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  • Overall approach
    2/14
    • Overarching commitment on deforestation
      0/6
      Deforestation commitment
      Commodity-specific
      0.00/6
      Palm oil; Pulp & Paper
      "Our goal is to have a sustainable supply chain for our operations across the globe, and we believe this can only be achieved when deforestation isn’t a part of the equation." Links follow for palm oil and paper policies but not soy.
      Open source document
    • Signatory to an initiative tackling deforestation
      1/1
      Signatory
      Yes
      1/1
      UN Global Compact
      Hershey Co. are a member of the UN Global Compact.
      Open source document
    • Awareness of the value of forests
      1/1
      Awareness
      Yes
      1/1
      "Forests are critical parts of our natural ecosystem, serving as important reservoirs of greenhouse gases that would otherwise contribute to climate change. Forests also provide habitat for key plant and animal species, and contribute countless other ecosystem services such as preventing soil erosion that play a big role in our daily lives and global economy."
      Open source document
    • Target to reduce emissions from land-use change
      0/3
    • Reporting on emissions from land-use change
      0/3
  • Commodity score
    33/86
    • Palm oil
      62/86
      • Commitment Strength
        31/36
        • Commitment to protect priority forests
          13/15
          • Commitment details
            Forest-related commitment
            6/8
            Commitment to protect priority forests
            Forest-related commitment
            6/8
            Certification schemes mentioned: RSPO
            Type of commitment: Zero deforestation
            "In 2013, we announced our commitment to sourcing 100% traceable and responsible palm oil to achieve visibility into the sources of palm oil products within our supply chain." "All the palm oil we sourced in 2018 was mass-balanced certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)."
            Open source document Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            Yes
            1/1
            Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            Yes
            1/1
            "In 2013, we announced our commitment to sourcing 100% traceable and responsible palm oil to achieve visibility into the sources of palm oil products within our supply chain." "All the palm oil we sourced in 2018 was mass-balanced certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)."
            Open source document Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all operations
            Yes
            1/1
            Commitment applies to all operations
            Yes
            1/1
            "In 2013, we announced our commitment to sourcing 100% traceable and responsible palm oil to achieve visibility into the sources of palm oil products within our supply chain." "All the palm oil we sourced in 2018 was mass-balanced certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)."
            Open source document Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            Yes
            1/1
            Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            Yes
            1/1
            "In 2013, we announced our commitment to sourcing 100% traceable and responsible palm oil to achieve visibility into the sources of palm oil products within our supply chain." "All the palm oil we sourced in 2018 was mass-balanced certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)."
            Open source document Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            Yes
            1/1
            Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            Yes
            1/1
            "In 2013, we announced our commitment to sourcing 100% traceable and responsible palm oil to achieve visibility into the sources of palm oil products within our supply chain." "All the palm oil we sourced in 2018 was mass-balanced certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)."
            Open source document Open source document
          • Target date
            Current
            1.3/1.3
            Target date
            Current
            1.3/1.3
            "In 2013, we announced our commitment to sourcing 100% traceable and responsible palm oil to achieve visibility into the sources of palm oil products within our supply chain." "All the palm oil we sourced in 2018 was mass-balanced certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)."
            Open source document Open source document
          • Target is quantifiable
            Yes
            1.3/1.3
            Target is quantifiable
            Yes
            1.3/1.3
            "In 2013, we announced our commitment to sourcing 100% traceable and responsible palm oil to achieve visibility into the sources of palm oil products within our supply chain." "All the palm oil we sourced in 2018 was mass-balanced certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)."
            Open source document Open source document
        • Commitment to protect High Carbon Stock areas and/or peatlands
          8/11
          • Commitment details
            Yes
            4/4
            Commitment to protect High Carbon Stock areas and/or peatlands
            Yes
            4/4
            Type of commitment: HCS; Peat
            "In addition to adhering to the RSPO standards, our suppliers will be required to provide palm oil that is sourced from a supply chain that also adheres to the following requirements: Does not contribute to deforestation, including protection and conservation of High Conservation Values and High Carbon Stock forests; No new developments on peat, regardless of the depth."
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            Yes
            1/1
            Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            Yes
            1/1
            "In addition to adhering to the RSPO standards, our suppliers will be required to provide palm oil that is sourced from a supply chain that also adheres to the following requirements: Does not contribute to deforestation, including protection and conservation of High Conservation Values and High Carbon Stock forests; No new developments on peat, regardless of the depth."
          • Commitment applies to all operations
            Yes
            1/1
            Commitment applies to all operations
            Yes
            1/1
            "In addition to adhering to the RSPO standards, our suppliers will be required to provide palm oil that is sourced from a supply chain that also adheres to the following requirements: Does not contribute to deforestation, including protection and conservation of High Conservation Values and High Carbon Stock forests; No new developments on peat, regardless of the depth."
          • Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            Yes
            1/1
            Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            Yes
            1/1
            "In addition to adhering to the RSPO standards, our suppliers will be required to provide palm oil that is sourced from a supply chain that also adheres to the following requirements: Does not contribute to deforestation, including protection and conservation of High Conservation Values and High Carbon Stock forests; No new developments on peat, regardless of the depth."
          • Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            Yes
            1/1
            Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            Yes
