The REP Wrap: Nestle kicks off project on labour rights
Your weekly summary of corporate sustainability news.
Nestle has agreed to work with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to help safeguard workers in coffee supply chains in Latin America. The two-year project will see ILO convene governments, coffee farmers and workers’ bodies to establish ways to improve conditions. Focus areas will include recruitment practices and health & safety.
Mars has published a paper about the future of rice production this week, as part of its efforts to promote water-efficient, climate-smart agriculture practices – which includes a commitment to invest $20m into the space by 2030. Most rice farmers told researchers they didn’t want their children to take up the profession because it was becoming more difficult. Rice yields are estimated to have dropped by 4.3% on average each year since 1980 as a result of floods, accelerating since 2000. Mars supply chain chief Chris Sackree said “the challenge is no longer to prove that climate‑smart agriculture works […] The real opportunity now lies in creating the economic incentives and market conditions that make farmers want to adopt these practices at scale”.
The World Business Council on Sustainable Development has teamed up with Chapter Zero to develop guidance on external dependencies when pursuing a net-zero transition. The paper provides non-executive directors with a set of questions they should ask, things they should consider, and areas of policy advocacy to prioritise as they work with fellow board members on corporate strategy and climate transition plans.
GSK has published a seven-page “pathway to net zero impact on climate”, in which it confirms its plan to use carbon credits for the 20% of emissions it forecasts to have as residual in 2030, and up to 10% by 2045. The drugs giant aims to secure all its 2030 credits through “nature investments” made by 2028. It will focus on carbon removals, but buy a proportion of avoidance and reductions credits, too, it said. “For our 2045 Net Zero target, we will aim to only secure carbon removal credits.”
The Consumer Goods Forum plans to help develop regulatory guidance on global food safety for regulators this year. The initiative comes as part of the trade body’s partnership with governments on sustainability issues. CGF published a progress report this week, covering its recent work on climate, plastics, human rights, deforestation and waste.