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:
By the end of 2020, we had integrated 100 percent of tier 1 production facilities in high-risk countries into the REWE Group’s social improvement program.
By 2030, one hundred percent of strategic suppliers to REWE and PENNY in Germany will have completed our Capacity Building training program.
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.
