each one of our garments goes through several processes before the product arrives at the store

To guarantee that employees’ working conditions, product safety levels and the environment are respected throughout the entire production process, we use a system that allows us to know where and how all our garments were cut, dyed, washed and manufactured.

We are also developing new tools that will allow us to innovate in these management systems and share information in real time.

In 2018, the inditex supply chain included 1,800 suppliers, in 43 countries and 7,235 factories. Over 57% of our production factories are located nearby, in spain, portugal, turkey and morocco. The rest of our products are made in over 40 countries and regions in the americas, asia, and the rest of the world. 

All of our suppliers and manufacturers must comply with the strict requirements set out in our code of conduct for suppliers and manufacturers, which has been the cornerstone of our commitment to sustainability since 2001. 

To ensure compliance with our social, environmental and health and safety standards, we carry out assessments, implement improvement plans and continually monitor suppliers and manufacturers.

audits

In 2018, we performed over 12,000 social audits in order to ensure compliance with our code of conduct. 

Furthermore, to ensure that our products meet our health and safety and environmental commitment standards, we carried out assessments of the facilities involved in the production of our products and analysed the production processes, particularly those that entail water treatment such as dyeing or washing the garments.

corrective action plans and training

In cases where the supplier has breached the code of conduct, we work together to develop action plans that determine the measures to be taken to rectify the situation and improve their own management systems. We work collaboratively to achieve the greatest benefits for workers.  

We complement our audits and plans for improvement with training programmes focused on sustainability standards for our suppliers and sales teams. We design training in the different areas of our code of conduct, processes and raw materials, to ensure sustainable production and to raise awareness about topics such as gender equality or freedom of association.

long-term sustainable supply chain

We are working to make the supply chain sustainable over time, with a positive impact on all parties involved: employees, business owners, ngos, trade unions, governments and communities. 

To this end, we create local work spaces (clusters) where all of these parties can cooperate and discuss how to implement policies and programmes in a more coordinated manner. 

Our strategic plan for a stable and sustainable supply chain reaffirms our commitment to the united nations guiding principles on businesses and human rights through our four lines of action (identification, assessment, optimisation and sustainability) and provides a roadmap with goals and activities that have guided our work to ensure social sustainability across the supply chain. 

The various activities developed in each of the lines of action of the plan, as well as the workers at the centre programmes, have helped to ensure that one year away from the end date, almost all the specific goals have been met.

workers at the centre

Our goal is to empower workers and give them the necessary tools so that together we can create sustainable workplaces where human rights are respected and promoted, contributing to the sustainable development goals set by the united nations.  

Based on our experience of working with suppliers, our clusters, international organisations and workers themselves, we design specific programmes in the areas of health and safety, worker participation, training and awareness raising, living wage, responsible purchasing practices, protection of migrants and empowerment of women. 

Our priority over the next four years will be to further our knowledge of workers’ needs, addressing them directly through the “workers at the centre 2019 - 2022” strategy. We will continue to work with relevant interest groups, particularly those who are in close contact with workers and aware of their concerns and needs.

All clothing collected is donated for the benefit of the local non-profit organisations with whom we collaborate
Cáritas / Red Cross / China environmental protection foundation / Le Relais / The salvation army / Among others.

The collected clothes will be donated, recycled and transformed into new fabrics, or they will be sold in order to finance the social projects developed by the non-profit organisations with whom we collaborate.

The aim of this project is that, in addition to extending the useful life of your garments, we can have a positive impact on your community through collaboration with local organisations.

Find your nearest store with our store finder.

industriall global union

The trade unions represent workers and they know what the factories are like inside. Working with them plays a fundamental role in upholding freedom of association and collective bargaining. We have been collaborating with industriall for 11 years, developing initiatives for worker representation and training programmes.

international labour organisation (ilo)

We are part of the better work programme, created to permanently improve socially responsible production processes in countries such as cambodia, vietnam and indonesia. we are working with the ilo on this project to ensure our suppliers are committed to this process of constant improvement. Moreover, in 2017 we signed a public-private agreement between the ilo and inditex aimed at fostering respect for fundamental labour principles and rights within the cotton sector.

ethical trading initiative

For over 10 years we have been working with the ethical trading initiative, an alliance between companies, trade unions and voluntary organisations that are committed to improving the working conditions of workers. Our code of conduct for manufacturers and suppliers and the methodology for developing it are based on their eti base code.

global compact, united nations

We are part of the united nations global compact programme in which organisations undertake to develop and comply with 10 principles relating to human rights, workers’ rights, environmental rights and good corporate practices. Every year, we submit a progress report to the united nations which awards our practices the highest possible rating (advanced level).

sustainable apparel coalition (sac)

The main aim of this collaboration between enterprises is to create a tool, the higg index, that allows the environmental and social impacts of clothing and footwear to be evaluated and reduced. We have been collaborating with them since 2011 on the creation of this tool to improve the textile sector and provide the consumer with environmental and social information on the products.

zdhc (zero discharge of hazardous chemicals)

This organisation allows us to work together with the rest of the industry in order to reach our goal of achieving zero discharge in 2020. Furthermore, it promotes best practices and fosters transparency. In support of this initiative, we help our suppliers publish the results of environmental assessments on the zdhc gateway platform.

chinese institute of & public & environmental affairs

In 2017, we collaborated with the chinese institute of public & environmental affairs (IPE) on the preparation of the green supply chain map, which makes it possible to demonstrate the commitment to transparency and monitor the environmental performance of our suppliers in china.

find out more