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NEW (recent additions to this section; top item is most recent addition)

Discrimination suit against Supervalu cleared for trial [USA] - Scratched out on a hotel memo pad, the notes referring to a restructuring plan at Supervalu Inc. included a harsh description of the purpose: "This is how we stay legal to eliminate the old people from the system and wipe the slate clean." (Julie Forster, Star Tribune, 28 Apr. 2003)

Nationwide Ad Campaign Exposes Worker Issues at Natural Food Giant [Whole Foods Markets] [USA] -...The National Labor Relations Board postponed the scheduled April 4 election at the Whole Foods store in Tyson's Corner, Va., while it investigates charges that the company engaged in a variety of illegal activities designed to stop the employees' organizing efforts (United Food and Commercial Workers Union, 4 Apr. 2003)

When Lightning Strikes: Portfolio 21 Applies The Natural Step's Sustainability Theories - Portfolio 21 applies environmental screens based on the principles of the Natural Step, which promotes sustainability. [refers to Electrolux, Whole Foods Market, Wild Oats, Horizon Organic] (William Baue, SocialFunds.com, 3 Apr. 2003)

Websites:

Ethical Trading Initiative

The Luangeni project in Chipata [Zambia]: A success story -...a partnership between Shoprite, ZamSeed, Ministry of Agriculture Food & Fisheries (MAFF), NGOs and the Luangeni Community. The main idea was to build capacity among the rural communities of Chipata to begin producing high quality vegetables that could be marketed to Shoprite Checkers, a South African chain of stores. (Forum for Business Leaders & Social Partners [The Partnership Forum, Zambia], Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum)

Other materials:

2003:

Discrimination suit against Supervalu cleared for trial [USA] - Scratched out on a hotel memo pad, the notes referring to a restructuring plan at Supervalu Inc. included a harsh description of the purpose: "This is how we stay legal to eliminate the old people from the system and wipe the slate clean." (Julie Forster, Star Tribune, 28 Apr. 2003)

Nationwide Ad Campaign Exposes Worker Issues at Natural Food Giant [Whole Foods Markets] [USA] -...The National Labor Relations Board postponed the scheduled April 4 election at the Whole Foods store in Tyson's Corner, Va., while it investigates charges that the company engaged in a variety of illegal activities designed to stop the employees' organizing efforts (United Food and Commercial Workers Union, 4 Apr. 2003)

When Lightning Strikes: Portfolio 21 Applies The Natural Step's Sustainability Theories - Portfolio 21 applies environmental screens based on the principles of the Natural Step, which promotes sustainability. [refers to Electrolux, Whole Foods Market, Wild Oats, Horizon Organic] (William Baue, SocialFunds.com, 3 Apr. 2003)

The launch of the UK Corporate Responsibility Index - Toby Kent reports from the launch of the BitC [Business in the Community] Corporate Responsibility Index, highlighting its main components and the major issues it raises. (Toby Kent, in Ethical Corporation Magazine, 14 Mar. 2003)

Sale of Fairtrade products doubles [UK] - Sales of goods that promise a better deal for farmers in developing countries have more than doubled in three years, it was announced at the weekend...Sainsbury's now sells around 1 million Fairtrade bananas a week, and has own-brand coffee, tea, and chocolate that carry the Fairtrade certification mark. Last November the Co-op supermarket chain announced it was switching all its own-brand chocolate to Fairtrade. (David Brown, Guardian [UK], 3 Mar. 2003)

Retail therapy - Awareness of how and where goods are produced has soared - and so has the fair trade movement -...Now there are more than 100 products, ranging from tea, coffee and bananas to sugar, wine, honey, fruits, juices, snacks and biscuits, chilli peppers and meat. Coming next are fair trade clothes and textiles, and fair trade footballs...To go truly mainstream, though, fair trade must occupy more than a remote shelf in a supermarket. There are the first signs that that is happening as the Co-op and Safeway supermarkets start their own fair trade lines. (John Vidal, Guardian [UK], 26 Feb. 2003)

Can't say fairer than that - Once a minority cause, Fairtrade is now becoming mainstream, writes Simon Caulkin [refers to Nestlé, Cafédirect, Co-op supermarket] (Simon Caulkin, Observer [UK], 2 Feb. 2003)

