Respecting human rights

Our human rights due diligence process

The aim of our human rights due diligence process is to identify, prevent, mitigate, or cease adverse human rights and environmental impacts throughout the organization and our supply chain. It consists of six areas (see graphic). Engagement with relevant stakeholders and rightsholders is a key component of the process. Through our due diligence process, we work on addressing our salient human rights topics (see Assess human rights risks and impacts within this chapter), including consideration of those specifically addressed by the UN Global Compact (UNGC), the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), and relevant regulations. The following sections describe the human rights due diligence process steps in more detail.

Group Management and the Board oversee our human rights due diligence process (see Sustainability governance structure within the Governance chapter), while the Human Rights Working Group and Human Rights Officer, who chairs the Human Rights Working Group, are responsible for guiding the company’s human rights due diligence strategy, driving its implementation and supporting efforts to embed it throughout the organization and our supply chain.

1. Commit to human rights and embed into policies

Human Rights Policy

Lindt & Sprüngli is committed to respecting human rights, as set forth in our Human Rights Policy. Our human rights commitment is guided by international conventions and standards, consisting of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), the International Bill of Human Rights, the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, core International Labor Standards, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, and the UNGC.

The Lindt & Sprüngli Human Rights Policy applies to our global operations, including our subsidiaries, and to our suppliers but excludes our downstream value chain. It outlines our salient human rights issues, how our actions to respect human rights and our salient issues are integrated into our business, our remedy and grievance mechanisms, and governance. The Lindt & Sprüngli Human Rights Policy is available to all workers and external stakeholders on our corporate website, with translations into six languages.

Supplier Code of Conduct

We further communicate the Human Rights Policy to suppliers with a reference in the Supplier Code of Conduct and notification on our supplier management system. The Supplier Code of Conduct states that suppliers take responsibility to implement the requirements and necessary due diligence processes with their own employees, agents, temporary workers, subcontractors, homeworkers, suppliers, and sub-suppliers with whom they work in the delivery of goods and services to Lindt & Sprüngli. For more information on the Supplier Code of Conduct, see Our related policies and documents in the Responsible sourcing chapter.

CLMRS Guidance Document for Suppliers

To provide guidance to our suppliers on how to effectively protect children’s rights in cocoa, and to support them in complying with our Supplier Code of Conduct, we have developed a Child Labor Monitoring and Remediation System (CLMRS) Guidance Document for suppliers. This Guidance Document is tailored to our cocoa supply chain and describes more specifically our expectations of, and proposed approach to, the prevention, monitoring, and remediation of child labor as part of our responsible cocoa sourcing program, the Lindt & Sprüngli Farming Program. For more information on our commitment to help protect the rights of children in our supply chain, see Child labor within this chapter.

For an overview of additional policies addressing our salient human rights issues, also see the following policy map:

2. Assess human rights risks and impacts

We recognize that our business activities have an impact on the human rights of the individuals and communities in which we operate. As a company, we are committed to respecting human rights, in our own operations and supply chain, and we aim to ensure that no one is harmed by our activities.

Risks as identified in our annual human rights risk analysis

In our annual human rights risk analysis, we identify, weigh, and prioritize human rights and environmental risks in our operations and direct and indirect (tier 2+) supply chains. The analysis considers the severity (scope, scale, and irremediability) and likelihood of risks, their relevance to business units and supply categories and geographic risks, with input from third-party indices. Our assessment of risks is informed by industry knowledge, specialty risk assessments, concerns raised through our grievance mechanism, and engagement with stakeholders. For example, the results of our supplier assessments and audits impact individual supplier risk assessments as well as our overall assessment of supplier category risks. In 2024, we defined and started to pilot updates to our assessment methodology, using, for example, new sources of risk data. We will continue to roll out these changes throughout 2025. Additionally, we are updating our saliency assessment and will incorporate any necessary changes into our risk assessment, policy, action plans, and DMA in 2025.

There are human rights issues that are particularly relevant to our business, industry, and supply chains. Among the broader human rights issues identified, we prioritize the following:

• Access to water and sanitation
• Biosphere loss/deforestation
• Child labor
• Climate change
• Discrimination, harassment, and violence
• Forced labor
• Health and safety
• Land rights
• Living income and wages
• Working hours

Lindt & Sprüngli is a chocolate manufacturer with production operations in well-regulated countries in Europe and North America, distribution operations around the world, and global sourcing. Accordingly, severity and prevalence of our salient issues tend to be greater in our indirect (tier 2+) supply chain, in the sourcing and processing of goods and services, such as raw materials. The risk of child labor is particularly high in West African countries. For further details, refer to the Child labor chapter.

