Human rights due diligence at The Wine Society
The Wine Society has been sourcing wine from across the globe for more than 150 years. When they appointed their first Director of Sustainability and Social Impact in 2022, they had a clear ethical compass – and a recognition that stronger systems needed to be in place.
Four years ago, they came to Inherently Human for help with translating their values into a structured approach to human rights due diligence across their global supply chain and UK operations.
Where we started
We began with a gap analysis: an honest look at where The Wine Society’s existing practices were strong and where there was work to do. That initial piece of work set the foundation for what has since become a long-term partnership of four years and counting.
Working closely with their sustainability team, buying team, CEO, and Board, we co-created their first Human Rights Policy and Supplier Code of Social and Environmental Conduct – clear standards that gave the whole organisation, and their suppliers, something to work to.
Getting into the supply chain
Policies are only as useful as the knowledge and understanding that sits behind them. Over four months, we conducted extensive interviews with suppliers, buyers, and industry representatives across their network – listening to what was working, what wasn’t, and what the real challenges looked like on the ground.
That research shaped the training that followed. Working with our international network of Associates, we delivered sessions in five languages (English, French, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese) to over 100 suppliers across three continents – meeting people where they were, and building understanding incrementally.
What has changed
The Wine Society have now published their first Human Rights Policy and Supplier Code and established a clear strategy for the next three to five years. Teams that had limited engagement with human rights at the outset are now informed advocates for due diligence across the business. The Board is actively involved in championing the whole process.
Leading the sector
Their willingness to share what they’ve learned openly – including through engagement with the Sustainable Wine Roundtable – has begun to shift how others in the wine sector approach the same questions.
Dom de Ville, Director of Sustainability & Social Impact, The Wine Society, commented:
The Wine Society has worked closely with Inherently Human since 2021 to develop and implement an ambitious responsible sourcing roadmap to help us achieve our ambition to have the world’s most ethical and sustainable supply chain by 2030.
