MODERN SLAVERY AND TRANSPARENCY IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN STATEMENT
MODERN SLAVERY AND TRANSPARENCY IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN STATEMENT MODERN SLAVERY AND TRANSPARENCY IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN STATEMENT
INTRODUCTION 04
STRUCTURE, BUSINESS,
AND SUPPLY CHAINS 05
STRATEGY AND GOVERNANCE 08
POLICIES AND CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS 09
RISK MANAGEMENT, SUPPLY CHAIN MONITORING
AND DUE DILIGENCE PROCESSES 12
TRAINING AND AWARENESS BUILDING 14
PROGRESS 16
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MODERN SLAVERY AND TRANSPARENCY IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN STATEMENT MODERN SLAVERY AND TRANSPARENCY IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN STATEMENT
INTRODUCTION Modern slavery is a broad term that includes exploitative labour practices involving coercion, control, and loss of freedom. It occurs when people are forced to work against their will for the benefit of others under threats of punishment or harm. This includes forced and compulsory labour, bonded labour, child labour and human trafficking.The number of people affected by modern slavery has increased in recent years, impacting every region of the world, with current estimates suggesting approximately 28 million people globally are victim to forced labour. Crises including conflict, and climate change disruption, employment and education, increasing cases of extreme poverty and forced migration, lead to the increased risk of all forms of modern slavery.
STRUCTURE, BUSINESS, AND SUPPLY CHAINSDr. Martens is an iconic, global footwear brand. We make boots, shoes, sandals and accessories, which we sell through our direct-to-consumer (DTC) channel via our ecommerce platforms and our stores, and through our business-to-business channel via wholesalers and distributors. We create durable and timeless footwear which are worn by a diverse consumer base. Our iconic, global brand, together with our high quality and unique product are the equity that drives sustainable, long-term growth.
At Dr. Martens, we hold ourselves and our global supply chain partners to high ethical standards. We have a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery, and we are committed to playing an active role in addressing this issue. As a global organisation, we recognise our responsibility to promote transparency and drive meaningful change. Each year, we outline our strategies to prevent, identify, and respond to forced labour, focusing on supply chain traceability, education, and collaborative action.
This statement covers Dr. Martens plc and other Group companies which are in scope (and together are referred to as "Dr. Martens") and is made pursuant to section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, California Transparency in Supply Chains Act of 2010 (SB 657) and Canada's Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act, SC 2023 (authorized in accordance with subsection 14(4)(b)(ii)).
WHERE WE OPERATEWe are a global business and operate a regional model.
AMERICAS
Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, with offices in New York and
Los Angeles.
EMEA
Headquartered in London, and with offices in Milan, Barcelona, Paris and Düsseldorf. Our core EMEA markets are the UK, Germany, France and Italy.
This statement relates to the Dr. Martens fiscal year from 1 April 2024 to 31 March
2025. All actions outlined took place during this period unless stated otherwise.
APAC
Headquartered in Hong Kong with regional
offices in Tokyo, Shanghai and Seoul.
We operate through two main channels: Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) and Wholesale. The DTC channel includes our ecommerce websites, which serve most of our markets, along with 239 company-operated retail stores worldwide. The Wholesale channel consists of sales into wholesale accounts, together with country distributors and franchised store models.
We employ 2,348 people (FTE) who are based in our stores, offices, factory and distribution facilities all around the world. Our priority is to provide fair and safe working conditions for all our employees, and to foster an environment where each member of our global team feels inspired to reach their full potential and do their life's best work.
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10.5m
PAIRS SOLD (FY25)
2,348
EMPLOYEES (FY25)
£787.6m
BUSINESS REVENUE (FY25)
MODERN SLAVERY AND TRANSPARENCY IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN STATEMENT
OUR PRODUCT GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAINOur global supply chain tiers are defined in the following way
TIER 1
A supplier which manufactures or assembles finished products (e.g. footwear, accessories,
shoe care and outsole suppliers).
KEY TIER 2
A supplier that produces a strategic component (e.g. tanneries).
TIER 2
A supplier that produces other components.
TIER 1Our products are manufactured through a global network of Tier 1 suppliers based across Asia and Europe. We also operate one owned manufacturing facility in the UK, which produces our Made in England range .
We value strong long-term relationships with our Tier 1 suppliers and have worked with some for decades. As of the end of FY25, we had 27 active Tier 1 supplier factories: 11 footwear, 9 accessories and shoe care, and 7 outsole factories (which are classified as Tier 1 because soles are supplied for shoe repair). All Tier 1 suppliers have been
fully mapped, and we publish our Tier 1 factory list on our corporate website, updating it approximately every six months.
We also hold regular Tier 1 supplier conferences, led by our Chief Operating Officer (COO), which focus on open communication and the exchange of information. These sessions foster a culture of trust and transparency, while helping us gain deeper insight into the challenges our suppliers face. Ongoing dialogue around corporate social responsibility (CSR) topics, including our expectations around high social and labour standards, is maintained throughout the year and reinforced during these conferences.
