At BerryWorld, human rights are a core part of who we are. We are committed to operating in a transparent, responsible and ethical way throughout our business and supply chain. This includes protecting workers from exploitation, promoting fair working conditions and working actively to identify and prevent modern slavery, forced labour and human trafficking in all forms. Our approach is guided by international human rights standards and shaped by collaboration with growers, partners and multi stakeholder initiatives. We believe everyone involved in bringing fresh produce from farm to fork deserves to be treated with dignity, fairness and respect.
Taking a holistic approach, we engage across the BerryWorld Group and with relevant stakeholders to continually review our human rights due diligence process (HRDD) and ways of working and stay updated with industry developments. Our Responsible Sourcing and Human Rights Strategy underpins our actions.
Human Rights Due Diligence
Our HRDD process is ongoing and continuously improving, however it remains rooted in our key processes and policies that provide the framework for how we identify, prevent, mitigate and remediate adverse human rights impacts, as per the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Some of these polices are:
BerryWorld Responsible Sourcing Ethical Policy: Policy statement on our commitments to human rights and ethical trading. This includes commitment to ILO Standards, the ETI Base Code and GLAA standards. This document also outlines guidance on our due-diligence expectations for our supply chain partners.
BerryWorld Ethical Undertaking: Signed agreement issued to suppliers to gain their commitment to the ILO standards, ETI and BSCI Codes. This also details our minimum requirements and expectations for suppliers.
BerryWorld Preventing Modern Slavery Policy: Our policy commitment to preventing and recognising modern slavery within our supply chains. This policy draws on from ILO Conventions, Protocols, Recommendations and Instruments such as the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and the Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy, the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
BerryWorld Whistleblowing Hotline: Policy containing details on our independent ‘Speak Up’ whistleblowing line, managed by Navex Global. Individuals can use the hotline to alert us to anything illegal or unethical, including potential forced labour or labour exploitation.
BerryWorld Sexual Harassment policy: Our policy detailing our approach in line with the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023. This policy details people’s rights in the workplace and how incidents of harassment can be reported and managed, along with sharing how we can cultivate a supportive environment.
BerryWorld Equality and dignity at work policy: Our commitment to ensuring equal opportunities for all employees, avoiding unlawful discrimination in employment and encouraging diversity amongst our workforce.
BerryWorld Remediation and Grievance Policy: Our recognition of the need for us to assist in remediation where there have been human rights violations within our supply chain. This policy highlights our internal responsibilities and procedures for delivering remediation, along with the principles we commit to in relation to remediation and grievance mechanisms.
BerryWorld Ethical Procurement Policy: Policy detailing our minimum requirements to trade with a site, our customer requirements and the risk ratings of our supply countries, to be used by our procurement teams.
Another key function of our HRDD process is our ethical and environmental risk assessment, which is constantly evolving to make sure we remain up-to-date with emergent risks and trends. However, the key steps within this assessment are:
Our risk assessment covers all of our suppliers and has been assessed and independently reviewed by The Human Rights Lab at Nottingham University in order to evaluate its performance and maturity. We look at a wide range of information including SEDEX data, worker demographics, audit performance, the use of labour provider, accommodation conditions and measures of development in country. Through this process we are able to both identify growers who need more support, regions which may require enhanced due diligence, and we can determine our salient risks. This allows us to prioritise and work with those most vulnerable to severe human rights impacts.
Speak Up on Human Rights
At Berry World, we recognise that protecting human rights begins with ensuring every worker has a voice. We believe all individuals should be able to raise concerns, ask questions and report issues safely, easily and without fear of negative consequence. Strong communication channels are essential for building trust, identifying risks early and ensuring that workers feel supported and empowered across our supply chain.
That is why we prioritise accessible and effective worker feedback mechanisms, including our independent Speak Up hotline and the worker committees established on grower sites. Together, these tools help us hear directly from workers and understand their experiences and take meaningful action to address concerns and continuously improve working conditions.
BerryWorld Hotline
Whistleblowing is an essential tool for protecting workers, customers and stakeholders. This whistleblowing line offers a confidential mechanism for employees to ask questions, and report concerns in relation to ethics and compliance (including food quality, safety and legality). At BerryWorld, we recognise the need for a trusted mechanism that allows workers across our global supply chain to raise concerns without fear, which is why we have our own Berry World Hotline.
