Retailers Drop Thai Coconut Suppliers Over Forced Labour

Investigations by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have uncovered the use of forced monkey labour in Thailand’s coconut industry.

The six-year exposé reveals pig-tailed macaques – an endangered species – being exploited for coconut harvesting. This has led to a growing boycott, with major retailers, including Morrisons, Tesco and Aldi, cutting ties with implicated suppliers.

PETA Asia’s findings implicate coconut farms, brokers and monkey-training operations across nine Thai provinces. Footage shows monkeys chained and forced to climb trees to collect coconuts.

Some display signs of distress, with PETA stating: “Monkeys were denied comfort and adequate socialisation and paced neurotically, repeatedly choking on their collars.”

Many endure severe injuries from their chains, particularly at monkey "training schools" promoted on Thai government websites.

These revelations raise serious procurement concerns for businesses committed to ethical sourcing, with companies relying on Thai coconut products assessing their supply chains to ensure compliance with ethical labour standards.

Retailers take action to protect supply chain integrity

In response to mounting pressure, several international retailers have removed implicated coconut brands from their shelves. Morrisons has confirmed it will no longer source own-brand coconut milk from these suppliers, instead opting for a producer verified as free from monkey labour.

Other major retailers including Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Aldi, Asda and Co-op, have also ceased sourcing own-brand coconut milk from Thailand. In total, nearly 40,000 stores worldwide have withdrawn products linked to these exploitative practices.

Despite these measures, PETA is calling for further action. Dawn Carr, PETA’s Vice President of Vegan Corporate Projects, urges companies to conduct thorough supply chain reviews, stating: “PETA is calling on retailers to check all supply chains and stop selling any Thai coconut milk products linked to this exploitative industry.” The organisation has also urged Morrisons to extend its policy beyond own-brand products to all externally branded coconut milk.

These developments highlight the growing need for robust procurement policies that prioritise ethical sourcing, including the requirement for retailers and manufacturers to verify suppliers in order to prevent association with unethical labour practices.

Ethical sourcing and industry reform

While retailers are taking steps to distance themselves from unethical suppliers, the Thai government has faced criticism for failing to act. PETA has repeatedly reported its findings to authorities, yet no regulatory action has been taken to outlaw monkey labour. Dawn Carr emphasises the urgency of government intervention, stating: “The Thai government must immediately shut down abusive monkey 'schools' and ban monkey labour.”

PETA's investigations have linked multiple companies to involvement in the use of forced monkey labour, including major producers such as AB World Foods, Ampawa and Theppadungporn Coconut Co. Brands linked to these suppliers include Aroy-D, Blue Dragon and Chaokoh. However, only one Thai company, Merit Food Products, has been verified as entirely free from monkey labour.

To uphold social responsibility and maintain consumer trust, retailers must prioritise ethical sourcing by working with verified suppliers or exploring alternative markets outside of Thailand. PETA reinforces this stance, stating: “Retailers must work with verified ethical suppliers or seek alternative sources outside of Thailand.”

The reports of forced monkey labour in Thailand’s coconut industry remind procurement teams to of the need to continuously reassess supply chain ethics and compliance.

In this context, retailers and manufacturers should prioritise verified ethical suppliers, conduct thorough audits and explore alternative sourcing options outside Thailand.

Failure to address these concerns could lead to reputational damage, loss of consumer trust and potential regulatory scrutiny.

Procurement strategies will increasingly focus on ethical sourcing, transparency and social responsibility to mitigate risks linked to unethical labour practices.

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