PUMA expands its project with The Global Reporting Initiative

31 May '10

5 min read

The Sportlifestyle company PUMA expands its project in cooperation with The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) in GRI's GANTSCh program which supports supplier factories to report on their social and environmental initiatives and agreed with 20 key suppliers in South East Asia and other major sourcing regions to issue their own sustainability reports from 2011. Through this project, PUMA endeavours to enhance transparency as well as social and working conditions in its supply chain by advising factory management regarding weak points in their operations and enabling them to make improvements independently.

Twenty strategic PUMA suppliers based in China, Vietnam, Cambodia and other countries – which produce together more than two-thirds of all PUMA products consumed – will receive GRI certified training on transparent measurement and reporting on their sustainability performance using the GRI G3 Guidelines – the world's most widely-used framework for sustainability reporting. The training within the Global Action Network for Transparency in the Supply Chain program (GANTSCh) will be conducted by GRI Certified Training Partners. During the reporting process, scheduled to start in 2010, the suppliers will be supported by regional sustainability consultants and the first sustainability reports are expected to be released in 2011/2012.

“Supply chain sustainability reporting is a key part of PUMA's overall sustainability strategy,” said Dr. Reiner Hengstmann, Global Director of puma.safe supply chain. “Without sustainable suppliers, we will not be able to produce sustainable products or credibly report about PUMA's own sustainability initiatives. The GANTSCh project helps to ensure that our suppliers fully embrace the concept of sustainability and introduce respective programs in their companies.”

PUMA originally joined the GRI-GTZ pilot project “Transparency in the Supply Chain” which was launched in 2006 in which three PUMA suppliers in South Africa were trained and consulted on issuing sustainability reports. According to the participants, the project helped them to understand sustainability concepts through direct training from experts in the field; to learn how to measure sustainability performance by using key performance indicators; to become more transparent and learn how to report on energy consumption; waste production; work accidents; and other issues. They expanded their understanding of customers' needs regarding sustainability issues and improved their competitive advantage and reputation.

“Some companies show consequent commitment in building a sustainable future. Puma is one of these companies.“ said Dr. Nelmara Arbex, Learning Services Director, GRI. “Puma is not only committed to measure and manage their own impacts but they also understand that these practices have to be implemented around its business. GRI is very pleased that PUMA, which has participated in the GRI/GTZ project from the beginning, has decided to extend the GRI reporting practice to all its strategic suppliers“.

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