Foundation FSSC is pleased to advise that we have applied to the Consumer Goods Forum’s (CGF) Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) for FSSC 24000 Social Sustainability Management System Certification Scheme under the SSCI Benchmark’s Processing and Manufacturing scope.
The application marks FSSC 24000’s first step in earning SSCI Recognition by demonstrating it meets industry expectations for how sustainability standards should operate and what topics they should cover. As the industry’s benchmark of choice, the SSCI is committed to helping organizations with their supply chain due diligence by building trust in these standards by driving alignment and continuous improvement among them.
The aim of FSSC 24000 is to ensure that social sustainability management system requirements are met, resulting in certifications that assure organizations provide safe and fair working conditions, meet business ethics requirements, and apply due diligence in their supply chain management.
FSSC 24000 provides a strategic approach incorporating the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle and risk-based thinking, which ensures the identification and control of social risk and continuous improvement. This process demonstrates corporate responsibility and facilitates improving the social management systems and performance, thus driving impact.
With the Foundation's commitment to helping support the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through its UN Global Compact membership, we have a clear focus to ensure a base level of social performance covering labor relationships, human rights, health and safety, and business ethics via FSSC 24000. To fulfill this need, Foundation FSSC's mission is to provide trust and deliver impact to the consumer goods industry. Through our CGF membership, we have access to various Coalitions of Action where brand owners are working together on a collaborative basis to achieve a positive impact. The SSCI Benchmark offers us a unique opportunity to demonstrate that FSSC 24000 is meeting the highest expectations for social sustainability certification programs, hence providing an acceptable tool the industry can use to mitigate labor risks in global supply chains.Aldin Hilbrands, FSSC CEO
FSSC 24000’s scope of certification includes the manufacturing and processing sector (food and non-food), including its related service provisions. The certificate confirms that the organization’s social sustainability management system is in conformance with the FSSC 24000 Scheme requirements based on the following normative documents:
– BSI/PAS 24000:2022 Social management system requirements (Publicly Available Specification)
– FSSC 24000 Additional Requirements (as determined by the FSSC Board of Stakeholders)
You can find more information on FSSC 24000 and download the Scheme documents for free from the FSSC website here.
About SSCI Benchmarking
The SSCI Benchmark is a comprehensive process recognizing third-party monitoring, auditing, and certification standards that cover key sustainability criteria and apply relevant verification practices. The benchmark process commences with a self-assessment undertaken by the applicant Scheme, followed by a review by an independent expert, office visits, and a public consultation. The methodology also includes opportunities for the applicant to take corrective actions if and when needed.
The SSCI Benchmark evaluates applicants against the SSCI Social and Scheme Management Criteria, which define the industry’s expectations for the sustainability topics schemes should cover as well as how they should operate. Developed for the industry by the industry, the SSCI Benchmark Criteria were defined by the SSCI Coalition member companies, industry experts, and other stakeholders.
For more information about the SSCI, please visit www.tcgfssci.com.
