Oxfam se une a otros grupos para utilizar su influencia como accionistas con el objetivo de llamar la atención sobre la defensa de los derechos humanos
Oxfam, AFL-CIO, Trillium Asset Management y otros inversores han presentado hoy una propuesta de resolución de accionistas para exigir a PepsiCo que aborde la problemática del acaparamiento de tierras en sus cadenas de suministro. Una investigación reciente realizada por Oxfam reveló que algunas empresas que suministran azúcar a PepsiCo y sus franquicias se han visto implicadas en casos violentos de acaparamiento de tierras que, como consecuencia, han obligado a familias agricultoras a abandonar sus tierras y destruido sus medios de vida.
En total, 33 inversores –que representan más de 1,4 billones de dólares en activos– han emitido un comunicado en apoyo a la campaña Tras la marca de Oxfam, y más de 250.000 personas ya han firmado una petición exigiendo a PepsiCo que asuma una política de tolerancia cero ante el acaparamiento de tierras. Este mes, Coca-Cola ya lo hizo y se comprometió a dar los pasos necesarios para evitar conflictos sobre la tierra relacionados con sus cadenas de suministro. PepsiCo y Associated British Foods aún deben actuar para hacer frente a los problemas denunciados en el informe de Oxfam Un trago amargo.
"La presión sobre PepsiCo para que haga frente a estas cuestiones que afectan a sus cadenas de suministro no deja de aumentar", señala Judy Beals, responsable de la campaña Tras la marca de Oxfam. "La empresa se está exponiendo a sí misma a enormes riesgos si no aborda el problema de los conflictos sobre la tierra en aquellos lugares donde obtiene sus ingredientes. Coca-Cola ya ha identificado dichos riesgos y se ha comprometido a abordarlos. La pregunta que los inversores deberían hacerse es por qué PepsiCo aún no lo ha hecho”.
"Como inversores queremos saber qué está haciendo PepsiCo para garantizar que sus proveedores se comportan de forma responsable y evitar que los conflictos sobre la tierra perjudiquen su reputación, así como sus actividades", afirma Beals. "Debemos entender mejor cómo PepsiCo gestiona la labor de sus proveedores y los riesgos que podrían tener un impacto negativo tanto para la empresa como para las comunidades".
La resolución será votada de manera formal en la asamblea general anual de PepsiCo que se celebrará a principios de enero de 2014. Esta semana, colaboradores y colaboradoras de Oxfam han entregado más de 250.000 peticiones en las plantas embotelladoras de PepsiCo en Estados Unidos para concienciar a los trabajadores y trabajadoras de la empresa sobre las cuestiones que afectan a sus cadenas de suministro.
Actúa ahora
Envía un correo a PepsiCo pidiendo que se respeten los derechos sobre la tierra en su cadena de suministro.
Información relacionada
Brasil: el lado humano de la fiebre por el azúcar. Galería de fotos.
Campaña Tras la Marca de Oxfam
Notas para editores
Texto completo de la resolución (sólo disponible en inglés):
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL REGARDING REPORT ON LAND RIGHTS
WHEREAS:
Since 2000, over 885 large-scale land acquisitions covering approximately 79 million acres globally have been recorded. Approximately a third of the deals involve investment in cash crops such as sugar cane, palm oil, and soy. Many of these large-scale land acquisitions involve evicting traditional land holders, through coercion or fraud ("land grabs").
Land grabbing primarily affects small-scale farming communities in developing countries and has been linked to loss of livelihoods, hunger, and violence. PepsiCo’s sources of sugar include suppliers that have been linked to land grabs, which poses risk to the company and shareholder value; PepsiCo must urgently recognize this problem and take steps to ensure that land rights violations are not part of its supply chain.
By preparing an annual report regarding land rights and applying the results as part of its supply chain management, PepsiCo would strengthen its ability to assess its own and its suppliers’ performance on this important issue and hold its suppliers accountable; enable shareholders to better understand and assess potential reputational and operational risks; and, consistent with the principle that “what gets measured gets managed,” prompt more responsible business practices by suppliers.
There is a clear and growing consumer interest in understanding the impacts made by the supply chains of the brands they purchase. Improved transparency by PepsiCo regarding policies and practices that secure future commodity supplies and reduce social and environmental risks are a part of the process of building a sustainable business model for the company and its shareholders.
As one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies, PepsiCo through its global supply chains is positioned to be a leader in promoting respect and support of land rights, fair resolution of land conflicts, and sharing of investment benefits; PepsiCo also has a unique opportunity to encourage government and the wider food industry to do the same. Indeed, PepsiCo’s membership in Bonsucro serves as an acknowledgement of land rights violations as a sustainability issue resulting from sugar production.