Additional risks and opportunities as identified in our Double Materiality Assessment

According to our Double Materiality Assessment (DMA), “Child and forced labor in the supply chain” and “Employment and labor relations in the supply chain” are material topics. In addition to the described risks above, we have identified risks and opportunities with a financial effect on Lindt & Sprüngli.

Failing to uphold human rights can lead to significant risks and costs, such as jeopardizing the Group’s social license to operate, damaging its reputation, and exposing the business to legal liabilities. The rapid evolution of human rights due diligence laws, aimed at preventing human rights abuses, can increase compliance and litigation risks for companies.

By respecting human rights and international labor standards and treating workers with dignity and respect, we can build vital trust with our partners, stakeholders, and the communities we are part of. Additionally, we can strengthen the resilience and positively impact the lives and livelihoods of people in our value chain. Embracing human rights and inclusive business models can also open up access to new markets, increase brand loyalty and consumer trust, and position our business as a valued member of the community and society.

GRI and UNGC human rights issues

The GRI, UNGC, and selected regulations seek additional detail on the type of operations and suppliers – including geographic areas – considered to be at significant risk concerning the following human rights issues:

The right to freedom of association and collective bargaining

The right to freedom of association and collective bargaining was not identified as a significant risk for Lindt & Sprüngli’s global operations or supply chain. Nevertheless, we remain committed to respecting our employees’ rights to freedom of association, to join trade unions, and to collective bargaining (see Collective bargaining in the Enabling and motivating working environment chapter). This topic is also included in our Supplier Code of Conduct, EcoVadis Supplier Assessments, and Supplier Sustainable Practice (SSP) audits, since we recognize it as an important employment and labor relations matter in value chains generally (see Responsible sourcing chapter).

Forced or compulsory labor

Forced or compulsory labor was not identified as a significant risk in Lindt & Sprüngli’s global operations. Russell Stover’s participation in a program which employs prison inmates at manufacturing facilities warrants additional measures to ensure their rights are respected. As with all employees, their employment is voluntary, remunerated, and they can opt out at any time without repercussion from the company.

Supply chain service areas, such as logistics, are considered to have a risk of forced or compulsory labor. Additionally, we have identified a risk in the indirect (tier 2+) supply chain with some raw materials (including cocoa, vegetable fats and oils, sugar, and hazelnuts), as well as packaging (for example in factories in Asia). For related preventive and mitigation actions, see our Responsible sourcing approach, including SSP audits of indirect Asian packaging suppliers and raw material-specific certifications.

Child labor and young workers exposed to hazardous work

For information on this topic, see Child labor within this chapter.

3. Prevent, mitigate, and cease identified impacts

Our actions to respect human rights and address our salient issues are integrated into our business on an ongoing basis, including through:

• Policies (see Commit to human rights and embed into policies within this chapter)
• Targets and action plans
• Training and capacity building
• Collective action and multi-stakeholder initiatives

Targets and action plans

The Lindt & Sprüngli Sustainability Plan incorporates targets and action plans for our different salient issues in our operations and supply chain. These include defined actions and targets in the following areas: Responsible sourcing; Rural development; Child labor; Biodiversity and ecosystems; No-Deforestation & Agroforestry Action Plan; Climate; Enabling and motivating working environment; and Occupational health and safety. The targets and progress are detailed in each respective chapter.

Our responsible sourcing approach is informed by the due diligence process as described above and adapted to different categories of goods and services. It considers social, economic, and environmental aspects, and applies to our procurement of materials and services. Our Supplier Code of Conduct, EcoVadis Supplier Assessments, and Supplier Sustainable Practice (SSP) Program audits reflect many of our salient issues.

Our raw material risk assessment continues to inform our responsible sourcing approaches for priority raw materials, including a selection process for suitable third-party standards. See the Responsible sourcing chapter for an overview of the criteria for our priority materials.

We perform on-site audits through the SSP Program – or have third parties perform audits on our behalf – and desktop assessments through the EcoVadis framework to support the assessment of risks and to evaluate performance linked to prioritized own operations, suppliers, or other relationships (e.g., farmers in our supply chain), and implement corrective actions to prevent, mitigate, or end negative impacts. For more information about our supplier assessments and corrective actions, see Our responsible sourcing approach in the Responsible sourcing chapter.

