Ethical Sourcing
In December 2000 we adopted a Human Rights and Ethical Trading policy, which was supported by a series of pilot programmes to help us understand how the policy can be applied in different local settings.
A key part of developing an HRET programme was an initial risk assessment, started in 2001. This review included owned and operated businesses in various countries around the world. From this review, five countries were selected for in depth HRET pilot studies: China, Ghana, Indonesia, Mexico and Turkey.
The selection was based on the potential human rights issues associated with the countries and the importance of the commodities sourced to our brands. Between 2001 and 2003, we made five pilot study visits and what we learned has helped to develop our broad HRET Supplier Communication Programme.
| Ghana |
May 2001 |
Cadbury Ghana |
Cocoa |
| Turkey |
November 2001 |
None (trip was prior to acquisition of Kent business) |
Hazel nuts
Vine fruit |
| Indonesia |
September 2002 |
Cadbury Indonesia |
Quinine
Cocoa |
| China |
September 2002 |
Cadbury Food Company
Trebor Wuxi Confectionery |
Strawberries |
HRET working group members made the pilot visits, working in collaboration with local staff to visit 15 key global suppliers and engage in dialogue with 82 organisations locally. These ranged from local branches of multi-lateral and local government agencies to local non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
The visits were also useful in evaluating any risks, and understanding how our HRET Policy would apply in different countries by experiencing the cultural context in which our local divisions operate.
Additionally, a series of discussions was held with a major International commodity supplier to review its approach to ethical sourcing issues, and the management systems in place to deal with them.