Harvested in a valley just south of the Balkan Mountains, the Rose Damascena flower is hand-picked to ensure maximum freshness and oil content on reaching the distilleries.
This meticulous process relies on seasonal workers and smallholder farmers, groups that have traditionally been at risk of exploitation. To improve outcomes for these communities, we used insights from our due diligence approach to shape a practical, tailored response.
Guided by international standards, we work with locals to take shared responsibility, close gaps, and amplify impact. We are actively involved in sector-wide initiatives, working with governments, NGOs, and local communities to protect children’s rights and help build more secure futures.
In this project, we began by mapping the supply chain and working with suppliers on targeted action plans to strengthen human rights and environmental due diligence. Working through our Progress Foundation, we then partnered with UNICEF, suppliers, and local municipalities to address child labor risks in the Rose Valley through coordinated, community-based action.
Joining forces for systemic change
In 2025, we partnered with UNICEF to promote responsible business, strengthen protections for children and improve access to social benefits for seasonal workers’ families. We also joined the Bulgaria Rose Working Group, which advances responsible sourcing in Bulgaria, guided by an industrydeveloped roadmap with Union for Ethical BioTrade (UEBT) and supported by advisory and remediation input from our UNICEF partnership.
