Participation and collaboration

In 2007, the adidas Group actively participated in the work of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, the World Federation of Sporting Goods Industry’s CSR Committee, the Fair Factories Clearinghouse and the Fair Labor Association.

We also participated in:

Government, international agencies and federations

  • Engagements with ILO Cambodia Better Factories Initiative and participation in supervisor training project; see www.betterfactories.org
  • 7th World Congress on Sports and the Environment, co-hosted by the IOC and UNEP in Beijing
  • Rollout of ILO-run Factory Improvement Projects in India and Vietnam
  • Norwegian government-sponsored Collective Bargaining Agreement Project in Vietnam
  • Presentation on environmental initiatives at the China workshop of the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America
  • European Chamber of Commerce CSR Working Group in Beijing and its Supply Chain Task Force
  • The German Technical Cooperation and China State Council Poverty Alleviation Group migrant worker recruitment project
  • ILO-US Department of Labor Industrial Relations Project, Vietnam
  • Engagement with the Ministry of Labour and the Vietnamese Trade Union on industrial relations in Southern Vietnam
  • BDA (German Employer Association) ad hoc Working Group on CSR; see www.csrgermany.de
  • Engagement with the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) on supply chain management for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games
  • US National Retail Federation and FFC discussions on technology solutions and information sharing
  • Engagement with the Honduran government on medical coverage and health care facilities for apparel workers in rural areas
  • Dialogue with the US Department of Labor and the US State Department over legal and trade issues in EL Salvador.

NGOs and multi-stakeholder initiatives

  • Discussions with the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS China Working Group regarding HIV/AIDS programmes being implemented with Marie Stopes International
  • Forum on Supplier Relocation and Impact on Workers run by the Thai Centre for Labour Rights
  • Multi-Stakeholder Initiative Pilot Project (Jo-In Project) in Turkey about workplace standards, together with six international organisations, nine brands, 14 supplier factories and various other stakeholders; see www.jo-in.org
  • Engagement with WWF on CO2 offset projects
  • Dialogue with Worker Rights Consortium, United Students Against Sweatshops and the Designated Supplier Programme applicable to US collegiate-licensed products
  • Discussions with the Multi-Fibre Arrangement (MFA) Forum in Mexico and Maquila Solidarity Network in El Salvador.

Other initiatives

  • Multi-brand meeting with Pakistan ball suppliers to discuss labour practices in Sialkot
  • Partnership with Business for Social Responsibility (BSR), to support education and awareness raising in China in relation to labour rights and occupational health and safety
  • CSR Community initiative in Guangzhou, China
  • General Electric (GE) stakeholder dialogue in Asia and participation in GE-led HSE round table for China
  • Worker hotlines and partnerships with local Hong Kong NGOs
  • Multi-brand Vietnam Occupational Health, Safety and Environment Alliance
  • Nike and Levi’s-run brand collaboration meetings in Asia
  • Continued engagement with the Carbon Disclosure Project on the implications of climate change on commercial operations and shareholder value
  • Marie Stopes International and Concepcion Caceres Women’s health project in Honduras.

In some other cases we have not participated directly but nevertheless we have considered the outcomes and recommendations of other key multi-stakeholder initiatives and, where appropriate, incorporated these into our own practices and programmes.