            1/1
            "In addition to adhering to the RSPO standards, our suppliers will be required to provide palm oil that is sourced from a supply chain that also adheres to the following requirements: Does not contribute to deforestation, including protection and conservation of High Conservation Values and High Carbon Stock forests; No new developments on peat, regardless of the depth."
          • Target date
            No deadline
            0/1.3
          • Target is quantifiable
            No
            0/1.3
        • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
          11/11
          • Commitment details
            traces to Point of production
            4/4
            Commitment to a traceable supply chain
            traces to Point of production
            4/4
            "For all palm oil and palm kernel oil purchased in 2018, we achieved 99.8 percent traceability to the mills and 26.75 percent traceability to the plantation. We continue to work on increasing traceability to plantations which has proven to be complex."
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            Yes
            1/1
            Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            Yes
            1/1
            "For all palm oil and palm kernel oil purchased in 2018, we achieved 99.8 percent traceability to the mills and 26.75 percent traceability to the plantation. We continue to work on increasing traceability to plantations which has proven to be complex."
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all operations
            Yes
            1/1
            Commitment applies to all operations
            Yes
            1/1
            "For all palm oil and palm kernel oil purchased in 2018, we achieved 99.8 percent traceability to the mills and 26.75 percent traceability to the plantation. We continue to work on increasing traceability to plantations which has proven to be complex."
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            Yes
            1/1
            Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            Yes
            1/1
            "For all palm oil and palm kernel oil purchased in 2018, we achieved 99.8 percent traceability to the mills and 26.75 percent traceability to the plantation. We continue to work on increasing traceability to plantations which has proven to be complex."
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            Yes
            1/1
            Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            Yes
            1/1
            "For all palm oil and palm kernel oil purchased in 2018, we achieved 99.8 percent traceability to the mills and 26.75 percent traceability to the plantation. We continue to work on increasing traceability to plantations which has proven to be complex."
            Open source document
          • Target date
            2020
            1.2/1.3
            Target date
            2020
            1.2/1.3
            "we remain fully committed to achieving supply chain traceability to the plantation level by 2020"
            Open source document
          • Target is quantifiable
            Yes
            1.3/1.3
            Target is quantifiable
            Yes
            1.3/1.3
            "we remain fully committed to achieving supply chain traceability to the plantation level by 2020"
            Open source document
      • Reporting and Implementation
        21/34
        • Reporting against commitments
          4/6
          • Commitment to protect priority forests
            Yes
            2/2
            Commitment to protect priority forests
            Yes
            2/2
            "In 2013, we announced our commitment to sourcing 100% traceable and responsible palm oil to achieve visibility into the sources of palm oil products within our supply chain." "All the palm oil we sourced in 2018 was mass-balanced certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)."
            Open source document Open source document
          • Commitment to protect High Carbon Stock areas and/or peatlands
            No
            0/2
          • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
            Yes
            2/2
            Commitment to a traceable supply chain
            Yes
            2/2
            "For all palm oil and palm kernel oil purchased in 2018, we achieved 99.8 percent traceability to the mills and 26.75 percent traceability to the plantation. We continue to work on increasing traceability to plantations which has proven to be complex."
            Open source document
        • Reporting is independently verified
          1/4
          • Commitment to protect priority forests
            Yes
            1.3/1.3
            Commitment to protect priority forests
            Yes
            1.3/1.3
            certification
            "In 2013, we announced our commitment to sourcing 100% traceable and responsible palm oil to achieve visibility into the sources of palm oil products within our supply chain." "All the palm oil we sourced in 2018 was mass-balanced certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)."
            Open source document Open source document
          • Commitment to protect High Carbon Stock areas and/or peatlands
            No
            0/1.3
          • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
            No
            0/1.3
        • Deforestation cut off date
          No
          0/2
        • Monitoring and verification of supplier compliance
          Time-specific monitoring statement
          4/4
          Monitoring and verification of supplier compliance
          Time-specific monitoring statement
          4/4
          "We expect all of our palm oil sourcing partners to be compliant to our Supplier Code of Conduct and uphold our rigorous Responsible Palm Oil Sourcing Policy and remain compliant to NDPE commitments. Failure to do so, could lead to suspension in accordance with our sourcing policy [...] Hershey remains committed to mapping its palm oil supply chain and reporting mapping progress bi-annually and will monitor and ensure these suspensions are effectively implemented."
          Open source document
        • Engagement with non-compliant suppliers
          Engage with suppliers with a time-bound threat of exclusion
          4/4
          Engagement with non-compliant suppliers
          Engage with suppliers with a time-bound threat of exclusion
          4/4
          "...These suspensions will remain in place until we see acceptable, timebound corrective action plans with proven progress that leads to a resolution."
          Open source document
        • Publishing supplier lists
          Discloses both supplier list and detailed sourcing regions
          4/4
          Publishing supplier lists
          Discloses both supplier list and detailed sourcing regions
          4/4
          Hershey provide a palm oil supplier list containing mill names and geographical locations.
          Open source document
        • Accessible grievance mechanism
          No
          0/4
        • Collaborative actions
          No
          0/2
        • Report volumes of commodity
          Full
          4/4
          Report volumes of commodity
          Full
          4/4
          29,356 tonnes
          In 2017, the Hershey Company reported their total palm oil volumes as 29,356 tonnes, with this being 100% compliant. 
          Open source document
      • Social Considerations
        9/16
        • Commitment to ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent
