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Story

7 Dec 2020

Indonesia & Malaysia: AP investigation reveals women face dangerous working conditions, widespread abuse & rape in palm oil supply chains of global cosmetics brands

The Associated Press (AP) made an investigation on the brutal treatment of women in the production of palm oil, including physical and sexual abuse as well as exposure to harmful chemicals in Indonesian and Malaysian plantations. The report alleges that palm oil from such plantations flows into the supply chains of Avon, Cargill, Clorox, Colgate-Palmolive, Coty, Estée Lauder, Johnson & Johnson, Kylie Cosmetics, L’Oréal, Procter & Gamble, and Unilever.

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited the companies to respond to the allegations in the report. Avon, Cargill, Clorox, Coty, Estée Lauder, L’Oréal, and Unilever responded. Their responses are linked below.

Palm oil plantations that are mentioned in the report—FGV Holdings Berhad, London Sumatra, and Sime Darby—were also invited to respond. FGV Holdings responded. The response is linked below.

Company Responses

Cargill View Response
L'Oreal View Response
Clorox View Response
Estée Lauder View Response
Unilever View Response
Colgate-Palmolive

No Response

Johnson & Johnson View Response
Kylie Cosmetics

No Response

Procter & Gamble View Response
London Sumatra

No Response

Sime Darby

No Response

Timeline