective and to bring about improvements. This includes holding meetings with individual suppliers, and with supplier groups, and working with them to develop our ethical sourcing standards and sustainability. Working with suppliers in this way also helps them create value for themselves and their organisations.
Our ethical sourcing standards document can be found below:
Palm Oil
Palm Oil is used by most major food and consumer goods manufacturers, and widely established as a core ingredient, for example in margarine, soap and many other products. For confectionery, a very small amount of Palm Oil is used in our products, and is key for consumer preferred taste and texture profile.
Cadbury are a very small user of Palm Oil, typically less than 0.1% of global supply.
Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and Coalition on Sustainable Palm Oil
The RSPO was formed in 2004, and Cadbury have been active board members since its inception. We are also members of the Coalition on Sustainable Palm Oil.
Both groups have a range of board members from manufacturers (who use Palm Oil), suppliers and processors, major retailers and the NGO community (a full list of members can be found at www.rspo.org).
The RSPO has recently established principles and criteria for certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO) production. GreenPalm is one of the systems that conforms to this, and which supports the delivery of CSPO to the market. Cadbury is sourcing its palm oil to the GreenPalm system, while we also work to strengthen supply systems. Through this and the broader work of the RSPO and Coalition on Sustainable Palm Oil, we are supporting the sustainable practices of individual palm oil producers.
Cadbury’s position
Like all our ingredients, Cadbury is committed to ethical and sustainable sourcing of palm oil. This year (2009) we will have GreenPalm certificates for all of the palm oil that we purchase for our products. We will continue to renew these as we work with the RSPO to develop a practicable, segregated supply chain by 2014.
Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard
WWF announced the results of their first ever Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard in October 2009. Cadbury are pleased that they have been placed in the top ten of the 59 companies that were assessed. Their assessment of us was made on the basis of our current policies, plans for the future, and our engagement with the RSPO.
More information
If you want more information about GreenPalm, the RSPO and certification you can contact:
RSPO
Dr Rao, Executive Director
Direct Line: +60 3 6203 5969
Email: rspo@rspo.rg
Web: www.rspo.org
GreenPalm
Bob Norman, General Manager
Direct Line: +44 1482 332 013
Email: bob.norman@greenpalm.org
Web: www.greenpalm.org