Letter To The Editor (and Responses) featuring Paul Hawken and Amy Domini [debate on socially-responsible investment; refers to labour, environmental, health & other social issues; refers to Chiquita, McDonald's, Wild Oats, Whole Foods, Horizon Organic, Coca-Cola]  (GreenMoneyJournal.com, Feb./Mar. 2003)

2002:

Press release - Pilot project of the Clean Clothes Campaign (Switzerland): Findings of the follow up visits to the Indian suppliers - The Pilot project on independent monitoring set up in 2000 by the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) and by Migros, Switcher and Veillon to monitor compliance with the Code of Conduct has issued its first report. (Clean Clothes Campaign Switzerland, 12 Dec. 2002)

The Co-op switches to Fairtrade chocolate in move to fight slavery - Anti-Slavery International welcomes the Co-op's announcement that it will switch its entire own-brand chocolate bars to Fairtrade chocolate in 2,400 stores across the UK, bringing fairly traded cocoa firmly into the mainstream market. (Anti-Slavery International, 26 Nov. 2002)

US urged to wake up to "coffee with a conscience" -...fair trade beans are slowly making inroads into some of America's favourite coffee emporiums, with them being sold in some 10,000 outlets nationally including retailers such as Starbucks, the world's largest speciality coffee company, the supermarket chain Safeway and the food conglomerate Sara Lee. (Ros Davidson, Reuters, 15 Oct. 2002)

Energy-Efficient Grocery Chain Gets Nod from EPA - Lowes Foods has been honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its efforts to reduce energy consumption. (GreenBiz.com, 25 Sep. 2002)

Business and UN team up to recognise sustainable partnerships at Earth Summit - The United Nations and ICC: the world business organization today named ten business partnership programmes from around the world which are making an outstanding contribution to sustainable development [refers to Alcan Inc; Shell; Axel Springer Verlag; Kesko; E7 Network; ForesTrade; BioRe and Coop; Migros; Business Trust South Africa] (International Chamber of Commerce, 30 Aug. 2002)

Environmental Fiduciary: The Case for Incorporating Environmental Factors into Investment Management Policies - In this report, we show that fiduciaries who manage funds for institutional investors such as pension funds, foundations and charitable trusts should incorporate environmental factors into their portfolio management policies. [includes reference to DuPont, ST Microelectronics, IBM, Baxter Intl, Smithfield Foods, US Liquids, Weyerhauser, Georgia Pacific, ChevronTexaco, Marathon Oil, Deutsche Telekom, Nestle, Southern California Gas, ITT, Textron, Corning, Whole Foods, Hains Celestial] (Susannah Blake Goodman, Jonas Kron & Tim Little, The Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment, 21 Aug. 2002)

Companies feel the pressures of Corporate Social Responsibility -...a growing number of large, quoted companies in Britain are looking at their suppliers’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policies as closely as their own...His remarks, though in the context of the UK, have considerable significance for the world scenario and India as well, where labour and environmental standards are going to be an important factor in doing business...“It’s early days for this kind of screening, but even now, companies like Sainsbury and British Airways are asking their suppliers for information on environmental policies and employment.” (Business Standard [India], 15 Aug. 2002)

Fruit and vegetable pesticide 'risk' [UK] - Much of the fruit and vegetables in UK supermarkets contains potentially harmful pesticide residues, campaigners warn. The supermarket chain Somerfield chain came out worst in the Friends on the Earth study, which showed 60% of its fruit and vegetables contained the residues. [other supermarket chains covered: Morrison's, Waitrose, Asda, Sainsbury, Tesco, Safeway, M&S] (BBC News, 7 Aug. 2002)

7-Eleven settles age discrimination suit [USA] - Dallas-based 7-Eleven Inc. has reached an agreement with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to settle an age discrimination lawsuit. The suit...alleged that the convenience store chain failed to promote a 58-year-old employee to an executive assistant position based on her age (Dallas Business Journal, 29 July 2002)

'Big Box' Retailers Can Ring Up Billions in Energy Savings, Says Study - Large retailers could save $3 billion every year on energy costs while cutting 20 million tons of pollution and helping avoid brownouts by using recommended strategies and technologies. [report by Center for Energy and Climate Solutions] [refers to steps taken by Shaw Supermarkets and Wal-Mart] (GreenBiz.com, 3 July 2002)