RESOLVED:
Shareholders request that the Board of Directors cause PepsiCo to publish by November 1, 2014, and on an annual basis thereafter, a report focused on the issue of land rights along the company’s supply chains. Among other important disclosures, the report should (i) disclose from whom and where PepsiCo sources its sugar cane, palm oil, and soy, and whether PepsiCo and its suppliers have adopted a zero tolerance policy on land rights violations and (ii) provide an objective assessment of how PepsiCo’s supply purchases impact rural communities’ land rights. The report should be prepared at reasonable cost, omitting proprietary information, and using a phased, tiered, or other approach that PepsiCo deems reasonable and practical.
SUPPORTING STATEMENT:
Annual reporting would strengthen PepsiCo’s ability to assess its own and its suppliers’ performance on the issue of land rights, to hold its suppliers accountable, and enhance shareholder value by enabling shareholders to better understand and assess potential reputational and operational risks.
LIST OF CO-FILERS:
- AFL-CIO
- Benedictine Sisters of Virginia
- Benedictine Women of Madison
- Catholic Health East
- Congregation of Benedictine Sisters
- Fresh Pond Capital
- Maryknoll Sisters
- Mercy Investment Services
- Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
- Newground Social Investments
- Socially Responsible Investment Coalition
- Trillium Asset Management
- Zevin Asset Management
Información de contacto
Ben Grossman-Cohen
- Oficina: +1 (202) 777 2907
- Móvil: + 1 (202) 629 6018
- Correo: bgrossman-cohen@oxfamamerica.org
- Twitter: @bengroco
Texto completo de la resolución (sólo disponible en inglés):
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL REGARDING REPORT ON LAND RIGHTS
WHEREAS:
Since 2000, over 885 large-scale land acquisitions covering approximately 79 million acres globally have been recorded. Approximately a third of the deals involve investment in cash crops such as sugar cane, palm oil, and soy. Many of these large-scale land acquisitions involve evicting traditional land holders, through coercion or fraud ("land grabs").
Land grabbing primarily affects small-scale farming communities in developing countries and has been linked to loss of livelihoods, hunger, and violence. PepsiCo’s sources of sugar include suppliers that have been linked to land grabs, which poses risk to the company and shareholder value; PepsiCo must urgently recognize this problem and take steps to ensure that land rights violations are not part of its supply chain.
By preparing an annual report regarding land rights and applying the results as part of its supply chain management, PepsiCo would strengthen its ability to assess its own and its suppliers’ performance on this important issue and hold its suppliers accountable; enable shareholders to better understand and assess potential reputational and operational risks; and, consistent with the principle that “what gets measured gets managed,” prompt more responsible business practices by suppliers.
There is a clear and growing consumer interest in understanding the impacts made by the supply chains of the brands they purchase. Improved transparency by PepsiCo regarding policies and practices that secure future commodity supplies and reduce social and environmental risks are a part of the process of building a sustainable business model for the company and its shareholders.
As one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies, PepsiCo through its global supply chains is positioned to be a leader in promoting respect and support of land rights, fair resolution of land conflicts, and sharing of investment benefits; PepsiCo also has a unique opportunity to encourage government and the wider food industry to do the same. Indeed, PepsiCo’s membership in Bonsucro serves as an acknowledgement of land rights violations as a sustainability issue resulting from sugar production.
RESOLVED:
Shareholders request that the Board of Directors cause PepsiCo to publish by November 1, 2014, and on an annual basis thereafter, a report focused on the issue of land rights along the company’s supply chains. Among other important disclosures, the report should (i) disclose from whom and where PepsiCo sources its sugar cane, palm oil, and soy, and whether PepsiCo and its suppliers have adopted a zero tolerance policy on land rights violations and (ii) provide an objective assessment of how PepsiCo’s supply purchases impact rural communities’ land rights. The report should be prepared at reasonable cost, omitting proprietary information, and using a phased, tiered, or other approach that PepsiCo deems reasonable and practical.
SUPPORTING STATEMENT:
Annual reporting would strengthen PepsiCo’s ability to assess its own and its suppliers’ performance on the issue of land rights, to hold its suppliers accountable, and enhance shareholder value by enabling shareholders to better understand and assess potential reputational and operational risks.
LIST OF CO-FILERS:
- AFL-CIO
- Benedictine Sisters of Virginia
- Benedictine Women of Madison
- Catholic Health East
- Congregation of Benedictine Sisters
- Fresh Pond Capital
- Maryknoll Sisters
- Mercy Investment Services
- Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
- Newground Social Investments
- Socially Responsible Investment Coalition
- Trillium Asset Management
- Zevin Asset Management
Ben Grossman-Cohen
- Oficina: +1 (202) 777 2907
- Móvil: + 1 (202) 629 6018
- Correo: bgrossman-cohen@oxfamamerica.org
- Twitter: @bengroco