Our monitoring and evaluation approach for affected communities through the Farming Program is based on multiple complementary elements including child labor-focused monitoring, external verification, and impact assessments (see the Rural development chapter).

Training and capacity building

Own workforce: We communicate our Human Rights Policy to new and existing employees through a reference in Lindt & Sprüngli’s Business Code of Conduct. With effect from 2024, employees who have a relevant role in the human rights due diligence process are required to undergo a mandatory human rights introduction. This introduces the UN Guiding Principles (UNGPs), our commitment and due diligence process, and key topics such as child labor and forced labor.

For direct suppliers, EcoVadis-assessed suppliers receive access to human rights training materials and resources to support them in meeting human rights commitments. These resources include guidance on developing labor and human rights policies, reports, whistleblower procedures, and information on employee health and safety, child and forced labor prevention, and diversity and inclusion.

Through the Lindt & Sprüngli Farming Program, we pursue long-term supplier partnerships, co-designing and developing the program with suppliers. This allows us to establish clear expectations regarding human rights issues and work closely with suppliers to review their performance and facilitate continuous improvement. It also supports capacity building for farmers over multiple years.

For indirect (tier 2+) suppliers, our SSP approach encourages long-term improvements in human rights issues for packaging suppliers in Asia, providing targeted development support, such as dedicated advice on worker safety management systems.

For affected communities, through the Lindt & Sprüngli Farming Program for cocoa, implemented by our suppliers, we go deeper into our supply chain by offering training and support for farmers and community members on salient issues like child labor sensitization and health and safety. We also provide premiums, invest in infrastructure, and establish Village Savings and Loan Associations (see the Rural development chapter).

Collective action and multi-stakeholder initiatives

In 2024 Lindt & Sprüngli became a member of the Consumer Goods Forum’s Human Rights Coalition, with the goal of contributing to collective action on human rights. For more information on our partnerships, see our Memberships & Partnerships page.

4. Provide access to effective remedy

Our Speak Up Line grievance mechanism and remediation process are our primary means of providing access to remedy (see Speak Up Line in the Upholding business ethics and integrity chapter). In addition to the Speak Up Line, other processes and channels exist to audit or otherwise identify and remediate matters of concern, such as Child Labor Monitoring and Remediation Systems (CLMRS), and the SSP. Our cocoa suppliers are required, as defined in our multi-year supply agreements, to establish a CLMRS in child labor risk countries. Through the CLMRS, families and community members gain a better understanding of risks and discuss ways of preventing negative impacts.

5. Track and evaluate the effectiveness of actions

Lindt & Sprüngli’s Human Rights Policy was approved in 2022 by the CEO, Group Management, and the Board of Directors, and we annually assess its effectiveness. The 2024 review considered the Human Rights Policy, identification and assessment of impacts, prevention and mitigation actions, tracking, reporting, and access to remedy. Our evaluation was prepared by the Human Rights Officer and reviewed by members of Group Management as well as by the Sustainability Committee of the Board.

For further information on tracking of human rights incidents, also see Concerns raised through the Speak Up Line and incidents in 2024, metrics related to the Reduction of the risk of child labor, and Metrics and targets within this chapter.

6. Report and communicate on the process

The Lindt & Sprüngli Sustainability Report is our primary annual public report on our human rights due diligence efforts, action plans, and progress. We also report in accordance with country-specific human rights due diligence reporting requirements. For more information on the availability of the Human Rights Policy and communication thereof, also see Commit to human rights and embed into policies within this chapter.

Engaging with stakeholders

In our due diligence processes, we aim to consider the parties and/or persons potentially and actually affected and/or their legitimate representatives.

We annually engage with works councils and employee union representatives. In 2024, we decided to move to a new survey system and plan to pilot the first employee survey, using the new system in two countries in 2026 and then rolling it out globally. The future global survey will be conducted on a bi-annual basis. Through this survey we request feedback on matters such as working conditions and compensation and diversity and inclusion (see Global employee engagement in the Performing together chapter).

As part of the Lindt & Sprüngli Farming Program, regular feedback on the program is collected by supplier staff and local Lindt & Sprüngli representatives as part of farmer engagement and community development work (for more information, see Rural development chapter). Additionally, targeted stakeholder engagement on the topics of child labor and living income in cocoa was conducted in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire in 2024. This included consultations with farmer groups and civil society organizations, with the aim of informing our due diligence approach on these two topics.

