Mapping human rights risks across a global beauty supply chain

Human Rights & Modern Slavery | read time: 3 min

Person comparing two skincare cream jars in store

As global supply chains grow in complexity, organisations are increasingly seeking clearer visibility of human rights risks across their sourcing networks to gain a more structured approach to prioritising action.

A global leader in the beauty industry, operating in more than 150 countries and owning a wide portfolio of internationally recognised brands, engaged GoodCorporation to conduct a human rights risk assessment across its global supply chain.

Covering raw materials, packaging and indirect sourcing, the project comprised a comprehensive assessment of the sourcing categories associated with the most significant human rights risks across the organisation’s supply chain, and the development of a prioritised action plan to address and remedy any adverse impact identified.

Our approach

GoodCorporation used a three-phase approach, beginning with a review of the client’s existing risk-mapping methodology. Drawing on our own approach to human rights risk assessment, which aligns with internationally recognised best practice, we developed a bespoke risk assessment methodology tailored to the client’s complex supply chain covering raw materials, indirect sourcing and packaging.

Internal and external stakeholders were consulted, including non-governmental and civil society organisations to gain further expert validation of the proposed assessment framework.

Phase II comprised the detailed risk analysis covering all sourcing categories and countries of origin. This consisted of desktop research to define the precise risk levels associated with each raw material and purchasing category.

Country risk assessments drew on recognised civil society indices, while also taking account of the nature of the client’s sourcing activities. Engagement with suppliers and other external stakeholders complemented the desktop research and provided additional insight into identified risks.

The risk mapping exercise identified several sourcing areas with heightened human rights risks, which formed the basis for the third phase of the project.

Using the findings from the risk assessment, GoodCorporation developed prioritisation criteria in line with international best practice and used this to create operational guidance and a prioritised remediation plan. Supply chain-specific actions were developed, including guidance to conduct further supply chain risk mapping and on-site assessments.

Recommendations also addressed the organisation’s wider governance of human rights risks, including opportunities to strengthen the integration of human rights considerations into business processes.

To support implementation, a pragmatic and affordable 5-year roadmap was developed, prioritising the most severe and most likely human rights risks identified. The subsequent findings and recommendations were then presented to members of the Executive Committee.

Scope of work

The project covered all sourcing categories across the organisation, focusing on areas with the most severe human rights risks affecting people throughout the supply chain rather than risks to the business itself. Environmental risks were outside the scope of the assessment.

Results

A prioritised and granular human rights risk map by product category and country of origin

Clear identification of areas where human rights risks were most significant

Practical recommendations and a multi-year roadmap to support action on identified risks

Why it mattered

For organisations operating complex global supply chains, understanding where human rights risks are most likely and most severe is a key challenge. The development of a consistent approach to assessing and prioritising risks across multiple sourcing categories and geographies created greater awareness of the risks. As a result, the client was able to make more informed decisions, which enabled resources and action to be focused where they were needed most over a 5-year period.

The work also supported a wider review of the organisation’s approach to managing human rights risks across its supply chain. Several recommendations from the roadmap led to further engagements with GoodCorporation, helping to establish a longer-term partnership focused on strengthening the organisation’s approach to human rights risks.

How GoodCorporation can help

GoodCorporation supports organisations in strengthening human rights risk assessment across complex supply chains and developing practical approaches to managing identified risks. To find out more about our human rights services and how we can support your organisation, visit our human rights webpage or get in touch with our team.

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