As a complement to the initiatives carried out with our suppliers, we encourage the adoption of sustainability certifications that follow benchmarks with environmental and/or social requirements that are confirmed by external entities.
With the help of skilled auditors, the adoption of a certification scheme ensures that good social practices have been implemented throughout the value chain of our Private Brand and perishable products. Among other aspects, sustainability certification ensures that human rights principles have been respected (confirming the non-existence of child labour or forced labour) and that producers are paid fairly, thus serving as mechanisms for preventing negative material impacts on workers in the value chain.
Particularly of note, among other aspects, is the social and labour component implicit in the certification of Private Brand products and perishables by the RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) and the RTRS (Round Table on Responsible Soy Association).
RSPO certification establishes social criteria in palm oil production, including1:
- respect for human rights and human rights defenders;
- the existence of a mutually-agreed system between Jerónimo Martins and the supplier to receive complaints from affected parties;
- the prohibition of forced labour, child labour, any form of discrimination, harassment or abuse in the workplace;
- respect for the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining;
- contractual conditions in line with the legal minimum and adequate pay that affords a decent living.
RTRS certification includes the verification of social criteria in soy production2, in particular:
- prohibition of forced labour, human trafficking, child labour, discrimination, harassment or abuse in the workplace;
- fair pay and equal opportunities;
- the existence of an effective channel for reporting complaints/abuse;
- respect for labour laws: union agreements and direct employment contracts specifying payments and employment conditions (wages and benefits, number of hours worked) available in the languages understood by the workers;
- the existence of procedures, tools and training for employees relating to health and safety at work;
- respect for the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining.
Specific symbols and labelling is used on packaging to facilitate the communication of these attributes to consumers, raising their awareness and encouraging them to opt for certified products. We also promote the certification of these commodities throughout our supply chain. For instance, the palm oil used as an ingredient in our Private Brand products and perishables in Portugal and Poland, which is 100% certified according to RSPO criteria. We also promote RTRS or Proterra certification for soy, most of which is present in the feed given to animals and which, due to its indirect presence, is not communicated at the point of sale.
More information on sustainability certification is provided in “Consumers and end-users”. More detailed information on RSPO and RTRS certification in our supply chain is provided in “Fighting deforestation”.
1 To find out more about RSPO criteria, visit the organisation’s website at www.rspo.org.
2 To find out more about RTRS criteria, visit the organisation’s website at responsiblesoy.org.