Hershey's response on alleged palm oil supply chain violations
...As shared with Global Witness in previous investigations, The Hershey Company takes all allegations of No Deforestation, No Peat and No Exploitation (NDPE) violations very seriously. We are aware of the allegations against Brasil Biofuels and have followed up with direct suppliers, as shared in our Palm Oil Grievance Log. We have initiated the process with direct suppliers around Agropalma.
Since 2013, Hershey has been committed to achieving a traceable and sustainable NDPE palm oil supply chain in line with our Responsible Palm Oil Sourcing Policy as well as our Supplier Code of Conduct, No Deforestation Policy and Human Rights Policy. We continue to communicate with our suppliers that remaining compliant with our NDPE policy is not optional.
Our Palm Policy applies to our entire supply chain, including direct suppliers and their parent and sister companies...
...we respond:
- The Hershey Company does not purchase oil palm products from any palm oil mills directly. We purchase oil palm products through seven suppliers that are published on our website: AAK, Bunge, Cargill, Fuji, Gemini, Intercontinental Specialty Fats, and Wilmar.
- Through direct suppliers, AAK and Cargill, we show indirect links to Agropalma and Brasil Biofuels.
- As noted above, we have already started our grievance investigation process with Cargill as it relates to Brasil Biofuels and published in our Palm Oil Grievance Log. We do understand that Cargill has been engaging Brasil Biofuels since 2014 to support its transformation, as described on Cargill’s public grievance log.
- Since receiving this letter, we have also initiated our grievance investigation on Agropalma with AAK and Cargill who are following up with their direct suppliers. This case will be formally logged in our grievance log which is updated monthly.
- We encourage Global Witness to share evidence where possible to our supply chain partners who are following up with their direct suppliers and to file any allegations linked to RSPO certified plantations and mills of Agropalma with the RSPO’s Complaint System. In this way, RSPO can conduct official and thorough investigations into the allegations...
