CARE Social Audit Program
Our global CARE Audit Program enables us to uphold our commitments to our people, including the respect of their human rights.
The Program aims to verify that all employees and Nestlé-operated sites comply with international standards and local legislation, as well as our own Corporate Business Principles and our Code of Business Conduct.
CARE has been in place since 2005, reviewing all operational sites for business integrity every three years, using an 'assess, address and report' approach. External auditors (Bureau Veritas, Intertek, LRQA and SGS) assess compliance with our Corporate Business Principles against seven pillars:
- Conditions of work and employment
- Business integrity
- Safety and health
- Environmental sustainability
- Security
- Local communities
- Labor accommodation
The review criteria are based on well-established social auditing methodologies and include requirements specific to Nestlé. The wide range of topics spans accommodation for on-site workers, forced labor and responsible recruitment, and verification of child and young worker labor.
We publish the results and number of audits performed as part of Nestlé's Creating Shared Value and Sustainability Report.
Verifying healthy, safe and ethical working conditions
194
298
186
Making human rights a priority
Our Human Rights Framework and Roadmap provides the basis for a more strategic approach to assessing, addressing and reporting on our human rights impacts. It aims to enhance our level of due diligence across our value chain.
The CARE Program allows us to verify that the human rights of all the employees working on our sites are respected.
CARE audits in action
We take pride in monitoring and continuously improving our performance.
CARE audits follow a systematic approach to ensure a comprehensive review of our approximately 1 200 sites around the world, including head offices, factories, distribution centers, R&D centers, sales offices and Nespresso boutiques. The approach used to assess and evaluate the social compliance of Nestlé sites follows the methodologies present in other well-established social auditing programs.
We are all concerned, all responsible, all committed to making Nestlé the exemplary company in terms of compliance, human rights and ethics. CARE gives a voice to those who need it the most.