In 2016 we launched our independent BerryWorld whistleblowing hotline, Speak Up, managed by NAVEX Global. Starting with UK growers, we have taken a phased approach to expanding the hotline across our global supply chain.
We provide growers with lots of resource materials to help ensure maximum awareness and understanding about the hotline throughout the workforce. We recommend that information should be included during the induction training and have developed an induction insert for growers to use. We also recommend that our posters should be placed in key locations on site, such as on the back of toilet and locker room doors, notice boards, accommodation and in canteen or break areas so that workers know how to use the line and make reports.
- Speak Up is designed to be easy to use and fully confidential and Individuals can be completely anonymous or give their name.
- Individuals can use the hotline by calling a freephone number or by submitting a report online via the website or using the QR code.
- The caller will be given the option of multipe languages to choose from and if submitting via a report they can select a language.
- Reporters will receive a unique case number either at the end of the call or after completion of online report. This is so they are able to check for responses and follow progress
- NAVEX transcribes the report and securely transfers it to BerryWorld’s Head of Responsible Sourcing, who then works with the relevent growers HR or site representatives to investigate and take the matter further.
- Sites receive monthly summary from BerryWorld UK to alert them if any reports have come through.
Worker Committee Case Study
A worker representative committee at one of our UK farms has been operating since 2011. It is currently made up of 3 worker representatives and 2 members of management. The forum is an opportunity for management to hear the workers' voice regarding issues, ideas, and general comments. Worker committees are an important method our growers can use to both identify and mitigate risks on site.
The farm ensures that regular meetings take place every quarter and that the election process is as fair and consistent as possible. The committee is made up of a variety of non-managerial and managerial members of different nationalities and from different teams to ensure the scope covers the whole business.
The worker representatives believe that the committee is hugely beneficial as it provides a different communication path avoiding the standard direct employee to supervisor to management role. Especially when there is a lack of English speakers amongst the workforce it is a good method to support employees in expressing themselves. The farm has found that the committee allows cross-department discussions that communicate horizontally rather than vertically and so allows for better flow of information and ideas.
Respecting Human Rights
At BerryWorld we believe that collaboration is fundamental to our commitment to human rights. Building strong relationships with external industry, national and global bodies helps us promote ethical practices, strengthen worker protection and address the global risks of labour exploitation and modern slavery.
To support this work, we are members of and actively engaged with the following organisations:
Food Network for Ethical Trade (FNET) | Member of FNET since 2017
The Food Network for Ethical Trade is a member-led initiative which is committed to improving the lives and livelihoods of workers in food supply chains. FNET uses the collective leverage of suppliers and retailers to bring about positive change in working conditions.
Through its collaborative work, FNET aims to improve labour conditions in agriculture and food processing, both in the UK and internationally, by setting industry-wide expectations and ensuring they are communicated and supported throughout supply chains.
Being members of the Food Network for Ethical Trade enables us to work alongside at least 80 businesses and retailers to use our collective leverage to bring about positive change in global food supply chain working conditions by providing guidance, resources, training, and opportunities for collaboration. In 2025 we participated in the Common Due Diligence, Climate Change and Human Rights, Responsible Recruitment and Empowering Work working groups, which support advancing our implementation of responsible business practices.
At BerryWorld we are further supporting the FNET Common DD Tools working group via a co-lead position as of November 2025.
Stronger Together | Member of Stronger Together and a sponsor of the South Africa Program since 2017
Stronger Together is a UK initiative supporting businesses to prevent modern slavery and labour exploitation in supply chains, and BerryWorld are a Global Steering Committee member and also a local Steering Committee member in South Africa.
BerryWorld support the Stronger Together Initiative which was launched in South Africa in 2017 and since then we have been engaging with all our growers to attend the training with Stronger Together, raising awareness of Modern Slavery and equipping businesses with the knowledge, skills and tools to address any forced labour risks. By the end of 2018, 90% of our growers had attended the training.
