The Methodology for the 2022–2023 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark

The Corporate Human Rights Benchmark (CHRB) provides a comparative snapshot of the largest companies on the planet, looking at the policies, processes and practices they have in place to systematise their human rights approach and how they respond to serious allegations.

This Corporate Human Rights Benchmark Methodology will be used to assess companies from the following five sectors in 2022 and 2023:

• the apparel sector
• the automotive manufacturing sector
• the extractives sector
• the food and agricultural products sector
• the ICT manufacturing sector.

As with all of the World Benchmarking Alliance’s benchmarks, the results will be free, fully transparent and publicly available, to empower companies and stakeholders to take action towards a more inclusive and fair world.

This revised methodology is the result of a two-phase consultation process, including a literature review, feedback sought through regional and multi-stakeholder consultations, and a public questionnaire.

More focus has been given to the actual performance of companies and the revised methodology includes an integrated focus on the types of stakeholder engagement undertaken at the various stages of a business’s operations. New topics such as business model, strategy, risks and recruitment fees have also been included. For more information on the methodology review process and changes made, see our overview document. You can also download an excel document highlighting the differences between our 2020 and 2021 methodology.

Corporate Human Rights Benchmark Methodology for the apparel sector

This methodology is an updated version of the 2020 methodology.

Corporate Human Rights Benchmark Methodology for the automotive manufacturing sector

This methodology is an updated version of the 2020 methodology.

Corporate Human Rights Benchmark Methodology for the extractives sector

This methodology is an updated version of the 2020 methodology.

Corporate Human Rights Benchmark Methodology for the food and agricultural products sector

This methodology is an updated version of the 2020 methodology.

This methodology has also kindly been translated into Japanese by our Ally Caux Round Table Japan.

Corporate Human Rights Benchmark Methodology for the ICT manufacturing sector

This methodology is an updated version of the 2020 methodology.

Special process for major catastrophic events

In order to respond to exceptional circumstances connected to benchmarked companies, we have developed a special process to better reflect company performance in cases of major catastrophic events, and to ensure that the Corporate Human Rights Benchmark remains a robust and credible source of data. The special process encourages benchmarked companies to respond to such events in a transparent manner that prioritises actions to engage with, and provide remedy to, affected stakeholders.