Code of Conduct for suppliers

The Workplace Standards are contractually binding requirements applicable for our suppliers’ factories, covering health and safety, labor rights and environmental protection. The Standards draw from international law and the International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions, and follow the model code of conduct of the World Federation of Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI). We revised the Workplace Standards in 2001, 2006 and 2016 in consultation with labor rights groups. To explain how we expect our suppliers to live up to our Standards, we have produced a number of supporting guidelines that detail our expectations for fair, healthy, safe workplace conditions and environmentally sound factory operations.

Health and Safety, Environment and Enforcement

A number of supporting guidelines make the Workplace Standards understandable and practical, provide additional guidance for our suppliers, and help us work together to find effective solutions to workplace problems. 

Our Guidelines on Employment Standards, Health and Safety Guidelines, and the Environmental Guidelines are available in several language versions. LINK

To make sure that not only the suppliers but also adidas employees and licensees, the ones that are involved in product sourcing, are aware of our Workplace Standards and additional guidelines, we’ve implemented Group-wide standard operating procedures. They ensure that all adidas businesses and licensees inspect, select and authorise suppliers in line with our Workplace Standards. Core policies and procedures that are part of adidas' policy manual include: 

• A Factory Approval Policy, which describes the procedures for getting authorisation from the Social and Environmental Affairs team for all production 
• The External Monitoring Policy, which outlines requirements for external monitors conducting factory assessments on behalf of adidas business entities and licensees 
• A Termination Guideline, which describes our approach to ethically terminate a relationship with a supplier 
• The Fair Factories Clearinghouse procedure, which describes the responsibilities for disclosing and maintaining data in the company's supply chain database. 

Human Rights Defenders

adidas has a long-standing policy of non-interference with the activities of HRDs, including those who actively campaign on issues that may be linked to our business operations. We expect our business partners to follow the same policy; they should not impinge on the lawful actions of an HRD, or on their freedom of expression, freedom of association or right to peaceful assembly.

Modern Slavery

We have a zero-tolerance stance on forced labor, human trafficking and slavery. This policy framework details how we manage to comply with our commitment.

Responsible Recruitment

We are committed to eliminating the practice of migrant workers paying recruitment costs and fees to secure their employment.

Responsible Sourcing

We are committed to working with our business partners, across our global and multi-layered supply chain, to ensure that sourcing and purchasing decisions, and other supporting processes, do not impede or conflict with the fulfillment of the adidas Workplace Standards.