In 2022 we supported Stronger Together on introducing their training on Detecting, Deterring and Dealing with Forced Labour in Agri-Businesses in Zimbabwe for the first time.
See more information on our BerryWorld and Stronger Together partnership here: (The BerryWorld way in Zimbabwe)
SEDEX (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange)
SEDEX is a global platform that enables businesses to share SMETA audit data and manage ethical supply chain risks. We require our suppliers to also become members of SEDEX, along with asking them to complete a social self-assessment questionnaire. This platform and questionnaire allows us to capture key details on labour, recruitment, health and safety and equality, which feeds into our risk assessment.
Spanish Ethical Trade Forums (SETF) | Member of SETF Since 2016
SETF is a collaborative initiative that brings agri-food businesses and stakeholders together to promote ethical labour practices and responsible supply chains in Spain.
Jointly sponsor the Spanish Ethical Forums which are managed by Conexion Social. These regional events are designed to allow growers and producers to come together to educate, collaborate and discuss issues around worker welfare concerns or challenges they may have and jointly look at how standards can be improved. BerryWorld are a part of the Retailer, Importer Working Group that help support the work that comes through the forums.
Egyptian Suppliers Ethical Trade Forum (ESET) | Member of ESET Since 2015
ESET is an initiative that brings together suppliers and stakeholders in Egypt to improve labour standards, share best practice, and address ethical trade challenges within the supply chain.
Seasonal Worker Scheme (SWS) Taskforce | Member of SWS Taskforce since 2023
The SWS Taskforce brings together growers, recruiters and retailers to improve standards and protect workers across the UK Seasonal Worker Scheme and wider UK Horticulture. The group works collectively to identify risks, share best practice and deliver practical actions that strengthen worker protection, raise awareness of workers’ rights and support responsible recruitment. At BerryWorld we believe being part of the Taskforce enhances our commitment to ethical recruitment, worker wellbeing and a more resilient labour system.
Find out more information about the SWS Taskforce on their website here: Seasonal Workers Scheme Taskforce - Stronger Together
The Association of Labour Providers (ALP)
The ALP is s a non-profit organisation that promotes responsible recruitment and good practice across labour supply chains. The ALP works with and influences government and regulators and provides up to date guidance and support to its members.
UK Grower Ethical Day
At BerryWorld we have a Grower Ethical Forum which offers all our UK growers the opportunity to meet and discuss concerns, challenges and share ideas developing best practice in a safe, confidential space.
Menstrual Health in South Africa
In September 2024 BerryWorld were awarded the FPC Sustainability Excellence Ethical Award for the project of supporting the female workforce in South Africa, helping them overcome taboos and gain access to sanitary aid during their menstrual cycle.
Through our ongoing human rights due diligence, found that there are barriers that prevent women in South Africa from being able to attend work due to female health. 25% of women had to take time off work during their period and 81% wanted to understand more about menstruation and the different products available. This led us to consider what support was required to improve worker attendance and productivity. We conducted a needs assessment to understand the challenges and barriers that females may face, which identified a clear need for more awareness and education on female health topics.
As a result, we partnered with a customer to organise and provide female reproductive health workshops. The focus was on increasing awareness of mental health and wellbeing practices around reproductive health and affordable and re-usable menstrual products. These topics were approached through arts therapy, with psycho-educational techniques used to discuss the four phases of the menstrual cycle and their impact on women’s wellbeing. Dance and art were used to help women open-up and discuss topics of concern and to introduce practical self-care tools.
“The experience increased my confidence and selfesteem and taught me how to handle my family and children.”
For more information, please see our more detailed case-study.
Support Available
If you or someone you know is at risk, experiencing exploitation or needs advice, there are organisations who can help. Support is confidential, free and available at any time.
Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline
24/7 Report form: https://www.modernslaveryhelpline.org/report
Open seven days a week, 365 days a year Phone Number: 0800 0121 700
More information: https://www.unseenuk.org
Gangmasters & Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA)
24/7 Report form: https://www.gla.gov.uk/report-issues/english-report-form
9-5, Monday to Friday Phone number: 0800 432 0804
9-5, Monday to Friday Email: contact@gla.gov.uk
More information: https://www.gla.gov.uk