A value chain is only as strong as the people who power it. That was the message ringing loud and clear in Shah Alam when Carlsberg Malaysia gathered more than 60 of its upstream and manpower suppliers for its second Supplier Day. This gathering had turned a corporate event into a rallying call for ethical, responsible and people-first business practices.
A People-First Pledge Reinforced On Human Rights Day
Coinciding with International Human Rights Day, Carlsberg Malaysia used the platform to push beyond the typical compliance narrative. Instead, the brewer spotlighted its ambition to shift from policies on paper to real-world, lived culture across its supply chain.
The event also aligned with Malaysia’s newly launched National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights 2025–2030, as well as the company’s refreshed Human Rights Global Policy. Both frameworks emphasise dignity, fairness, transparency and accountability as defining traits of modern business governance.
Managing Director Stefano Clini captured this shift best: Carlsberg is moving from “what we do” to “how we do it,”. This reinforces that every individual in the value chain deserves respect and compassion.
Turning Policy Into Action
Instead of simply announcing higher expectations, Carlsberg Malaysia equipped suppliers with the practical tools needed to meet them.
The Human & Labour Rights Starter Kit and Self-Assessment Framework introduced at the event were designed to help suppliers identify risks, strengthen governance and continue improving labour practices.
These resources are facilitators, not policing mechanisms. Suppliers were encouraged to treat them as collaborative instruments that raise standards industry-wide through shared learning and mutual accountability.
Insights from UNDP, KPMG Malaysia and Carlsberg’s senior leadership added grounded expertise, focusing on how companies can embed human and labour rights into day-to-day decisions, procurement workflows and broader value chain oversight.
KPMG’s Koh Ree Nie noted that integrating human rights into risk management is quickly becoming global best practice, and Malaysian companies must stay ahead to remain competitive.
A Collective Movement Toward Ethical Growth
One of the highlights of Supplier Day was the open dialogue between Carlsberg and its partners. It demonstrated that strong relationships, transparency and continuous engagement are essential to long-term impact.
Suppliers expressed commitment to strengthening labour governance, improving transparency and aligning operations with Carlsberg’s human and labour rights expectations.
Roisin Quinn, Managing Director of One Complete Solution Sdn. Bhd. and a SEDEX member, described the event as a platform for “true collaboration,”. This praises Carlsberg’s willingness to work hand-in-hand rather than merely setting requirements.
In an era where consumers, regulators and communities demand responsible corporate behaviour, Carlsberg Malaysia’s two consecutive years of supplier engagement signal a long-term commitment: excellence in brewing must go hand-in-hand with excellence in ethics.
Through Supplier Day, they continue building a future where business success is rooted not just in performance, but in people.
