Methodology

KnowTheChain assesses companies’ English language publicly disclosed efforts to address forced labour risks in upstream supply chains. The KnowTheChain methodology is based on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and covers policy commitments, due diligence, and remedy. The methodology uses the ILO core labour standards (which cover the human rights that the ILO has declared to be fundamental rights at work: freedom of association and collective bargaining, a safe and healthy working environment, and the elimination of forced labour, child labour, and discrimination) as a baseline standard. The methodology has been developed through consultation with a wide range of stakeholders and a review of other benchmarks, frameworks, and guidelines such as the OECD Due Diligence Guidance on Responsible Business Conduct.

KnowTheChain reviews and, where relevant, updates its methodology ahead of every benchmark to integrate emerging good practices, align with relevant frameworks and benchmarks, and respond to the dynamic nature of human rights and labour abuses. Further, KnowTheChain aims to decrease companies’ reporting burdens and increase the objectivity of the Benchmark by integrating third-party information in addition to corporate disclosure.

Forced labour allegations

KnowTheChain undertakes comprehensive desktop research for allegations of forced labour within the companies’ supply chains. KnowTheChain includes only those allegations that met the minimum threshold of the Corporate Human Rights Benchmark and multiple forced labour indicators of the ILO. Companies were given an opportunity to respond to and provide additional information on the allegation during the additional disclosure period.

KnowTheChain operates on the assumption forced labour likely exists in all large global supply chains. Therefore, a high score in the Benchmark indicates that a company disclosed strong efforts to address the forced labour risks in its supply chains; it does not mean a company has “slavery-free” supply chains. The Benchmark should not be seen as reflective of all labour rights issues occurring within global supply chains, and it should be read alongside other information on the sector, such as allegations regarding labour and other human rights issues collected by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre.

Scoring

Each company receives a benchmark score, ranging from zero to 100. All indicators are weighted equally, with the exception of the Remedy indicator, which is weighted slightly higher than the other 11 indicators at 10%, as opposed to 8.18%. Indicator elements are weighted differently depending on whether they focus on a policy, implementation of a policy or process, or outcomes for workers. All indicator elements will be scored out of 100. You can find more information on the weighting of indicators and indicator elements on our website here. In all cases, a company may receive partial points toward an indicator element.

Non-scored information

Where relevant, the Benchmarks also assess whether companies have available a disclosure under the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act, the UK Modern Slavery Act, and/or the Australian Modern Slavery Act. This information is provided on a company’s scorecard but is not included in a company’s benchmark score. In addition, KnowTheChain assesses corporate disclosure (and in limited instances, third-party disclosure relating to the company’s products) to determine which high-risk commodities are sourced by the companies and from which high-risk locations they are sourced.