Starbucks' response to allegations of sexual abuse on Kenyan tea plantations
We are deeply concerned about the distressing claims of labor and human rights violations at Finlay Estates in Kenya. We take seriously our commitment to responsible sourcing and transparency within our supply chain....
As soon as we became aware of the allegations in the report, we took immediate action to suspend purchasing from the estate in question. Since our suspension, the Rainforest Alliance announced it is conducting an investigative audit into the two Rainforest Alliance-certified estates named in the documentary. Starbucks will review the findings of the audit to determine its path forward...
Our tea suppliers are required to acknowledge Starbucks Supplier Code of Conduct, Standards of Business Conduct as well as Starbucks Global Human Rights Statement. As outlined in our Global Human Rights statement, we have a zero-tolerance policy for human rights abuses in our supply chain and retail operations....
[Full response attached]