OUR COMMITMENT: Sourcing high quality cocoa in the village of Bonikro in Côte d’Ivoire.Nestlé has become the first company in the food industry to join the Fair Labor Association (FLA) following the approval of its application by the association’s board.
The FLA is a non-profit multi-stakeholder initiative that works with major companies to improve working conditions in their supply chains.
In a letter to the FLA which formed part of the company’s application, Nestlé’s Chief Executive Paul Bulcke made clear the company’s commitment to ensuring the sourcing of raw materials met the highest possible standards.
‘We request, and strive to ensure, that our suppliers respect and uphold human rights’, he wrote.
The first collaborations
Work is already underway on a project to examine the supply of cocoa for Nestlé in Côte d’Ivoire.
The FLA sent independent experts to the West African country in January to attempt to map the company’s cocoa supply chain.
The results of that exercise will be made public in due course.
Nestlé piloted this kind of collaboration last year in Turkey when it asked the FLA to map the hazelnut supply chain there.
Today Nestlé is publishing a multi-year action plan drawn up in response to areas of concern the FLA highlighted in their report, also published today on the Fair Labor Association website.
Nestlé supplier code
Nestlé will work with the FLA to ensure the company’s suppliers can implement the Nestlé Supplier Code all the way through the hazelnut supply chain in Turkey.
This code sets out minimum requirements for issues like sustainability, labour standards, health and safety, and business integrity.
Nestlé is also calling on other companies in the sector to get together to promote responsible sourcing.
Related information
Nestlé Action Plan on the Responsible Sourcing of Hazelnuts from Turkey (pdf, 551 Kb)
Fair Labor Association website
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Nestlé becomes first food company to partner with the Fair Labor Association
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