US Customs and Border Protection Issues Region-Wide Withhold Release Order on Products Made by Slave Labor in Xinjiang
Effective January 13 at all U.S. ports of entry, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will detain cotton products and tomato products produced in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The agency identified the following forced labor indicators through the course of its investigation: debt bondage, restriction of movement, isolation, intimidation and threats, withholding of wages, and abusive living and working conditions. Read more.
US bans second Malaysian palm oil giant over forced labor
The U.S. said it will ban all shipments of palm oil from one of the world’s biggest producers after finding indicators of forced labor and other abuses on plantations that feed into the supply chains of some of America’s most famous food and cosmetic companies.Their investigation “reasonably indicates” abuses against workers that included physical and sexual violence, restriction of movement, intimidation and threats, debt bondage, withholding of wages and excessive overtime. Some of the problems appeared to be systemic, occurring on numerous plantations, which stretch across wide swaths of the country. Read more.
Unilever to require all suppliers to pay living wage
Unilever, which is behind major brands including Marmite and Dove, will require anyone that provides goods and services to the firm to pay at least a “living wage or income” by 2030, as part of its plans towards helping to build a more equitable and inclusive society. It will work with suppliers, businesses, government and NGOs to help encourage the global uptake of living wage practices. Read more.
US Department of Labor will award $4 million grant to improve worker wights in rural sectors of the Indo-Pacific with a focus on women's rights
The project seeks to improve compliance with labor standards, including occupational safety and health standards, and to address wage inequality and workplace discrimination against women in targeted rural sectors in the Philippines and other Indo-Pacific countries. The International Labor Organization will develop and distribute tools that enable employers, workers and government bodies in Indo-Pacific countries to adhere to labor practices consistent with labor standards. Read more.
Reimagined Supply Chains Emerge From Global Crisis as Enterprises Focus on Data Insights to Mitigate Risk
New research from Orange Business Services found that the supply chains in 40% of multinational corporations were unable to cope with the crisis created by the pandemic. The survey of 320 enterprises, focusing on the manufacturing, transport and logistics sectors, revealed that the global crisis has dramatically changed attitudes to risk. Read more.
Serai Launches End-to-End Supply Chain Traceability Solution for the Apparel Industry
Serai, a network-based digital B2B platform by HSBC, has launched a traceability solution that allows apparel businesses to track cotton and other raw materials going into their product. Businesses can use the new solution to trace order flow throughout the supply chain, manage supply chain risks and collect data for compliance needs. Serai helps businesses map upstream suppliers and track environmental, sustainability and governance (ESG) commitments. Read more.
Marks and Spencer: Taking action to support workers in our supply chains
Marks and Spencer has responded to a gap analysis report complied by Oxfam titled "Working in Marks and Spencer's Food and Footwear Supply Chains". In their response, they lay out their plan to take immediate action on some of the complaints that came up in the report. According to Carmel McQuaid, Head of Sustainable Business, the biggest takeway upon reading the report is that there must be additional worker-management dialogue to ensure nothing is falling through the cracks in an audit. Read more.
A new vision for the garment industry. What next?
On January 14, 270 experts in the garment sector met online for a global event to determine a new vision for the global garment industry. The Industry We Want raised a number of priorities, including ensuring a payment safety net for workers; moving away from initiatives created by brands, for brands, and towards a common sustainability agenda via real partnerships based on mutual transparency, and where suppliers’ and manufacturers’ voices are heard too; and the importance of long-term partnerships with manufacturers. Read more.
Aramark Sets New Climate Goal, Commits To Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions By 15% By The End Of 2025
Aramark has announced its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15% by the end of 2025 (from its 2019 baseline) in the United States.This commitment was announced along with the Company’s 2020 Be Well. Do Well. Impact Report, which also provides details on its efforts to enable equity and wellbeing for millions of people. Read more.
Apple will modify executive bonuses based on environmental values in 2021
Apple Inc said in its annual proxy filing that it will modify executive cash bonuses based on whether the executives act within the company’s social and environmental values. Apple lists six values that include environmental practices such as using recycled materials in products, diversity and inclusion among its workforce and the privacy and security of its devices. Read more.
Amcor to help brands communicate packaging carbon footprint reductions through independent labelling from the Carbon Trust
Amcor, a global leader in packaging, announced the 'Reducing CO2 Packaging' Label from the Carbon Trust can now be printed on Amcor packaging to demonstrate significant carbon footprint reductions. It's part of the company's lifecycle assessment service, which enables brands to measure their packaging's carbon footprint from raw materials through end-of-use. The announcement comes at a time when sustainability is an increasingly important factor in consumers' purchasing decisions. Carbon labelling is a way for brands to demonstrate their contributions to a lower carbon economy. Read more.
Accenture and Salesforce Expand Partnership to Help Companies Embed Sustainability into the Core of their Business
Accenture and Salesforce are expanding their alliance to help companies embed sustainability into their business, meet growing customer and stakeholder expectations, and contribute to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Read more.
Australian red meat now fully traceable across supply chain
Independent regulator Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) has partnered with Oritain to develop ‘origin fingerprints’ for Australian beef and lamb.Upon completion, the Australian red meat industry and its stakeholders will be able to scientifically verify and authenticate Australian beef and lamb products from anywhere in global supply chains. Read more.
Nestlé sets goal of 100% responsibly sourced coffee by 2025
Nestlé has pledged to increase its sustainability efforts. By 2025, Nescafé expects to have 100% responsibly sourced coffee, tracing it back to an identified farmer group. The coffee is verified or certified by independent organizations. Nescafé will reduce and remove carbon emissions where it sources coffee and throughout its operations. Nescafé will also use environmentally friendly packaging. These are concrete steps that – among many others help Nestlé reach its 2025 packaging commitment and its 2050 net-zero ambition.Read more.
WayCool Foods, IIT-Hyderabad join hands to combat food wastage through packaging
Both WayCool Foods and IIT-H will be working together to develop antimicrobial food packaging material by using biopolymers. The packaging solution aims to enhance the shelf life of fruits and vegetables. For this, WayCool will be investing around Rs 2 million over three years in this association. Read more.
Credits:
Created with an image by Daria-Yakovleva - "plum box fruit"