Pesticides banned in baby food - But still in fruit and veg -...Friends of the Earth is calling on retailers to phase-out the use of pesticides that are causing most concern and aim for residue-free food - starting with foods most popular with infants and young children. (Friends of the Earth, 1 July 2002)

High street shops under attack for their ethics [UK] - High street shops have scored poorly in a survey rating businesses on their support for ethical trading practices. The survey...awarded marks to businesses according to their stance on issues such as child labour, poverty wages and poor working conditions. The Co-op, Body Shop and DIY chain B&Q all scored highly. But the survey said most high street shops either had no code of conduct to cover unfair trading issues, refused to publish one or declined to allow their codes to be independently checked. (Henrykl Zientek, Huddersfield Daily Examiner [UK], 20 June 2002)

Confrontation at Shaw's [Shaw's Supermarkets, a subsidiary of Sainsbury]: The Frontline Fight for Workers in a Global Economy - Lord Sainsbury U.K. vs. Labor Movement U.S.A. - National AFL-CIO President To Risk Arrest In Workplace Representation Fight At Worcester [Massachusetts] Area Shaw's Stores...The national leaders are directly challenging Shaw's policy of denying workers' job site representation, and the company's use of arrests to prevent workers from talking with union representatives. (United Food and Commercial Workers, 31 May 2002)

{···français} Les beaux jours du mal être [France] -...40 médecins du travail ont sondé un millier de salariés des grandes surfaces, d'enseignes d'hyper et de supermarchés lors des visites médicales annuelles...L'étude montre surtout au-delà de la situation alarmante, que la santé se dégrade en fonction des «conditions d'emploi». (Muriel Gremillet, Libération, 7 mai 2002)

American Retailers May Be Key To Improving Environmental Stewardship of Livestock Feedlots - Retail powerhouses in the food service industry including fast food, grocery, and restaurant chains, should require large livestock feedlots and processing facilities that supply retailers with meat, eggs, and dairy products to meet strict environmental standards, according to a new report issued by the Izaak Walton League. (Izaak Walton League, 24 Apr. 2002)

Jons paying fine for underage staff [USA]: Jons Marketplace settled a federal complaint for child labour violations, paying $113,225 for illegally employing 63 young workers [allowed underage employees to operate paper crushing and baling machines and forklift] (Child Labour News Service, 15 Apr. 2002)

WEST AFRICA: New FAO project to tackle illegal fishing - A programme to combat fish poaching implemented by the Food and Agriculture Programme, is to target illegal trawling in West African countries including Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Senegal and Sierra Leone...Vessels from Europe, FAO said, trawl off the coasts of West African countries taking advantage of lack of surveillance aircraft....The fish is sold in supermarkets in wealthy countries to consumers who do not realize that they are buying food stolen from the poor (U.N. Integrated Regional Information Networks, 10 Apr. 2002)

Six Women Win $30.6M in Store Suit [USA]: A jury has awarded $30.6 million to six women who alleged they were subject to violent behavior and sexual harassment by a store director at Ralphs Grocery Co. (Simon Avery, AP, 6 Apr. 2002)

M&S offers work to the homeless [UK]: Marks and Spencer will announce today 600 work placements to get homeless people off the streets and into permanent jobs. The initiative is believed to be the biggest so far by any of the 90-plus companies in the Business Action on Homelessness campaign. (Alison Maitland, Financial Times, 27 Mar. 2002)

UK group urges retailers to reduce pesticide levels: Exposing young children to pesticides in fruit, vegetables and popular nibbles like crisps may cause them serious health problems in later life, a report [by Friends of the Earth] urging retailers to eliminate such residues said this week..."Retailers should come clean with their customers by publishing the results of their residue testing - so far only the Co-op and M&S have been honest enough to do this," she [Sandra Bell, Friends of the Earth] said. (Veronica Brown, Reuters, 15 Mar. 2002)