          Yes
          4/4
          Commitment to ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent
          Yes
          4/4
          Hershey Co. state that they "Respect and uphold land tenure rights, the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities to give or withhold their Free, Prior and Informed Consent to any development on their lands to which they hold legal, communal or customary rights."
          Open source document
        • Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          4/4
          Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          4/4
          ILO; Discrimination; Forced Labour; Child Labour; Freedom of association
          Hershey Co. require their suppliers to ensure their workers' rights to have freedom of association, and to be free from discrimination, forced labour, and child labour.
          Open source document
        • Gender equality in the supply chain
          Discrimination/Gender Rights/Harassment
          1/4
          Gender equality in the supply chain
          Discrimination/Gender Rights/Harassment
          1/4
          Hershey Co. require their suppliers to ensure their workers are not discriminated against based on gender.
          Open source document
        • Inclusion of small-scale farmers
          No
          0/4
    • Soy
      5/86
      • Commitment Strength
        0/36
        • Commitment to protect priority forests
          0/21
          • Commitment details
            No commitment
            0/10.7
          • Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            No
            0/1.5
          • Commitment applies to all operations
            No
            0/1.5
          • Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            No
            0/1.5
          • Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            No
            0/1.5
          • Target date
            No deadline
            0/2
          • Target is quantifiable
            No
            0/2
        • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
          0/15
          • Commitment details
            No traceability commitment
            0/5.3
          • Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            No
            0/1.5
          • Commitment applies to all operations
            No
            0/1.5
          • Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            No
            0/1.5
          • Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            No
            0/1.5
          • Target date
            No deadline
            0/2
          • Target is quantifiable
            No
            0/2
      • Reporting and Implementation
        0/34
        • Reporting against commitments
          0/6
          • Commitment to protect priority forests
            No
            0/3
          • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
            No
            0/3
        • Reporting is independently verified
          0/4
          • Commitment to protect priority forests
            No
            0/2
          • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
            No
            0/2
        • Deforestation cut off date
          No
          0/2
        • Monitoring and verification of supplier compliance
          No monitoring
          0/4
        • Engagement with non-compliant suppliers
          No engagement or exclusion
          0/4
        • Publishing supplier lists
          No disclosure
          0/4
        • Accessible grievance mechanism
          No
          0/4
        • Collaborative actions
          No
          0/2
        • Report volumes of commodity
          No reporting
          0/4
      • Social Considerations
        5/16
        • Commitment to ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent
          No
          0/4
        • Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          4/4
          Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          4/4
          ILO; Discrimination; Forced Labour; Child Labour; Freedom of association
          Hershey Co. require their suppliers to ensure their workers' rights to have freedom of association, and to be free from discrimination, forced labour, and child labour.
          Open source document
        • Gender equality in the supply chain
          Discrimination/Gender Rights/Harassment
          1/4
          Gender equality in the supply chain
          Discrimination/Gender Rights/Harassment
          1/4
          Hershey Co. require their suppliers to ensure their workers are not discriminated against based on gender.
          Open source document
        • Inclusion of small-scale farmers
          No
          0/4
    • Pulp & Paper
      32/86
      • Commitment Strength
        21/36
        • Commitment to protect priority forests
          13/15
          • Commitment details
            Forest-related commitment
            6/8
            Commitment to protect priority forests
            Forest-related commitment
            6/8
            Certification schemes mentioned: FSC; PEFC; Other (specify)
            Type of commitment: Protects priority forests; Certification
            If Other, specify here:  SFI
            "All the virgin fiber in the pulp and paper we source will meet the following criteria by 2017 [...] Are legal sources that are verified through a globally recognized, 3rd-party certified, due-diligence system [...] Do not engage in deforestation of primary forest or areas of high conservation value".
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            Yes
            1/1
            Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            Yes
            1/1
            "All the virgin fiber in the pulp and paper we source will meet the following criteria by 2017 [...] Are legal sources that are verified through a globally recognized, 3rd-party certified, due-diligence system [...] Do not engage in deforestation of primary forest or areas of high conservation value".
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all operations
            Yes
            1/1
            Commitment applies to all operations
            Yes
            1/1
            "All the virgin fiber in the pulp and paper we source will meet the following criteria by 2017 [...] Are legal sources that are verified through a globally recognized, 3rd-party certified, due-diligence system [...] Do not engage in deforestation of primary forest or areas of high conservation value".
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            Yes
            1/1
            Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            Yes
            1/1
            "All the virgin fiber in the pulp and paper we source will meet the following criteria by 2017 [...] Are legal sources that are verified through a globally recognized, 3rd-party certified, due-diligence system [...] Do not engage in deforestation of primary forest or areas of high conservation value".
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            Yes
            1/1
            Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            Yes
            1/1
            "All the virgin fiber in the pulp and paper we source will meet the following criteria by 2017 [...] Are legal sources that are verified through a globally recognized, 3rd-party certified, due-diligence system [...] Do not engage in deforestation of primary forest or areas of high conservation value".
            Open source document
          • Target date
