The REWE Group is committed to clear rules for both our own business practices and those along our supply chains worldwide. We have firmly established that commitment in our human rights policy statement and in our fairness guidelines. We source many products and product ingredients through supply chains that, in some cases, stretch across several countries. In particular, the risk of violations of labour and welfare standards is higher in raw materials and agricultural production. For that reason, we have for years advocated for increased human rights protections in these areas and for the promotion of fair trade. We conduct risk analyses and use raw materials that have been certified by standards organizations like Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade for our private label brands. We also participate in multi-stakeholder initiatives like the German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa, and the Forum for Sustainable Palm Oil. We also run our own projects and training programmes within our supply chains.
Protecting human rights
Our goals:
Since 2020, we had integrated 100 percent of tier 1 production facilities in high-risk countries into the REWE Group’s social improvement program.
Every year, at least 10 production sites from our own-brand supply chains in the food and non-food sectors take part in our Factory Improvement Training
Goal achieved: By the end of 2025, the REWE Group will have launched a complaints system in all relevant supply chains.
Four stages to fairness
The REWE Group employs a four-stage process to systematically identify, minimize, and prevent potentially negative human rights implications of our business activities.
Stage 1: We conduct thorough risk and hot-spot analyses to identify possible impacts.
Stage 2: From the insights gained in stage 1, we identify key issues and raw materials that carry a risk of violations of labour and social standards. The two topics on which our efforts focus are “child labour and forced labour” and “living wages and income.”
Stage 3: We develop measures to reduce negative impacts. Some of these measures are undertaken within the REWE Group, for instance training our purchasers. Others are taken in our supply chains, implementing projects, or requiring suppliers to use certified raw materials. Our work also extends beyond our own supply chains, for instance, by collaborating on the further development of standards organizations.
Stage 4: We monitor and evaluate the above activities and then apply the findings to continually develop the measures.
Clear commitment to human rights
In April 2019, the REWE Group published a policy statement on human rights in which we commit to clear rules for our own business activities and our global supply chains. Our comprehensive responsibility is also reflected in our Guideline on Fairness, where we express our commitment to strengthening human rights, improving working conditions, and promoting fair trade within the supply chains for our private label products. Our Sustainability Report describes the principles and policies as well as measures we are taking to implement them.