Child labor

Lindt & Sprüngli strongly condemns all forms of child labor. In agricultural value chains, especially in the cocoa sector in West African countries, child labor is a persistent and complex challenge. Tackling child labor requires continuous and collaborative efforts from all stakeholders active in the sector.

At Lindt & Sprüngli, we are firmly committed to addressing child labor and avoiding it whenever possible. This is a key focus of the Farming Program in our cocoa supply chain.

Fulfillment of the due diligence obligations in accordance with Article 964j-l of the Swiss Code of Obligations

Lindt & Sprüngli conducts risk-based human rights due diligence on the Group’s own operations and its supply chain. This includes assessing the risk of well-founded suspicion of child labor for supplied goods and services (see Assess human rights risks and impacts within this chapter). The following section addresses specific due diligence and reporting obligations in the area of child labor in fulfillment of Article 964j-l of the Swiss Code of Obligations.

Examination of suspicion of child labor

Lindt & Sprüngli purchases products from origins with an increased risk of child labor, i.e., UNICEF Children’s Rights in the Workplace Index risk classification score above “Basic” according to the index published in June 2023. The Children’s Rights in the Workplace Index measures the extent to which countries eliminate child labor and provide decent work for young workers, parents, and caregivers. We therefore use a risk-based approach to check for reasonable suspicion of child labor risk in relation to specific products or services. To do so, we group suppliers in categories and industries of goods or services where a risk of child labor has been identified. We then further assess sub-categories in detail, such as individual raw materials, using credible and independent sources, such as ILO reports, the UNICEF Children’s Rights in the Workplace Index, and the US Department of Labor List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor. We determine risk levels using criteria from the UN Guiding Principles (severity relative to scale, scope, remediability, as well as likelihood). Finally, we determine risk levels for individual suppliers. Suppliers’ primary location and raw material country of origin information is considered in this phase, where available.

The highest risk of child labor is in the indirect (tier 2+) supply chain of raw materials. This includes the sourcing of cocoa from Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Papua New Guinea, and Madagascar, coconuts and coconut oil, for example, from the Philippines, hazelnuts from Türkiye, palm oil from Indonesia, vanilla from Madagascar, as well as packaging from Asia.

Lindt & Sprüngli also assesses the risk of child labor, including the exposure of young workers to hazardous work, in its own operations as part of the due diligence process. It was not identified as a significant risk in our own operations.

Child labor due diligence, risk management, and traceability

Our Human Rights Policy, Supplier Code of Conduct, the Farming Program Verification Guidance and the CLMRS Guidance Document for suppliers collectively constitute our Child Labor Policy. For more information on how we embed the aforementioned policies into our contracts and agreements with suppliers, see Commit to human rights and embed into policies within this chapter.

The outputs of our child labor risk assessment are used to inform Lindt & Sprüngli’s risk management system, including our due diligence approach and preventive and mitigation actions (see Targets and action plans within this chapter and the Responsible sourcing chapter). We also focus on enhancing traceability in our supply chains by applying a risk-based approach. Information on our tier-1 suppliers, as well as the goods and services they provide, are recorded in procurement systems.

We record traceability information for cocoa, including from tier-1 suppliers of cocoa sourced and farmer groups participating in the Lindt & Sprüngli Farming Program internally, and have publicly disclosed this information for the first time in 2024. The current level of supply chain traceability depends on the sourcing arrangement and complexity of the cocoa product sourced. The Lindt & Sprüngli Cocoa Supply Chain Disclosure is published on our corporate website.

Concerns about child labor in our supply chain can be reported via our Speak Up Line grievance mechanism, an additional process and channel to audit or otherwise identify and remediate matters of concern (see Provide access to effective remedy within this chapter).