            Current
            1.3/1.3
            Target date
            Current
            1.3/1.3
            "All the virgin fiber in the pulp and paper we source will meet the following criteria by 2017 [...] Are legal sources that are verified through a globally recognized, 3rd-party certified, due-diligence system [...] Do not engage in deforestation of primary forest or areas of high conservation value".
            Open source document
          • Target is quantifiable
            Yes
            1.3/1.3
            Target is quantifiable
            Yes
            1.3/1.3
            "All the virgin fiber in the pulp and paper we source will meet the following criteria by 2017 [...] Are legal sources that are verified through a globally recognized, 3rd-party certified, due-diligence system [...] Do not engage in deforestation of primary forest or areas of high conservation value".
            Open source document
        • Commitment to reduce use of virgin wood fibre
          8/11
          • Commitment details
            Yes
            4/4
            Commitment to reduce use of virgin wood fibre
            Yes
            4/4
            Type of commitment: Recycled content
            "We will continue to work to reduce the impact of our packaging footprint through packaging reduction projects and maintaining our commitment to use at least 80% recyclable materials (by weight) in our packaging."
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            Yes
            1/1
            Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            Yes
            1/1
            "We will continue to work to reduce the impact of our packaging footprint through packaging reduction projects and maintaining our commitment to use at least 80% recyclable materials (by weight) in our packaging."
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all operations
            Yes
            1/1
            Commitment applies to all operations
            Yes
            1/1
            "We will continue to work to reduce the impact of our packaging footprint through packaging reduction projects and maintaining our commitment to use at least 80% recyclable materials (by weight) in our packaging."
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            Yes
            1/1
            Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            Yes
            1/1
            "We will continue to work to reduce the impact of our packaging footprint through packaging reduction projects and maintaining our commitment to use at least 80% recyclable materials (by weight) in our packaging."
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            Yes
            1/1
            Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            Yes
            1/1
            "We will continue to work to reduce the impact of our packaging footprint through packaging reduction projects and maintaining our commitment to use at least 80% recyclable materials (by weight) in our packaging."
            Open source document
          • Target date
            No deadline
            0/1.3
            Target date
            No deadline
            0/1.3
            "We will continue to work to reduce the impact of our packaging footprint through packaging reduction projects and maintaining our commitment to use at least 80% recyclable materials (by weight) in our packaging."
            Open source document
          • Target is quantifiable
            No
            0/1.3
            Target is quantifiable
            No
            0/1.3
            "We will continue to work to reduce the impact of our packaging footprint through packaging reduction projects and maintaining our commitment to use at least 80% recyclable materials (by weight) in our packaging."
            Open source document
        • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
          0/11
          • Commitment details
            No traceability commitment
            0/4
          • Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            No
            0/1
          • Commitment applies to all operations
            No
            0/1
          • Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            No
            0/1
          • Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            No
            0/1
          • Target date
            No deadline
            0/1.3
          • Target is quantifiable
            No
            0/1.3
      • Reporting and Implementation
        2/34
        • Reporting against commitments
          2/6
          • Commitment to protect priority forests
            Yes
            2/2
            Commitment to protect priority forests
            Yes
            2/2
            In 2016, The Hershey Company's reported that "all U.S. and Canada pulp and paper suppliers are now in compliance with our [pulp and paper] policy."
            Open source document
          • Commitment to reduce use of virgin wood fibre
            No
            0/2
          • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
            No
            0/2
        • Reporting is independently verified
          0/4
          • Commitment to protect priority forests
            No
            0/1.3
          • Commitment to reduce use of virgin wood fibre
            No
            0/1.3
          • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
            No
            0/1.3
        • Deforestation cut off date
          No
          0/2
        • Monitoring and verification of supplier compliance
          No monitoring
          0/4
        • Engagement with non-compliant suppliers
          No engagement or exclusion
          0/4
        • Publishing supplier lists
          No disclosure
          0/4
        • Accessible grievance mechanism
          No
          0/4
        • Collaborative actions
          No
          0/2
        • Report volumes of commodity
          No reporting
          0/4
      • Social Considerations
        9/16
        • Commitment to ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent
          Yes
          4/4
          Commitment to ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent
          Yes
          4/4
          Pulp and paper suppliers are required to "Respect and uphold land tenure rights, the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities to give or withhold their free, prior and informed consent to any development on their lands to which they hold legal, communal or customary rights".
          Open source document
        • Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          4/4
          Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          4/4
          ILO; Discrimination; Forced Labour; Child Labour; Freedom of association
          Hershey Co. require their suppliers to ensure their workers' rights to have freedom of association, and to be free from discrimination, forced labour, and child labour.
          Open source document
        • Gender equality in the supply chain
          Discrimination/Gender Rights/Harassment
          1/4
          Gender equality in the supply chain
          Discrimination/Gender Rights/Harassment
          1/4
          Hershey Co. require their suppliers to ensure their workers are not discriminated against based on gender.
          Open source document
        • Inclusion of small-scale farmers
          No
          0/4
  • Commitment strength
    17/36
    Avg. score
  • Reporting and Implementation
    8/34
    Avg. score
  • Social considerations
    8/16
    Avg. score

