General Mills Inc.

"We are guided by the International Labour Organization’s 1998 Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and we are a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact.  At a minimum, we expect you to uphold these standards: Discrimination [...] Forced labour [....] Child labour [...] Freedom of association"

"Our 2018 updated statement on Palm Oil Sourcing strengthened the principles we expect of direct suppliers and ensured that they are in line with industry best-practice. Specific revisions to our policy and clarified expectations of our supply base include: [...] Measures to ensure inclusion of smallholders in the supply chain"

"For more than 20 years, General Mills has been dedicated to establishing and growing successful business relationships with minority- and women-owned businesses, which provide important raw materials for our products as well as logistics, marketing and consulting services, among other things."

"We work within a large, diverse value chain of business partners and stakeholders. We recognize that each entity in this value chain has its own independent duty to respect human rights. We expect them to adhere to ethical business conduct consistent with our own. We are committed to working with our business partners and stakeholders to fulfill this common goal. Consistent with the principles set forth in our Employee Code of Conduct and Supplier Code of Conduct, we: Recognize the importance of land rights as well as the principle of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC), as outlined in our Palm Oil Statement. Support implementation of FPIC by national authorities."

"Our initial commitment in 2010 included compliance with our Supplier Code of Conduct, as well as prevention and resolution of social and/or land conflicts consistent with the principle of free, prior and informed consent. As part of our concern about deforestation in palm growing regions, we updated our initial commitment with our 2014 palm oil statement." 

"General Mills is a founding member of the CGF Forest Positive Coalition of Action, formally launched in September 2020, which requires member companies to collaboratively work towards a forest positive future, and proactively work with suppliers to mainstream deforestation free production across their business. [...] Within this membership, we have shared our membership with our direct suppliers. As part of our effort to advance progress here, General Mills has also joined the No-deforestation, No-peat and No-exploitation Implementation Reporting Framework (NDPE-IRF) active working group – a reporting tool designed to help companies understand and track progress in delivering NDPE commitments, including deforestation-free supply chains. updated August 2021."

"After conducting a high-level risk assessment and segmentation of 2,300 Tier 1 direct supplier* facilities worldwide, we identified about 1,200 facilities that have inherent risk, based on environmental, social and governance factors. We also assessed suppliers that provide raw materials or ingredients covered by our sustainable sourcing goals, as well as natural and organic products"

"At General Mills, our goal is to continually reduce our environmental footprint.  In addition to complying with all applicable environmental laws, we expect you to continually improve your own environmental performance.   [...] General Mills respects the law in its business operations and expects you to do the same by complying with all laws that apply to your business and your work with us.  If there is a conflict between what the law requires and the standards of this Code, we expect you to meet the higher standard. You must also be able to demonstrate compliance with this Code of Conduct upon our request, and we expect you to take action to correct any non-compliance.  We reserve the right to terminate any agreement or arrangement with you if compliance with this Code cannot be demonstrated."

"To report a concern, talk to your General Mills representative or contact the General Mills Ethics Line at generalmillsethics.ethicspoint.com. US, Canada, Puerto Rico phone number: 1-800-210-2878. Reporters may choose to be anonymous."

"Purchasing of RSPO certified volumes* (metric tons) CY2020 Mass balance volume 101,330 / Segregated volume 622 / RSPO PalmTrace Credits** 1,215 / Total 103,167"

"Achieved 100% Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification in 2015 (and maintained that certification since) n Shifted PalmTrace credit purchases to mass-balance and segregated certified volumes [...] Purchasing of RSPO certified volumes* (metric tons) CY2020 Mass balance volume 101,330 / Segregated volume 622 / RSPO PalmTrace Credits** 1,215 / Total 103,167"

"We require facilities identified as having inherent risk to complete a self-assessment and provide supporting documentation on policies, procedures and previous audits, when available. Depending on the results, some facilities are required to undergo an onsite third-party audit, based on the SMETA protocol, covering human rights, health and safety, the environment and business integrity. These facilities develop corrective action plans to address identified non-compliances. During fiscal 2018, 196 Tier 1 supplier facilities completed self-assessments and 53 underwent third-party audits." 

"We are pleased to see that the majority of our direct suppliers have done the same and, where they haven’t, we will continue to encourage them to do so. In addition, we declare our list of direct palm oil suppliers, updated annually, as part of our commitment to supply chain transparency. General Mills global direct palm oil suppliers(as of August 2021) AAK, ADM, Agropalma, Bunge, Loders, Croklaan, Cargill, Daabon, Fuji, Shanghai Zhongwu/COFCO China, Soya Hellas, Stratas Foods "

"In 2017, with support from Proforest, General Mills began engaging its direct suppliers in review of their level of alignment with, and progress in implementing, our sustainable sourcing principles. The aim is to build up an accurate picture of how our suppliers are performing and where there may be gaps or opportunities for improvement across our key sourcing principles. This information is then fed into our annual supplier review process."

"In 2017, with support from Proforest, General Mills began engaging its direct suppliers in review of their level of alignment with, and progress in implementing, our sustainable sourcing principles. The aim is to build up an accurate picture of how our suppliers are performing and where there may be gaps or opportunities for improvement across our key sourcing principles. This information is then fed into our annual supplier review process. [...] "As a brand owner and manufacturer which is often many times removed from the producer, we expect our direct suppliers to robustly manage their own supply chains to ensure palm volumes supplied to General Mills meet or exceed our standards. In cases where there is verified non-compliance with our policy, or where there is continued failure to remediate verified non-compliances in a timely manner, we take steps to remove those producers from our supply chain."

