CARE Audit Program
Our global CARE Audit Program enables us to ensure compliance across a range of topics, including upholding commitments to our people and respecting their human rights.
The Program verifies that all employees and Nestlé-operated sites comply with local legislation, our Corporate Business Principles and our Code of Business Conduct (pdf, 7 Mb).
The CARE Audit Program has been in place since 2005, reviewing all operational sites for business integrity every three years, using an 'assess, address and report' approach. External auditors (Bureau Veritas, Intertek, LRQA and SGS) assess compliance against seven pillars:
- Conditions of work and employment
- Business integrity
- Safety and health
- Environmental sustainability
- Security
- Local communities
- Labor accommodation
The review criteria are based on well-established auditing methodologies and include requirements specific to Nestlé. The wide range of topics spans accommodation for on-site workers, forced labor and responsible recruitment, and verification of child and young worker labor.
We publish the results and number of audits performed as part of our Non-Financial Statement (pdf, 18Mb).
Verifying healthy, safe and ethical working conditions
223
124
1 Total number of gaps closed out of the total identified gaps in a calendar year.
Learn more in the Social Disclosures section of our 2025 Non-Financial Statement (pdf, 18Mb).
Making human rights a priority
Our Human Rights Framework and Roadmap guides our approach on human rights salient issues. It aims to enhance our level of due diligence across our value chain.
The CARE Audit Program allows us to verify that the human rights of all workers on our sites are respected, including employees and non-employees who work regularly on site (such as cleaners, security staff, and other long‑term or fixed‑term service providers).
CARE audits in action
Nestlé CARE is a global social compliance audit program launched in 2005 to ensure consistent and respectful working conditions across all Nestlé facilities. Rooted in Nestlé's core value of respect, CARE audits assess conditions of work and employment, business integrity, safety and health, environmental sustainability, security, local community engagement, and labor accommodations. The program covers approximately 1 200 sites worldwide - including offices, factories, R&D centers, and Nespresso boutiques - using a systematic approach aligned with recognized social auditing standards.