Profile

Hershey is an American chocolate manufacturer. Hershey has many well-known brands, including Kit Kat, Reese’s, ROLO, and Twizzlers. The company have operations in more than 70 countries, and is one of the largest chocolate manufacturers in North America. Hershey used 22,409 tonnes of palm oil in their products in 2015. 

Sector
Industry sector 
Packaged food
Segments
Manufacturer
HQ
HQ 
United States
Company Type
Company type 
Public listed
Collective Commitments
Consumer Goods Forum member
New York Declaration on Forests signatory

Top Brands

Hersheys, Reeses, KitKat, Rolo, Jolly rancher, Twizzlers, Icebreakers

How we assess the Forest 500

To ensure deforestation free supply chains, companies need to adopt and implement timebound and measurable policies for forest risk commodities.

All assessments use policies published on company websites, some links may have changed or been removed since the time of assessment.

Full corporate sector performance data Forest 500 assessment methodology

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Disclaimer

This assessment has been carried out following the methodology developed for the Forest 500 project, available here. Please see our disclaimer applicable to all information contained within this site and our terms and conditions for use of data presented on this site.

All assessments use policies published on company and financial institution websites, and while we endeavor to keep them updated some links may have changed or been removed since the time of assessment.

Please contact us with any concerns or feedback about this or other assessments included in the Forest 500.