Monster must investigate
By Joanna Ewart-James, Freedom United
Monster Beverage Corporation, which controls 43% of the U.S.’s energy drinks market, recently concluded that there is a “minimal risk” of slavery and human trafficking in its supply chain. We want to know: how can this be? Forced labor and human trafficking have been identified as serious problems in six of the largest sugarcane producing countries.[1]
Tell Monster Beverage to accurately report the slavery risk in their drinks.
We have an unprecedented opportunity to push Monster to acknowledge and take responsibility for its risk to slavery at their Annual General Meeting (AGM) in just a couple of weeks’ time.
But we need to show there’s public support for Monster to commit resources to gathering more information, and secure the passage of a resolution submitted by our partner organization, As You Sow. The resolution calls on Monster to provide a detailed report showing how they assess their risk of forced labor and human trafficking by November 15, 2018.
Add your name to help convince shareholders to vote YES!
As You Sow will be in the room at Monster’s AGM presenting our petition, so we need each and every signature to power our collective voice. Let’s grab this opportunity!
Monster scored a disappointing zero out of 100 in a report on how the largest food and beverage companies are addressing forced labor. The company’s subsequent conclusion of “minimal risk” and reliance on suppliers’ compliance with anti-trafficking laws, does little to challenge this poor rating on transparency and action to address modern slavery risk in their supply chain – we want them to do better.
Sugar, mainly produced from sugarcane, is one of the main ingredients in Monster’s products and it has been widely reported that forced labor exists in sugarcane producing countries, including Brazil, a top exporter to the U.S.[2] Besides Brazil, sugarcane is produced using forced labor in Bolivia, Burma, Dominican Republic and Pakistan,[3] and reports of debt bondage in India and human trafficking risks for sugarcane workers in Guatemala have also been documented.[4] Clearly, slavery is still a big problem in the global sugar industry.
Monster Beverage’s leadership says: “We do not conduct independent, unannounced supplier compliance audits because of the minimal risk of slavery and human trafficking in our supply chain”.[5]
This assessment of “minimal risk” is seemingly incompatible with verified research findings on the sugar industry and we want Monster Beverage to step up, investigate and report on its sugar supply chain.
Join us in calling for Monster Beverage to take responsibility now!
Monster Beverage hasn’t disclosed the countries where it sources its sugar, apart from the U.S., nor has it reported on its methods for addressing modern slavery and human trafficking risks in its sugar supply chain. The U.S. is one of the world’s largest importers of sugar, so we want Monster Beverage to give more detail when assessing its risk to forced labor and human trafficking in its supply chain – it’s crucial that they step up, investigate and report.
As the top energy drink maker in the U.S., their commitment to action has the potential to make significant progress in helping end slavery in sugar production.
So, what are they waiting for?
Monster – it’s time to act.
In solidarity,
Joanna, and the teams at Freedom United and As You Sow
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