Matthew Friedman, an expert on international human trafficking with more than 30 years of experience, discussed the importance of companies addressing modern slavery in their supply chains as part of a virtual fireside chat on the human factor of ESG at Compliance Week’s National Conference.
Supply Chain
FedEx’s social mission: Diversity drives better business
FedEx’s DEI strides—including becoming a minority-majority employee company in the U.S. for the first time in its history in fiscal year 2018—are not by accident. The company’s long history of hiring a diverse workforce and promoting from within is among the keys to its success.
Growth vs. green: FedEx’s environmental balancing act
When FedEx published its first Global Citizenship Report in 2008, its greenhouse gas emissions were already top of mind. Yet, the company has struggled to strike a balance between achieving year-over-year decreases in total emissions while it has expanded in the last decade-plus.
‘A marathon, not a sprint’: FedEx carbon-neutral pledge tests longtime ESG efforts
In March 2021, FedEx announced an audacious goal: to achieve carbon-neutral operations globally by 2040. How did the company develop this pledge, and how will it track its progress and hold itself accountable to intermediate goals?
Desire for transparency launches FedEx on ESG journey
Since 2008, FedEx has produced detailed reports on its ESG initiatives. The company’s chief sustainability officer discusses the decision-making process behind the first report, determining materiality, and more in Part 1 of this four-part special report, published in partnership with the ICA.
EU energy firms weighing bypassing Russian sanctions to secure gas
Russia’s squeeze on European energy companies to pay for gas in rubles might be about to pay off as some of the continent’s largest suppliers appear to be working out sanctions-compliant solutions to secure gas flows.
FRC report findings suggest overhaul needed for Modern Slavery Act
The U.K. Modern Slavery Act has often been described as “world leading,” yet companies are still failing to meet requirements by providing a statement outlining what they are doing to prevent modern slavery in their businesses and supply chains.
EU industries put to test as Russian invasion of Ukraine persists
Less than two months since Russia invaded Ukraine, a range of industries across Europe have issued stark warnings about supply chain shortages, production shutdowns, and price hikes. The worst may still be yet to come, particularly in Germany.
Advice for navigating ‘fast and furious’ Russian sanctions landscape
To help sort through the gray area of evolving sanctions and export control restrictions against Russia, chief compliance officers should consider a handful of key best practices.
Growing list of companies halting Russian operations
As the Russia-Ukraine crisis unfolds, companies around the world have announced changes to their supply chains to reduce their footprint in Russia. Compliance Week looks at how businesses across multiple industries are responding.


