Respecting human rights

The idea of human rights is as simple as it is powerful: all people have a right to be treated with dignity. Human rights are the foundation that enables all individuals to lead dignified and independent lives, free from abuse and discrimination.

Neste has made a commitment to respect human rights and remediate adverse human rights impacts throughout its business operations and value chains. Neste demonstrated and meets this commitment by implementing, and acting in accordance with, the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. 

Neste respects internationally recognized human rights as set out in the International Bill of Human Rights and the principles concerning fundamental rights set out in the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. Neste also respects additional human rights standards and UN instruments elaborating on the rights of vulnerable groups who may need particular accommodation or protection in order to fully enjoy their human rights without discrimination. We are committed to implementing the ten principles of the UN Global Compact and UN Women’s Empowerment Principles, to which we are signatories, and also in accordance with the Children's Rights and Business Principles and UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. 

In 2022 we conducted a thorough review and update of our Human Rights Principle, with input from internal and external stakeholders and expert groups. You can read the updated Human Rights Principle here for more information on how we advance human rights due diligence, stakeholder engagement, access to effective remedy, human rights governance, training and capacity building, and additional topics. 

Our Human Rights Principle sets the path and standards for a rights-based approach in all of Neste’s business decisions. It describes how Neste meets its responsibility to respect human rights and to implement ongoing human rights due diligence. It also outlines seven key priority areas of focus for human rights at Neste: Fair Employment, Health & Safety, Equity, Diversity & Non-Discrimination, Children & Young Workers, Modern Slavery, Fair Treatment, and Economic, Social & Cultural Rights. These are Neste’s salient human rights issues, that is, those issues that are at risk of the most severe negative impacts through our activities or business relationships. 

Recognizing that our impacts on people continue to evolve as our business changes and our approach to human rights due diligence develops, we regularly analyze the saliency of our human rights impacts based on severity and likelihood. This enables us to actively monitor our progress in addressing our salient human rights issues, and to account for any new risks resulting from changes in our business. It also ensures that we accurately focus and prioritize our work to address human rights risks, and understand where there may be gaps in our mitigation actions. 

Implementing Human Rights Due Diligence at Neste

In order to uphold our commitment to respect human rights in practice, Neste implements an ongoing process of human rights due diligence to identify, prevent, mitigate and account for how it addresses adverse human rights impacts. This covers impacts that Neste may cause or contribute to through its own activities, or which may be directly linked to its operations, products or services by its business relationships.

When assessing human rights risks, we engage with affected stakeholders and pay special attention to vulnerable groups such as women, children, migrant workers and Indigenous peoples. In all cases, we consider our rights-holders and ensure a people-first approach. 

In accordance with the UNGPs, Neste seeks to use its leverage to drive continuous improvement and realization of human rights along the value chain. We are committed to meaningfully engaging with, listening to and learning from our rights-holders in order to collaboratively address human rights issues.

Our due diligence process includes identifying and assessing Neste's actual and potential human rights impacts, integrating and acting upon the findings, tracking responses, and communicating on how impacts are addressed. Together with Neste’s remediation processes, this translates into a comprehensive management system and framework for Neste to know and show that it is respecting human rights in practice.

You can find specific examples of assessments, activities and processes that form part of our ongoing human rights due diligence in our Annual Report and Modern Slavery Statement. 

We take seriously any allegations that human rights are not properly respected in our business or supply chains, and encourage individuals or communities who have reason to believe such activity is taking place to raise their concerns, without fear of retaliation, via the Neste Ethics Online.