We recognise that some stakeholders want companies to ensure the content and data disclosed in their sustainability reports is independently verified. While we strive to continuously improve our reporting systems for supplier monitoring data, we feel that much of this data, in particular data on labour conditions, is not always verifiable in a standardised way. At this stage therefore we do not feel that report verification would add value.
We do, however, believe that independent verification of workplace conditions and of the processes and monitoring approaches we adopt in our compliance programme is important. For this reason our reporting does contain information that is subject to an annual review by the Fair Labor Association. We also refer to data verified when supplier factories or our own facilities were certified to ISO, EMAS and OSHAS standards.