Human Rights Due Diligence
Due diligence is fundamental to embedding human rights into our operations. The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) are the foundation of our human rights due diligence approach. We collaborate closely with stakeholders and use a range of due diligence tools to ensure people are seen, heard, and protected.
In 2020, Amazon worked with Article One Advisors to conduct our first enterprisewide saliency assessment, focused on identifying salient human rights risks across our business.
We consulted a diverse group of external human rights experts, incorporated their feedback into the results, and benchmarked the results against internationally recognized human rights standards. The assessment identified a set of priority human rights values, three foundational commitments, and key salient human rights risks for Amazon. The saliency assessment was a key milestone in the development of our human rights due diligence strategy.
Building on this work, in 2021, we made progress on our salient human rights risks and furthered our efforts to implement human rights due diligence mechanisms. What follows are some examples of how we assessed and addressed our salient risks, prioritizing our three foundational commitments.
We worked with human rights expert organizations, including Article One Advisors, BSR, Impactt Limited, and The Centre for Child Rights and Business, to advance our human rights due diligence. Some of the outcomes from Amazon’s partnerships and collaborations in 2021 include:
Additionally, we expanded partnerships with the Responsible Business Alliance and the International Organization for Migration to help strengthen suppliers’ practices around responsible recruitment of foreign migrant workers.
HRIAs surface detailed information about our human rights risks and root causes, as well as stakeholder perspectives, so that we can address those risks with targeted action. For each HRIA, we partner with an independent human rights consulting firm to conduct the assessment, facilitate stakeholder engagement, and deliver recommendations for improved business practices to address the relevant human rights risks.
Update on Our Devices Supply Chain HRIA
In 2020, we conducted Amazon’s first HRIA on the raw and recovered materials supply chain for Amazon-branded digital devices. Using the UNGPs as a framework to guide the assessment, the HRIA results indicated we are directly linked to potential risks for Tier 1–2 manufacturing and reverse logistics suppliers.
For minerals, metals, plastics, and synthetics suppliers, results indicated we are indirectly linked to potential risks. We have policies and mechanisms in place to help address these potential risks, including our Supply Chain Standards, regular supplier assessments, and grievance mechanisms.
In 2021, we began implementing recommendations from the HRIA, such as increasing our support for industry collaboration on responsible mineral sourcing, and building the capacity of our supply chain partners to effectively manage human rights risks.
We also began developing a multiyear Amazon-branded digital devices strategy to address risks, seeking perspectives from organizations with expertise in human rights, inclusive economy, circularity, and responsible innovation to meet the expectations of our customers and impacted communities.
In 2021, several final assembly and manufacturing suppliers of Amazon-branded digital devices participated in the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) Factory Lead Certification Program. The program trains factory management on effective worker communication and maintaining safe working conditions, allowing suppliers to proactively prevent or mitigate potential issues before they arise.
