Mondelēz International, maker of Oreos, Chips Ahoy, and Sour Patch Kids, has made significant improvements in its approach to protecting Human Rights Defenders, making these a contractual obligation to suppliers. These improvements are reflected in the company’s 2025 Human Rights Due Diligence and Modern Slavery Report and its Supplier and Partner Code of Conduct.
Mondelēz has long received a failing grade, an “F” in Rainforest Action Network’s Keep Forests Standing scorecard. Most notably, it scored zero points due to its lacking a clear, public policy protecting Human Rights Defenders, placing it significantly behind peers.
“These updates bring Mondelēz in line with peers, yet not at the level of leadership its position as co-chair of the Human Rights Coalition of the Consumer Goods Forum calls for,” said Daniel Carrillo, Forest Campaign Director with Rainforest Action Network.
While much work remains to protect forests and Indigenous territories from destruction from agricultural commodity expansion tied to global brands, these commitments reflect real progress driven by the relentless advocacy of affected communities, RAN supporters, and allies. RAN has been applying strategic pressure on many fronts over the course of this multi-year campaign, from organizing people power and showing up at Mondelēz headquarters, to confronting its CEO, Dirk Van De Put in front of peers and investors – Mondelēz has heard these calls loud and clear.
RAN will continue to press for full implementation across supply chains, and advocate that Mondelēz and other corporate actors reject violence, intimidation, criminalization and retaliation against Human Rights Defenders, and that respect for Free, Prior, and Informed Consent of rightsholders becomes the standard across the business sector.
Notes:
- Human Rights Defenders are individuals who act to peacefully protect or promote human rights, including Indigenous leaders, community members, journalists, lawyers, land defenders, and environmental defenders. In forest-risk commodity supply chains, they often face threats, intimidation, criminalisation, and violence when they challenge land grabs, deforestation, or abuses linked to corporate operations and suppliers.