Reducing the risk of child labor in the cocoa supply chain

Child labor remains a critical issue in the cocoa sector. Child labor is a complex issue driven by a multitude of factors, including farming households’ poverty, lack of awareness and access to education, and the high labor costs of cocoa production. The issue cannot be solved by a single supply-chain actor alone. The most common type of child labor in cocoa is hazardous work, including the use of sharp tools, the carrying of heavy loads, and exposure to agrochemicals.¹

Due to the complexity and systemic nature of the issue, identifying the most effective solutions to reduce the prevalence of child labor remains a challenge. Child Labor Monitoring and Remediation Systems (CLMRS) aim to address child labor and are being implemented by various sector stakeholders. This has helped companies to have a clearer view of child labor risks in their supply chains. Beyond the monitoring of children in the supply chain, a CLMRS includes remediation support to children identified as involved in, or at risk of, child labor, as well as to their families. As monitoring and support for individual children alone does not address the root causes of child labor on a broader scale, we are additionally implementing preventive interventions as part of our CLMRS Guidance Document for suppliers (see Our approach to reducing the risk of child labor in our cocoa supply chain).

We are aware that we do not have all the answers on how to prevent abuses of children’s rights in our supply chains. We are, however, engaged in working to continuously enhance the effectiveness of our systems in order to address this risk in our cocoa supply chain and beyond.

Our approach to reducing the risk of child labor in the cocoa supply chain

Lindt & Sprüngli employs a tailored strategy to mitigate child labor risks, which depends on how the cocoa is sourced. For cocoa sourced through the Lindt & Sprüngli Farming Program, measures are implemented as part of the program through suppliers. For volumes not sourced through the Farming Program, we rely on the requirements of, and verification through, Rainforest Alliance Certification (see Responsible sourcing chapter for more information). This includes volumes sourced through the Mass Balance system (see Traceability models in the Glossary).

Lindt & Sprüngli’s cocoa suppliers implementing the Farming Program in countries of origin with a risk of child labor are required to protect children’s rights along the cocoa supply chain by implementing our Child Labor Monitoring and Remediation System (CLMRS) guidance. The CLMRS Guidance Document is an integral part of our contracts with the respective suppliers and describes more specifically our expectations of, and proposed approach to, the prevention, monitoring, and remediation of child labor.

Actions and progress in addressing child labor in our cocoa supply chain

Since child labor is a complex issue which cannot be tackled by individual organizations alone and requires ongoing efforts to improve and further develop sector responses, we joined the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) in April 2024. As board member and participant in technical discussions, we aim to support effective multi-stakeholder collaboration to advance sector solutions. We are also engaging in collective action at origin to strengthen access to quality education, such as the Child Learning and Education Facility (CLEF) coalition in Côte d’Ivoire.

Since the introduction of our CLMRS Guidance Document in 2022, we have been working with suppliers to understand how they implement our requirements related to risk assessments, monitoring, data collection, and remediation support. As part of our ongoing supplier engagement, we check adherence to processes outlined in our Guidance Document and reported data through on-site visits, document reviews, and data validation exercises. If our expectations are not met, we follow-up. To get a better understanding of suppliers’ practices, and identify improvement actions for the coming years, an assessment of the supplier-implemented CLMRS performed by ICI was initiated in 2024.

Child labor monitoring and remediation process

1. Assess farming household and community risks

As per our CLMRS Guidance Document, household and community risk assessments are the starting point of the CLMRS process. Suppliers are required to collect and analyze community and household data to identify communities and households with high child labor risks. Some of the key risks are the lack of school infrastructure, lack of access to safe drinking water and health facilities, as well as household-specific risk factors such as number of children or farm size. Our CLMRS Guidance Document outlines that our suppliers should use this data to inform future monitoring visits and investments in preventive actions at the supply chain and community level, which are implemented as part of the Farming Program.

In 2024, we continued to support seven suppliers in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire with implementing our CLMRS process, and three suppliers in Papua New Guinea and Madagascar with rolling-out of the process.

2. Implement preventive interventions

As initial preventive measure in the supply chain, Lindt & Sprüngli expects its suppliers to raise awareness of the protection of children’s rights as part of the mandatory training curriculum, which is a minimum requirement of the Lindt & Sprüngli Farming Program. In addition to farmer training, staff from our suppliers conduct visits to selected high-risk Farming Program households to raise awareness at individual level.

Since child labor is a systemic issue, it cannot be solved on a broader scale solely by engaging individual households and supporting individual children in the supply chain. For this reason, we expect our suppliers to use the collected CLMRS risk data to decide on and target more systemic and preventive community-based interventions. Therefore, at-risk communities are supported by investments in community infrastructure, such as education and water infrastructure. With our Farming Program we also aim to address child labor risks by increasing the resilience of farming households. This includes initiatives aiming at facilitating higher productivity, supporting diversification of household incomes, and improving access to adult labor through community service groups (see Increasing farm productivity in the Rural development chapter).

