"Starbucks, Amazon and Costco rapped for weak human rights disclosure", 14 November 2019

Many of the world’s biggest listed companies including Amazon, LVMH and Qualcomm are not transparent in how they identify and address human rights issues in their business and supply chains, according to the Corporate Human Rights Benchmark...about half of 200 groups it analysed failed to show…evidence…that they are identifying and addressing human rights issues.

Amongst the worst…, Starbucks...[and]...Costco. [Neither] respond[ed]to requests for comments. 

[Norway’s] $1tn oil fund said it was selling shares in G4S over…alleged human rights violations in the Middle East. G4S said it had made “progress on our action plan to reinforce high standards…in employment recruitment and welfare…in the Middle East”.

[S]hareholder resolutions…this year included a proposal that Macy’s report on how [it] identifies human rights risks. Aviva Investors…withheld support at 40 companies...to signify displeasure at lowly CHRB rankings.

Top performers include Adidas, Rio Tinto and Unilever...[but] one in five companies included since 2017 have failed to significantly improve.

...[Amazon] said the CHRB score did not reflect its position on human rights, “[we] are committed to ensuring the people, workers, and communities that support our entire value chain are treated with fundamental dignity”

...Starbucks also disputed the CHRB's assessment, adding it has…“zero tolerance for human rights abuses…”.

...LVMH…and Qualcomm…did not respond to requests for comment.