Creating a responsible and resilient supply chain

The new Responsible Business Principles contain 12 principles relating to ethics, people, children and the environment, with the primary purpose of ensuring workers involved in the production of LEGO products are treated with respect and the environment is safeguarded for future generations.

Since 1997 direct suppliers and partners have been required to sign the LEGO Group’s Code of Conduct to ensure responsible business practices across the supply chain. The new principles are based on the same strict criteria and have been updated to reflect the latest legal requirements and industry standards.

“In line with the LEGO spirit 'Only the best is good enough', we want to continuously progress our responsible business conduct across our supply chain. The new principles introduce two levels of performance; mandatory requirements and best practice targets and reflect our mission of inspiring and developing children and our long-standing Planet Promise to have a positive impact on society and the planet our children will inherit,” commented Kathrine Kirk Muff, Vice President Social Responsibility and Engagement, the LEGO Group.

Responsible Business Principles are a core part of the LEGO Group’s Responsible Sourcing Program and set out the ethical, social and environmental expectations for owned production sites, suppliers and licensing partners.

The best practice benchmarks go beyond compliance with the law and are indicative of the continuous improvement the LEGO Group aspires to in its own production sites and encourages suppliers to meet.

The Family Friendly Workplace principle has been introduced to help safeguard the best interest of the child in all business operations and recognises the impact of workplace policies on parents and caregiver’s ability to fulfil their family responsibilities.

The principles were developed with input from key partners including UNICEF, who provided expertise on child development for the Family Friendly Workplace principle. “Improving practices in relation to parental leave, breastfeeding support, childcare and flexible working time arrangements are critical ways in which businesses can support early childhood development. By introducing family-friendly workplace policies to its supplier code of conduct, the LEGO Group has taken a leadership position in supporting the ability of workers in its supply chain to better connect with their children”, said Gary Stahl, UNICEF’s Director of Private Fundraising and Partnerships.

Signing the Responsible Business Principles is mandatory for any direct supplier or licensing partner as well as prioritised indirect suppliers. By signing, suppliers and partners are not only required to adhere to strict standards in their own operations, but also to ensure that their sub-suppliers are compliant.

As part of the broader Responsible Sourcing Program, the LEGO Group also runs the Engage-to-Reduce scheme, which aims to lower the CO2 emissions outside owned operations, working with suppliers to introduce improvement measures that minimise carbon output.

Read more and access the new Responsible Business Principles here: https://www.lego.com/en-gb/aboutus/responsibility/caring-ethical-and-transparent