Ingredients ethics

Ethical Source of Cocoa: Ferrero is involved in working towards the economic and social development of the world's cocoa farming communities, as well towards a supply chain free of forced child and adult labour.

Ferrero participates in the common industry commitment established in 2001 under the Harkin-Engel Protocol, aimed at developing standards for certification that cocoa beans and their derivates have been grown and processed without any of the worst forms of child labour.

Ferrero is a participant of ICI, the International Cocoa Initiative, indirectly up to 2006 and a direct member starting in 2007. Furthermore, through the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF), Ferrero works towards improving the well being of cocoa farming communities.

Palm oil: Ferrero has been a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) since 2005. RSPO was created in 2004 by organisations involved in the supply chain of palm oil, to promote the growth and use of sustainable palm oil through co-operation within the supply chain and its stakeholders. For more information see rspo.org.

FERRERO also participated in the recent Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC).

GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms): All Ferrero products are GMO free.

Advertising Ethics

Advertising to Children: Ferrero is a signatory to the EU Pledge, which is a commitment to change food and beverage advertising on TV, print and internet to children under the age of 12 in the European Union. Ferrero Australia as a member of the Ferrero Group operates under the same marketing code.

Signatory companies of which Ferrero is one, have already or will implement company-specific voluntary measures by the end of 2008 in order to meet this objective.

These voluntary measures are made by food and beverage companies to the European Commission’s Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health in support of parental efforts to promote healthy lifestyles.

These companies agree to demonstrate that their specific commitments comply with the following minimum criteria:

• No advertising of products to children under 12 years of age, except for products which fulfill specific nutrition criteria based on accepted scientific evidence and/or applicable national and international dietary guidelines. For the purpose of this initiative, "advertising to children under 12 years" means advertising to media audiences with a minimum of 50% of children under 12 years of age.
• No communication related to products in primary schools, except where specifically requested by, or agreed with, the school administration for educational purposes.

Environmental Ethics

• In Australia, Ferrero is a signatory to the National Packaging Covenant
• We manage our factories by the efficient and rational use of energy, materials and natural resources; pursue the reduction of environmental impact, waste and refuse where possible
• We are aware of the fact that the conservation of water quality and quantity is not solely an environmental problem but a challenge that embraces the entire agricultural, economic and social system. We are therefore committed to the responsible management of water resources
• We establish environmental objectives and monitor the progress achieved