Delivering the goods by putting people first
The Wilberforce Institute Risk Assessment Service supported Kuehne+Nagel to strengthen modern slavery risk management in their logistics operations
Project summary
The Challenge
Logistics faces high modern slavery risks from migrant labour, agencies, and complex supply chains, creating gaps in visibility and accountability.
The Approach
We partnered with Kuehne+Nagel to review policies, map risks, and deliver training, embedding KPIs for ethical labour practices across operations.
The Outcome
The collaboration improved governance, transparency, and accountability; safeguarding workers and positioning Kuehne+Nagel as a leader in ethical logistics.
Institutes and centres
Lead academics
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Project Partners
Setting the standard for ethical logistics
We helped Kuehne+Nagel embed robust modern slavery risk management into its operations, not only to safeguard its workforce and supply chains but also set a new benchmark for ethical logistics – delivering transparency, compliance, and trust that resonates with global clients.
The Challenge
The logistics and warehousing sectors face heightened risks of modern slavery due to their reliance on migrant workers, short-term contracts, and third-party labour agencies. These vulnerabilities are compounded by complex supply chains and external service providers, creating gaps in visibility and accountability. Common issues include unclear employment terms, excessive recruitment fees, lack of worker communication channels, and fear of reprisal among agency workers.
With close to 85000 employees at almost 1300 sites in close to 100 countries, the Kuehne+Nagel Group is one of the world's leading logistics providers.
Kuehne+Nagel, a global logistics leader, recognised the need to strengthen its internal due diligence systems to ensure compliance with the UK Modern Slavery Act and mitigate human rights risks across its operations and supply chains. The company sought a robust framework to identify risk hotspots, improve transparency, and embed measurable standards for ethical labour practices.
The Approach
Kuehne+Nagel partnered with the Wilberforce Institute, leveraging its expertise in modern slavery risk assessment and remediation.
Risk Assessment Service lead, Cristina Talens proposed a five-stage process, designed to deliver a comprehensive internal risk review and actionable insights:
- Stakeholder engagement: We conducted interviews and surveys with HR, procurement, and operational teams to assess current practices, identify gaps, and gather improvement suggestions.
- Policy and process review: We benchmarked Kuehne+Nagel’s policies against industry best practices, reviewing due diligence systems, supplier standards, communication channels, whistleblowing mechanisms, and training provision.
- On-site risk assessments: We conducted on site visits across key business units and suppliers, analysing recruitment processes, management practices and worker voice mechanisms.
- Risk mapping and action planning: We developed a materiality matrix and risk map highlighting high-risk areas, likelihood of occurrence, and potential business impact. This fed into a prioritised action plan for mitigation.
- Training and KPI integration: We designed and delivered tailored training for procurement and management teams, embedding new KPIs into existing frameworks to monitor supplier compliance and progress.
This approach went beyond traditional social auditing, adopting a stakeholder-driven methodology to build resilience and transparency across operations.
The Impact
Our work with The Wilberforce Institute has strengthened our approach and helped us turn expert insight into meaningful, practical action for Kuehne+Nagel and our supply chain.Kate Broome
Sustainability and Social Impact Director, Kuehne+Nagel
The collaboration enabled Kuehne+Nagel to:
- Enhance visibility: We identified critical risk areas within internal operations and supply chains, providing clarity on contingent labour practices.
- Strengthen governance: Our recommendations helped Kuehne+Nagel to improve their policies and processes for managing modern slavery risks, aligned with the Modern Slavery Act and Transparency in Supply Chains provisions.
- Embed accountability: Our KPI suggestions enabled Kuehne+Nagel to track supplier performance against defined risk criteria, ensuring measurable progress.
- Build capacity: Our targeted training equipped teams with the knowledge and tools to manage labour and human rights risks effectively.
- Future-proof compliance: By establishing a framework for ongoing risk assessment and supplier engagement, Kuehne+Nagel are positioned as a leader in ethical logistics.
By implementing this structured approach, Kuehne+Nagel demonstrated its commitment to responsible sourcing and human rights, reinforcing trust with clients and stakeholders while mitigating reputational and operational risks.