In the reporting year, the Farming Program supported the construction or refurbishment of 18 schools, bringing the total to 75 schools, benefiting approximately 14,200 children to date.

In 2024, we also provided financial support for the creation of new Community Child Protection Committees (CCPCs), which work to sensitize communities on the issue of child labor and serve as an additional mechanism to address child labor beyond the supply chain.

Our recognition of the need for collective action to prevent child labor at a more systemic level was instrumental in our decision to join the Child Learning and Education Facility (CLEF) coalition in 2022 (see Working in partnerships and engaging in collective action through multi-stakeholder initiatives in the Rural development chapter).

3. Monitor farming households

We guide suppliers to implement a risk-based approach to identifying child labor within the cocoa supply chain. Firstly, suppliers in child labor risk countries are expected to identify children at risk during announced farm monitoring visits to all Farming Program farmers. Secondly, suppliers are expected to conduct unannounced child labor monitoring visits to homes or farms of Farming Program households identified to be at risk during the risk assessment. Finally, suppliers, as well as Lindt & Sprüngli, have grievance mechanisms in place through which child labor can be reported by any stakeholder (see Provide access to effective remedy in the Respecting human rights chapter).

To support child labor monitoring at community level, the Farming Program provides indirect support by helping to establish CCPCs and to support them in putting in place a monitoring and grievance mechanism, including data sharing with regional government institutions.

4. Provide remediation to children identified in child labor

Suppliers are required to operate a case management system to manage identified child labor. Such a system aims to provide remediation support for concerned families of impacted children. It is combined with follow-up visits to assess the success of the remediation support.

Remediation support at an individual level can include engagement with parents, the provision of school uniforms, birth certificates, or funds for school fees, and referral to local authorities. In 2024, suppliers reported that more than 540 children within the Farming Program were no longer performing work classified as child labor during the two most recent follow-up visits conducted by program staff. Child labor identified outside of the Farming Program at community level is remediated through awareness-raising visits by the CCPC where available or referral to government institutions.

5. Report data and progress

Suppliers are required to document their processes, collect and analyze data, record activities conducted, and report on both activities and remediation on an annual basis to Lindt & Sprüngli, as well as to ICI in the case of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.

Refining our approach in our cocoa supply chain

Over the next years, we plan to strengthen our efforts to address child labor and continue our work on supporting household resilience and community development through the Farming Program. We will conclude our CLMRS review, performed by the ICI, and define improvement actions.

Reducing the risk of child labor in non-cocoa priority raw material supply chains

Our Responsible Sourcing Roadmap covers the 12 priority materials we want to source, or start sourcing, responsibly by 2025, including those identified as having an elevated risk of child labor (see the Responsible sourcing chapter).

Palm oil from Indonesia is associated with an elevated child labor risk. Lindt & Sprüngli sources 100% of its palm oil, palm kernel oil, and their fractions with Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification. The RSPO standard includes criteria prohibiting child labor and requiring policies to protect children and to provide remediation.

We also identified an elevated risk of child labor in our hazelnut supply chain in the Turkish Black Sea region, in our vanilla supply chain from Madagascar, as well as in various regions in our coconut oil supply chain. Our responsible sourcing requirement for these raw materials is certification through the Rainforest Alliance 2020 Agriculture standard. The standard sets requirements for certified farms to address risks of child labor, forced labor, discrimination, and workplace violence and harassment. The standard includes an “assess-and-address” model, which requires certificate holders to have specific measures to monitor, mitigate, and remediate cases of these issues. For more information, see Hazelnuts, Vanilla, and Coconut oil in the Responsible sourcing of priority raw materials section in the Responsible Sourcing chapter.

The risk of child labor in the packaging supply chain is primarily associated with factories in Asia. Through our SSP Program, we audit supplier sites with an emphasis on social and environmental aspects, including child labor.

Metrics and targets

In Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, 89,500 farming households, all of them participants of the Lindt & Sprüngli Farming Program, were covered by a CLMRS. Suppliers in Papua New Guinea and Madagascar were onboarded to our CLMRS in 2023 and are currently rolling this out to cover 7,000 households.

¹NORC at the University of Chicago, Oct. 2020, “Assessing Progress in Reducing Child Labor in Cocoa Production in Cocoa Growing Areas of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana”.

PwC CH