Response from Asics

Proposal C4: Report publicly on how suppliers are chosen and/or eliminated.

ASICS says it has a policy for supplier/vender selection and procedure for starting business with a supplier, but not a termination policy. The company does lists factors taken into account when considering terminations such as: the length of the relationship, changes in the business environment, ASICS’ changing business strategy, product delivery, product quality, etc. The company also says it tries to leave factories gradually by reducing orders through 1-2 seasons and by informing the supplier of the pullout in time to let the supplier look for new clients. No mention of linking CSR performance to sourcing.

Full response

We have policy for supplier/vender selection and procedure for starting business. The termination policy and procedure does not exist. At this moment, data collection is not yet completed. We haven’t sufficient figures to show.There is new source investigation flow chart to see whether the factory complies with the law and our code of conduct. The investigation result is discussed at the decision making of new sourcing. After decision is made, CSR team discussed the date for initial audit to factory. Based on the compliance status, the factory visit will be scheduled at once or after a certain period of time. As a general rule, Asics conducts initial audit by internal auditor and start non-compliance remediation plan.Director and general manager of business unit make the termination decision for existing factories for case-by-case. The prerequisite conditions for termination are various; the length of relationship, changes of business environment, changing business strategy to Asics, delivery, product quality, etc. Asics thinks it is not effective to prepare the termination policy and procedure of factories. We have not a special strategy for managing impact of existing factories.When we leave the factory for instance, we dare not immediate pullout. We try to leave factory smoothly but not to exacerbate factory's economic position to an extreme degree. Asics brings complete pullout into view for 1 to 2 seasons by keeping reducing the order progressively We inform factory in advance before leaving so that they can have time to look for new clients.

Response Key

The brand claims to implementing all components of this proposal or has agreed to implement them within Play Fair's proposed timeframe.

The brand is currently implementing or has agreed to implement some of the essential components of the proposal but has refused to implement, has overlooked, or has raised issues with one or more important components; or, the brand agrees to implement the proposal but not within Play Fair’s proposed timeframe.

The brand has refused to implement the essential components of the proposal.

The brand has misunderstood or failed to comment on the proposal; or the brand is considering the proposal, but has yet to make a decision.