Judge approves $9 million settlement in bioengineered-corn suit [USA]: A federal judge approved a $9 million settlement Thursday in a class-action lawsuit by consumers who complained of allergic reactions to genetically modified corn in supermarket products...The StarLink corn seed...had been approved by the [U.S.] Environmental Protection Agency for use in animal feed but not for human consumption...Aventis and Garst were defendants in the lawsuit along with Kraft Foods Co. of Glenview, Ill.; Azteca Foods Inc. of Chicago; Azteca Milling, Co. of Edinburg, Texas; and a sister company, Mission Foods Co. (Mike Robinson, Associated Press, on Environmental News Network website, 8 Mar. 2002)

Poor farmers taste success - Fairtrade is making headway but is still a tiny part of global trade [refers to coffee industry, cocoa/chocolate industry, Max Havelaar coffee brand, Cafedirect, Starbucks, Sainsbury, Co-op, Day Chocolate Company] (Roger Cowe, Financial Times, 4 Mar. 2002)

Tackling risky chemicals on the high street [UK]: Ikea, the Body Shop, Co-op, Marks & Spencer and B&Q are top of the table when it comes to tackling risky chemicals in their products [worst scores: Hamleys, Focus, BHS, Somerfield; companies that did not reply: ASDA, Kwick Save, Morrisons, Toys 'R' Us, Toymaster] (Friends of the Earth, 26 Feb. 2002)

To improve health and boost economic development, countries strive for better food safety: Lessons Learned Shared at Global Forum - The first ever Global Forum of Food Safety Regulators opened today, seeking ways to improve the safety of food worldwide at every step of the food production chain — from farmers, through processors and retailers, to consumers. (World Health Organization, 28 Jan. 2002)

Publix [Florida food retailer] Poisoned Union Election Process With Illegal Conduct: Food Retailer Faces Federal Charges (UFCW - United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, 10 Jan. 2002)

2001:

LAPFF Reveals New Shareholder Engagement on Labour Standards: The £40 billion Local Authority Pension Fund Forum has unveiled a new phase in its three year long campaign to raise overseas labour standards in the supply chains of UK retailers. The Forum has analysed the codes of conduct adopted by the nine retail groups in the FTSE100 in order to identify which are the most comprehensive and which are weakest...The two companies with the most comprehensive codes were Safeway and Tesco. All other companies ignore at least one of the 'core' labour standards agreed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). (Local Authority Pension Fund Forum [UK] in CSRwire, 28 Nov. 2001)

A badge of approval: A new type of relationship is emerging between companies and NGOs, one where NGOs act as certification bodies, verifying, and in many cases permitting use of their logos for this purpose, that products and services are being produced in socially responsible and environmentally friendly ways. (Sarah Murray, in Responsible business in the global economy: A Financial Times Guide, 23 Oct. 2001)

Swiss business and human rights: Confrontations and partnerships with NGOs [refers to Nestlé, Novartis, UBS, Credit Suisse, ABB, Coop, Migros, Switcher, Veillon] (Antoine Mach, study commissioned by Antenna International, Sep. 2001) note: scroll down on the linked page - this report appears under the "Documents" sub-heading for downloading in English or French

BP: a friend of the earth? [regarding FTSE4GOOD]: Jill Insley explains how the oil giant became a 'socially sound' investment: A fund holding shares in oil and pharmaceutical companies is unlikely to meet most people's definition of an environmentally or socially sound investment. So it's not surprising that FTSE4Good, new stock market indices intended to track the prices of socially responsible companies which include BP, Shell, GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca, have attracted heavy criticism. (Jill Insley, Observer [UK], 22 July 2001)

Companies in new ethical index announced: A third of blue-chip companies have failed to make the grade in a new FTSE index of ethical firms, it was announced today.  Among 34 FTSE-100 Index members not in the new FTSE4Good UK 50 are Tesco, Royal Bank of Scotland and Marconi. (Lisa Bachelor, Guardian [UK], 10 July 2001)

Closing the gap the between rich and poor: Supermarkets and banks are being drafted into the fight for social justice in Britain's poorest cities (Alison Benjamin, The Observer [UK], 8 July 2001) 

Co-op to ban pesticides in food amid health fears: The Co-operative Group, a major UK farmer and retailer, said yesterday it would ban more than 20 pesticides used to produce food worldwide amid fears about their impact on health and the environment. (Elizabeth Piper, Reuters, 3 July 2001)