George Clooney has said he is “saddened” by an investigation that appears to show children working at farms used by Nespresso who he represents as a brand ambassador.
Nespresso advertises its products as being ethically sourced from countries including Brazil, Colombia and Costa Rica but have said they will stop sourcing coffee from Guatemala after a Channel 4 Dispatches programme claimed to have found child labourers working there.
Clooney is a member of Nespresso’s sustainability advisory board and said:
“We knew it was a big project when it started seven years ago, and honestly I was surprised and saddened to see this story
The check and balance of good corporate responsibility lies not just with the company itself but also independent journalists like Mr Barnett to hold everyone’s promise to account.”
(It has) improved the lives and livelihoods of thousands of farms all around the world,” he said of the firm’s scheme, which works with Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade International.
And they’ve risked their lives trying to rebuild farms in South Sudan and spent a year on the ground helping farmers restore their farms in Puerto Rico after the hurricane.”
Nespresso said it had launched an investigation to identify the farms featured in the Dispatches footage, and said the use of child labour was “unacceptable”.
Chief executive Guillaume Le Cunff said: “Where there are claims that our high standards are not met, we act immediately. We will not resume purchases of coffee from farms in this area until the investigation is closed. Any issues we uncover will be dealt with diligently and firm action will be taken.”
Clooney is a good friend of Barack Obama as well as the Markle’s. He frequently jets to international events to promote global policies along with his wife Amal Clooney.
Lead Correspondent | David Clews is the Lead Correspondent for UNN, with over 20 years of political/campaigning experience and a wealth of social media and communication skills David gets to the heart of what is really important to the real people of the UK.
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