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Embedding human rights in supply chains: Reflections from our AIM-Progress member meeting
Author: Kathy Presto
Region
Global
Date
8 November 2024
Setting the stage for ethical progress
HH Global recently hosted the AIM-Progress member meeting at our Chicago office, focusing on “embedding human rights in supply chains and setting ourselves up for success.” This gathering was more than just another industry event – it underscored our commitment to ethical business practices and continuous improvement of our global supply chains.
Since joining AIM-Progress in 2020, our goal has been to align with the best practices in Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (HREDD) and responsible sourcing. Many of the world’s leading brands are part of this initiative, and as one of only 12 or 13 suppliers in the group, we are in a unique position to learn from their expertise and integrate those insights into our operations.
AIM-Progress: A beacon for responsible sourcing
AIM-Progress is a global forum of leading FMCG companies and suppliers committed to promoting responsible sourcing. Supported by the AIM-European Brands Association, the organization represents a collective effort to positively impact lives, uphold human rights and deliver value across the industry. As one of the largest supplier groups among the members, our involvement reflects our contribution to this global conversation.
A gathering of industry leaders
The AIM-Progress meeting in Chicago brought together a diverse group of industry leaders and experts, offering a unique opportunity to share best practices and discuss and measure the evolving challenges of implementing HREDD in their supply chains.
AIM-Progress was delighted to host our 2024 US member event at HH Global’s office in Chicago. Thanks to their hospitality, we convened more than 50 members and expert speakers to progress collaboration in human rights and share learning on topics that ranged from assessing human rights risks to implementing effective joint remedies for human rights issues. Special thanks to Sean and Ranja, who did a fantastic job in helping us create an open, forward-thinking and inspirational meeting that resulted in practical actions for our members and network to pursue.
Louise Herring, Executive Director,
AIM-Progress
Key insights: Driving supply chain ethical practices
Discussions from the member meeting highlighted three areas central to shaping the future of ethical supply chain management:
1. Organizational engagement: Embedding human rights goals across functions
One of the most important takeaways from the meeting was the need to embed human rights and supply chain goals at every level of an organization. It’s not enough to isolate these efforts within responsible sourcing teams – they must be integrated into the core functions of the company, particularly procurement. Engaging all departments in this mission ensures a unified approach to addressing human rights issues, rather than merely responding to crises. This is especially important as a new generation of talented people, passionate about social justice, enters the workforce.
It was very encouraging to witness the combined impact of attendees and their affiliated companies as they addressed human rights challenges within supply chains. Equally significant was their commitment to developing scalable solutions, tools and resources to tackle these issues.
Sean Carr, Director of Sustainability, Americas,
HH Global – host presenter
2. Collaboration and innovation: Joint remediation among businesses
This spirit of collaboration was evident throughout the meeting, highlighting the shared commitment to driving positive change. Solving human rights challenges requires joint efforts between brands and suppliers. While companies may not share the same suppliers, they often face similar issues. Sharing remediation strategies and best practices can benefit the entire industry, helping to eliminate injustices more effectively.
3. An evolving landscape: Grievance mechanisms
Also high on the agenda was the need to establish effective grievance mechanisms, essential for early risk identification, prevention and remediation – specifically, the need to hear directly from workers who face injustices. Their voices must guide the development of these systems to ensure they are effective and responsive to real needs. Furthermore, grievance mechanisms should be co-designed with the users in mind, ensuring they are fit for purpose across diverse supply chains.
Having a robust grievance mechanism which is led by the workers … as only they know what they need ... and as brands, we must be open to listen while introducing grievance mechanisms and worker voice programs in our supply chains.
Ranja Sengupta, Global Responsible Sourcing Lead,
HH Global – host presenter
Leading the charge for sustainable practices
Our commitment to human rights and sustainable practices is evident in our recent achievements, including our EcoVadis Gold Sustainability Rating for 2024. This award places us among the top 5% of large companies globally.
Our ESG initiatives align closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and 10: Reduced Inequalities. By integrating these goals into our operations, we are not only supporting global sustainability efforts but also demonstrating that businesses can drive positive change.
Moving forward with trust
The AIM-Progress member meeting provided valuable insights into the importance of embedding human rights across all levels of an organization, encouraging collaboration between brands and suppliers and creating more inclusive and effective grievance mechanisms.
Trust was a word which was used repeatedly: building trusting relationships between business partners, within our organizations and our supply chains, is an imperative requirement to combat the challenges.
Ranja Sengupta, Global Responsible Sourcing Lead,
HH Global – host presenter
At HH Global, we remain dedicated to advancing human rights and sustainable practices through future initiatives. Our commitment to these principles not only strengthens our business but also contributes to building a more ethical and equitable world.
Learn more about our initiatives in responsible sourcing and sustainable practices here.
Kathy Presto
Chief Procurement Officer
Kathy is responsible for defining and implementing the overall strategic sourcing and category management approach globally. She is a skilled senior executive with over 30 years of experience in procurement and supply chain management. Kathy leads the Strategic Sourcing function to significantly increase value through client discovery and the development of supplier capabilities across the broad range of HH Global’s operational, service and delivery channels. She oversees supplier governance including the establishment and expansion of our diverse and sustainable supply chain, as well as supply chain risk mitigation. Her team is also responsible for client and supplier business and sourcing analytics, management information and business intelligence reporting and guides our ESG and Sustainability initiatives to shape a more responsible future for generations to come.
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