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Sources of scientific data referencing The Hershey Company
| Category | Source | Code | Comment | Rating Date | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social :: Labour Rights | Free2Work | The Hershey Company has a Supplier Code of Conduct, but the content of the Code is not publicly available. It participates in the World Cocoa Foundation and International Cocoa Initiative. It is critical that the company demand visibility into its supply chain from the processors from whom it buys its cocoa. There must be a commitment to uphold the fundamental labor standards of the ILO, whether making a final product or sourcing cocoa. This should be supported by a plan for effectively remediating child labor. | June 21, 2011 | Hershey | |
| Social :: Labour Rights | Labor Rights | Since 2001, major chocolate companies including Hershey have committed to eliminating abusive child labor, forced labor and trafficking in their cocoa supply chains. However, nine years later, these abuses have continued. | June 1, 2010 | Hershey | |
| Amalgamated Research | Global Exchange | Much of Hershey’s cocoa is sourced from West Africa, a region plagued by forced labor, human trafficking, and abusive child labor. Hershey does not have a system in place to ensure that its cocoa purchased from this region is not tainted by labor rights abuses. Hershey continuously refuses to identify its cocoa suppliers; therefore, it is impossible to verify that its chocolate was not made under conditions of abusive child labor. Hershey points to various charitable donations to children in the US and programs in West Africa as examples of its social responsibility, yet has no policies in place to ensure that the cocoa used in its products is not produced with forced, trafficked, or child labor. A reputable, independent, third-party certification can ensure that a process is in place to identify and remediate labor rights abuses. For cocoa, the strongest certification system currently available is Fair Trade. Unlike many of its competitors, Hershey’s has not embraced Fair Trade certification. Only one of Hershey’s chocolate bars, from the Dagoba line it acquired in 2006, is Fair Trade Certified™. Hershey lags behind its competitors when it comes to purchasing cocoa that has been certified to meet certain labor, social, and environmental standards. Most major chocolate companies offer Fair Trade options now, and many smaller companies have been 100% Fair Trade for years. | Sept. 15, 2010 | Hershey | |
| Social :: Human Rights | Green America Responsible Shopper profile | None | Listed in the Food Industry | Aug. 22, 2011 | Hershey |
| Corporate Governance | Green America Responsible Shopper profile | None | Listed in the Food Industry | Aug. 22, 2011 | Hershey |
| Social :: Human Rights | 100% on Corporate Equality Index | Company listed under the Food & Beverages category. | Jan. 1, 2011 | Hershey | |
| Social :: Human Rights | Free2Work | Score:8/48 | Jan. 1, 2010 | Hershey | |
| Social :: Labour Rights | Green America Responsible Shopper profile | None | Listed in the Food Industry | Aug. 22, 2011 | Hershey |
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