"Supplier Performance Update - October 2020 – FGV Holdings Berhad - In light of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol issuing a Withhold Release Order on palm oil from FGV Holdings, we are instructing our suppliers to remove palm originating from this company, from our supply chain.  In response to the on-going grievance against this company (see grievance tracker), we had already engaged our direct suppliers to understand supply chain implications and potential pathways to remove this supplier, while maintaining 100% sustainable palm oil sourcing via RSPO certification.  [...] January 2021 – Sime Darby Plantation Berhad - In light of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol issuing a Withhold Release Order on palm oil from Sime Darby Plantation Berhad and its subsidiaries, joint ventures, and affiliated entities, we are instructing our suppliers to remove palm originating from this company from our supply chain. In addition, we ask for supplier plans to enter this case into grievance systems and to closely monitor moving forward, while maintaining 100% sustainable palm oil sourcing via RSPO certification. "

"We also expect our suppliers to comply with our Supplier Code of Conduct [...] We are guided by the International Labour Organization’s 1998 Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and we are a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact. At a minimum, we expect you to uphold these standards: Forced labor - You will not use involuntary labor or require payment of fees or the surrendering of identification as a condition of employment. All employees will understand the terms of their employment. Child labor - You will not employ children less than 15 years of age, or 14 years of age where local law allows. Young employees under the age of 18 will not work at night, in hazardous conditions or in work that interferes with schooling. Freedom of association and collective bargaining - You will recognize and respect the rights of employees to freedom of association and collective bargaining. Anti-discrimination and fair treatment - You will treat employees with respect. There will be no unlawful discrimination, harassment or abuse of any kind."

"we will... collaborate with suppliers, farmers and ranchers, trusted advisors, researchers and NGOs to invest in technical, financial and cultural support mechanisms to regenerate environmental, social, and economic outcomes. This includes leveraging industry collaborations like the Ecosystem Services Market Consortium, the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, and the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative. This also includes work with smallholder, conventional, regenerative and organic farmers to strengthen globally sustainable and regenerative farming practices. "

"For more than 20 years, General Mills has been dedicated to establishing and growing successful business relationships with minority- and women-owned businesses, which provide important raw materials for our products as well as logistics, marketing and consulting services, among other things."

"We work within a large, diverse value chain of business partners and stakeholders. We recognize that each entity in this value chain has its own independent duty to respect human rights. We expect them to adhere to ethical business conduct consistent with our own. We are committed to working with our business partners and stakeholders to fulfill this common goal. Consistent with the principles set forth in our Employee Code of Conduct and Supplier Code of Conduct, we: Recognize the importance of land rights as well as the principle of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC), as outlined in our Palm Oil Statement. Support implementation of FPIC by national authorities."

"To report a concern, talk to your General Mills representative or contact the General Mills Ethics Line at generalmillsethics.ethicspoint.com. US, Canada, Puerto Rico phone number: 1-800-210-2878. Reporters may choose to be anonymous."

"In 2020, 100% of our fiber packaging was from sustainable sources, using either recycled materials or virgin wood fiber, avoiding deforestation" Unclear how much was FSC

"General Mills utilizes independent third parties to assess supplier compliance with this Code of Conduct. These assessments generally include confidential interviews with employees and on-site contract workers. We may also request that suppliers complete a self-assessment questionnaire. "

"You must also be able to demonstrate compliance with this Code of Conduct upon our request, and we expect you to take action to correct any non-compliance.  We reserve the right to terminate any agreement or arrangement with you if compliance with this Code cannot be demonstrated."

"We are guided by the International Labour Organization’s 1998 Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and we are a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact.  At a minimum, we expect you to uphold these standards: Discrimination [...] Forced labour [....] Child labour [...] Freedom of association"

"Within key ingredient supply chains, collaborate with suppliers, farmers and ranchers, trusted advisors, researchers and NGOs to invest in technical, financial and cultural support mechanisms to regenerate environmental, social, and economic outcomes. This includes leveraging industry collaborations like the Ecosystem Services Market Consortium, the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, and the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative. This also includes work with smallholder, conventional, regenerative and organic farmers to strengthen globally sustainable and regenerative farming practices. "

"For more than 20 years, General Mills has been dedicated to establishing and growing successful business relationships with minority- and women-owned businesses, which provide important raw materials for our products as well as logistics, marketing and consulting services, among other things."

"We work within a large, diverse value chain of business partners and stakeholders. We recognize that each entity in this value chain has its own independent duty to respect human rights. We expect them to adhere to ethical business conduct consistent with our own. We are committed to working with our business partners and stakeholders to fulfill this common goal. Consistent with the principles set forth in our Employee Code of Conduct and Supplier Code of Conduct, we: Recognize the importance of land rights as well as the principle of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC), as outlined in our Palm Oil Statement.Support implementation of FPIC by national authorities."

"We also support the Soy Moratorium commitment to not purchase soy from lands that have been deforested in the Amazon biome after July 2006. The majority of the soy General Mills purchases is sourced from the U.S. – not an area at risk for deforestation."

"To report a concern, talk to your General Mills representative or contact the General Mills Ethics Line at generalmillsethics.ethicspoint.com. US, Canada, Puerto Rico phone number: 1-800-210-2878. Reporters may choose to be anonymous."

"We require facilities identified as having inherent risk to complete a self-assessment and provide supporting documentation on policies, procedures and previous audits, when available. Depending on the results, some facilities are required to undergo an onsite third-party audit, based on the SMETA protocol, covering human rights, health and safety, the environment and business integrity. These facilities develop corrective action plans to address identified non-compliances. During fiscal 2018, 196 Tier 1 supplier facilities completed self-assessments and 53 underwent third-party audits."