FERRERO’S HAZELNUT CHARTER: TOWARDS A HAZELNUT INDUSTRY THAT CREATES VALUE FOR ALL

Ferrero Group partners with Earthworm foundation to tackle challenges in the hazelnut sector  

In line with our Supplier Code, Ferrero has published a Charter document dedicated to hazelnuts.  The Ferrero Hazelnut Charter outlines our commitments and requirements based on our selected priorities in three areas: Human Rights and Social Practices, Environmental Protection and Sustainability, and Supplier Transparency, towards our aim to be a driving force behind a hazelnut industry that creates value for all. Ferrero is partnering with Earthworm Foundation, a non-profit organisation focused on positively improving value chains, on evolving its responsible sourcing approach for hazelnuts. The Charter is informed by this collaboration and our work to better understand the specific challenges in the hazelnut sector and how to address these, in partnership with our suppliers and other value chain actors, towards our commitment to a sustainable and ethical value chain. 

“We are pleased to be partnering with Ferrero in its aim to drive lasting change in the hazelnut supply chain. Ferrero acknowledges that a holistic and long-term approach is required to address the challenges. We look forward to working with Ferrero to realise the commitments outlined in its Charter across its hazelnut sourcing.” says Boris Saraber, Director of Operations at Earthworm Foundation. 

Download the Ferrero Hazelnut Charter PDF:

Highlighting the challenges in the hazelnut sector  

 
The challenges in the hazelnut sector are complex, and in some countries deeply rooted. These challenges involve the need to improve working conditions for agricultural workers in order to address social issues, including child labour. Our vision, as outlined in our Charter, for a sustainable hazelnut production means that farming communities are thriving, workers and children’s rights are respected, and environmental values are enhanced through regenerative agricultural practices. The Charter is applicable across all our hazelnut sourcing with an approach that is based on ensuring compliance with our own policies to which all of our suppliers are expected to adhere, and our belief that we must “Go Beyond” compliance by identifying specific commitments based on selected priorities and initiatives to tackle the complex challenges.  

Hazelnuts are at the heart of Ferrero. We have been actively engaged towards a sustainable value chain, through our sustainability programme, Ferrero Farming Values, and through collective engagement. The purpose of our new Charter is to build on this work, in our aim to be a driving force behind a hazelnut industry that creates value for all. We will foster transparency by sharing our progress along the way.” says Marco Gonçalves, Ferrero Chief Procurement & Hazelnut Company Officer. 

The Charter is structured around three pillars that are founded on a due diligence process which covers all of our suppliers: 

• Human Rights and Social Practices - our commitment within this pillar is focused on joyful growth and child protection across our sourcing areas and on improving the livelihoods of hazelnut communities and enhancing farmer resilience. For Ferrero, child protection means that we are determined to prevent and eliminate child labour all along our value chain, through a multi-stakeholder approach, with the conviction that every child should be protected, by experiencing joyful growth through a right to education and a safe environment. 
•  Environmental Protection and Sustainability - we are committed to applying the principles of regenerative agriculture on our own Agrifarms and to supporting the adoption of these principles by the agricultural community across selected territories in our main sourcing countries.
• Supplier Transparency - we are committed to achieving full traceability to farm level of our sourced hazelnuts.
   
  We will transparently share our progress and the challenges we face along the way by publishing annual action plans and updates on the implementation of our Charter. Central to enabling the implementation of the Charter will be our sustainability programme, Ferrero Farming Values (FFV) for hazelnuts.