CHEP's HR Blueprint: How People Strategy Drives Supply Chain Success

ATLANTA, GA – January 15, 2026 – For the fourth consecutive year, supply chain solutions leader CHEP has secured its position as a Global Top Employer, an elite certification for 2026 awarded to only 17 companies worldwide. The recognition, granted by the prestigious Top Employers Institute, underscores a deep-seated commitment to exemplary human resources practices that extend across 97% of its global workforce.

This achievement is not merely a corporate accolade; it signals a strategic fusion of people-centric policies with robust business performance. While the company is known for its ubiquitous blue pallets that form the backbone of global commerce, this continued recognition highlights the human infrastructure that powers its operational excellence. The certification covers CHEP's operations in 26 countries and four major regions—Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and Latin America—demonstrating a rare consistency in a complex, multinational environment.

“Being named a Top Employer reflects the everyday contributions of our people,” said Amber Cantu, Vice President of Human Resources for CHEP Americas. “We remain committed to fostering an environment where everyone feels respected, empowered and supported in growing together.”

Beyond the Badge: The Rigor of a Top Employer

The Top Employer certification is far from a vanity award. It is the result of a rigorous, multi-stage evaluation conducted by the Top Employers Institute, a global authority on HR best practices. Participating organizations must complete an extensive HR Best Practices Survey, which delves into six core domains and 20 different topics, including people strategy, work environment, talent acquisition, learning, diversity and inclusion, and employee wellbeing.

The process is designed to be fact-based and objective. After the survey submission, a dedicated auditor from the Institute validates the company's responses, ensuring that stated policies are not just on paper but are actively implemented and consistently interpreted across the organization. This validation is a critical step that separates leading employers from the rest. Finally, an external auditor independently verifies the Institute's own processes, adding another layer of integrity to the certification. Only companies that meet a high minimum standard—historically a score of 60% or more—earn the coveted certification.

CHEP’s performance in this demanding assessment was particularly strong in areas like performance management, leadership development, work environment, sustainability, and ethics. The company also showed marked advancement in key metrics related to leadership, diversity, equity and inclusion, rewards and recognition, and employee onboarding.

Adrian Seligman, CEO of the Top Employers Institute, lauded the company's approach. “CHEP has demonstrated a rare ability to align its people strategy globally while ensuring meaningful, locally relevant experiences for employees in every certified market – a hallmark of organizations that deliver strong business performance, talent mobility and workforce resilience,” he stated. “This achievement places CHEP among a select group of employers setting the benchmark for people strategy internationally.”

A Strategic Advantage in a Demanding Industry

In the high-pressure logistics and supply chain sector, which often grapples with employee burnout and engagement challenges, CHEP's achievement stands out. Industry-wide data suggests that employee engagement in logistics lags behind other sectors, with lower scores in areas like equity, feedback, and communication. High workloads and tight deadlines can take a toll, making talent retention a persistent challenge.

This is where CHEP's people-first strategy becomes a powerful competitive differentiator. By scoring highly in areas that directly address common industry pain points, the company builds a resilient and motivated workforce. This translates into tangible business outcomes. A strong employer brand, reinforced by credible, third-party certifications, significantly lowers the cost per hire and attracts higher-quality candidates who are a better cultural fit. This, in turn, reduces turnover, a major cost center for any large organization.

This focus on human capital is a core pillar of its parent company, Brambles Group. Brambles' corporate strategy explicitly includes the goal to “Develop World-Class Talent” and become an “employer of choice.” The group recognizes that attracting and empowering high-caliber people is essential for driving innovation, especially as the industry moves toward greater digitalization and automation. CHEP’s success is a direct reflection of this group-wide commitment, demonstrating that investing in people is integral to maintaining leadership in customer service and operational excellence.

Cultivating a Global Culture of Empowerment

At the heart of CHEP’s recognition is a culture that prioritizes employee growth and well-being. The certification covers a vast and diverse workforce, from plant operators to data scientists, across dozens of countries. Maintaining a consistently positive employee experience at that scale requires a deliberate and well-executed global strategy that is flexible enough to adapt to local needs.

In Europe, for example, the HR team is actively implementing transformational programs, including the digitalization of its plant network and a “Women in Plant” initiative designed to improve gender diversity in operational roles. They also navigate complex labor relations with unions and workers' councils across multiple countries, aligning local agreements with a global HR framework. In Latin America, where CHEP also holds regional Top Employer certifications in countries like Mexico, Brazil, and Chile, this commitment to its direct workforce stands in contrast to the industry's frequent reliance on outsourcing.

The company’s marked improvement in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) metrics shows a concerted effort to build a more inclusive workplace. This, combined with enhanced programs for rewards, recognition, and onboarding, creates an environment where employees feel valued from their first day and see a clear path for career progression. This holistic approach fosters a sense of belonging and pride, which are key drivers of long-term employee retention and engagement.

The Sustainable Backbone of the Supply Chain

CHEP’s people strategy is intrinsically linked to its core business model and its broader mission of creating sustainable supply chains. The company operates on a “share, repair, and reuse” model, managing a pool of approximately 347 million pallets and containers that reduce waste and minimize the environmental impact of moving goods. This inherent focus on sustainability is a major draw for talent, particularly among younger generations who prioritize working for purpose-driven companies.

The Top Employer certification highlighted CHEP’s high scores in sustainability, ethics, and integrity, confirming that its commitment to positive impact extends from its environmental footprint to its own people. This aligns with the Brambles Group’s overarching “Zero Harm” philosophy, which encompasses zero injuries, zero environmental damage, and zero negative impact on human rights. By creating a safe, ethical, and supportive workplace, CHEP ensures that its most valuable asset—its 11,000 employees—are empowered to deliver on the company’s promise of a smarter, more sustainable future for global commerce.