Corporate responsibility strategy

Stakeholder engagement

We have to look inside and outside the Group if we are to effectively manage risks and partner for change and accountability. We will continue to develop appropriate and innovative ways of embedding sustainability thinking and processes with the Group's internal stakeholders. We will extend strategic compliance planning with our business entities, and define their accountability benchmarks. And by contributing to Group initiatives at the global and local levels, we will strengthen sustainability awareness throughout our workforce.

For example, in 2008 we have developed strategic compliance plans with 14 business entities of the adidas Group to encourage their direct accountability for their operations. Find out more.

To drive improvement in the social and environmental performance of the adidas Group as a business and our global supply chain we will partner for change, accountability and transparency with external stakeholders. These stakeholders include governments, civil society and investors. To address systematic or chronic non-compliance, we will work with regulatory agencies and multi-stakeholder organisations such as the Fair Labor Association (FLA) or partner with other industry players.

We will continue to pursue validation processes and sustainability initiatives that build confidence in our corporate responsibility actions and challenge our own approaches and thinking, so that we are not only fit for today but fit for tomorrow.

For instance, in 2008, selected engagements included the Better Cotton Initiative, the Socially Responsible Investment community and our active participation in the MFA Forum in Mexico. Find out more.