We also directly engage with Key Tier 2 suppliers who produce our strategic materials including leather and PVC outsole granulate.
We have visibility of all key component suppliers and nominate our preferred Key Tier 2 and Tier 2 suppliers. Our top materials sourced by volume are leather, outsole granulate and packaging materials.
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MODERN SLAVERY AND TRANSPARENCY IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN STATEMENT
LOGISTICSWe operate with nine core distribution centres (DCs) across the EMEA, Americas, and APAC regions. One, in the UK, is owned and operated directly by us, while the others are third-party operated. Temporary workers at all DCs are engaged through labour agencies. For our UK-operated DC, we work with a trusted partner to recruit temporary workers during peak trading periods.
NON-PRODUCT SUPPLIERSWe also work with non-product third party suppliers that support our wider business. These include suppliers for goods not for resale, service providers, consultants and technology providers. For more on the due diligence processes we follow for our suppliers, see page 12.
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STRATEGY AND GOVERNANCE: HUMAN RIGHTS IS A KEY FOCUS AREA OF OUR SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGYHuman rights remain a key focus within our Planet, Product, People sustainability strategy, forming an integral part of the People pillar. The strategy addresses both environmental and social priorities across eight focus areas, aligned with Dr. Martens' material sustainability issues. Strategic sustainability initiatives, such as resale, repair, and the adoption of sustainable materials, are embedded within our broader business strategy to drive company-wide integration. For more information, please refer to our latest Annual Report.
POLICIES AND CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTSOur policies and supply chain management processes help ensure supplier compliance with our business standards. Human rights and modern slavery policies are reviewed by relevant teams including Legal, Compliance, HR, Global Supply Chain and Sustainability.
POLICIES FOR SUPPLIERS
Supplier policies are translated and shared with suppliers in relevant local languages, with select policies also published on our plc website.
MASTER SUPPLY AGREEMENT
Our Tier 1 suppliers sign our Master Supply Agreements (MSA). The MSA is a collection of contractual agreements we require our Tier 1 suppliers to comply with, such as our Supplier Code of Conduct E Workplace Standards and Migrant Worker Policy. Suppliers are expected to apply these policies to their permitted subcontractors and suppliers.
We also engage with Key Tier 2 suppliers to confirm their adherence with our policies.
SUPPLIER CODE OF CONDUCT E WORKPLACE STANDARDS
Our Supplier Code of Conduct sets out our expectations for our suppliers on the treatment of their workforce. It is based on international conventions including the Ethical Trade Initiative (ETI) Base Code and conventions of the International Labour Organisation
(ILO Conventions).
MIGRANT WORKER POLICY
The risk of becoming a victim to forced labour is three times higher than the average for migrant workers . Our Migrant Worker Policy sets out our expectations on the treatment of migrant workers. It is based on international best practices and the Dhaka Principles, which were developed by the Institute of Human Rights and Business (IHRB) and addresses specific issues migrant workers may face.
RESPONSIBLE PURCHASING PRACTICES CHARTER
Last year, we developed our Responsible Purchasing Practices Charter. Purchasing practices refer to the importance of commercial buying practices and supply chain management. Good purchasing practices act as a safeguard for the fair treatment of workers and provide a healthy work environment and business relationship. The charter was
developed following a review of our current practices, processes and policies, as well as both internal and supplier interviews. The Charter covers topics such as planning, fair costing and communication. As part of this pledge, we have visibility of labour costs to ensure workers are paid fairly by our suppliers. Further details can be found on our corporate website.
They are developed through a multi-stakeholder approach, and are aligned with international standards and industry best practices.
GOVERNANCE
The Board is ultimately responsible for the oversight and integration of ESG-related issues and activities across the business. The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is accountable for supply chain human rights and the Chief People Officer (CPO) is accountable for human rights across our own operations.
Global Supply Chain Team: Our Global Supply Chain Team has representatives based across key manufacturing countries. They conduct regular supplier visits, working closely with the CSR team, to collaborate directly with suppliers to provide ongoing insights and support.
CSR Team: Our dedicated CSR Team oversees ethical trade and human rights due diligence in the product supply chain. Based near key sourcing locations, they collaborate closely with suppliers to quickly identify and resolve issues, including
corrective action plans. During FY25, members of the team educated Tier 1 suppliers on CSR topics including Dr. Martens CSR strategic approach, CSR industry news and trends. The COO chairs regular reviews with the CSR team of supplier audits to ensure high ethical standards and address any non-conformities.
Sustainability Team: Dr. Martens has a team of internal sustainability experts who have the required skills and knowledge to support decision-making on environmental and social issues. They are also responsible for embedding and championing the strategic sustainability projects throughout the business. During FY25, they attended the Sustainability Committee meetings and Working Groups to provide specialist expertise when required.
The sustainability governance structure can be found on page 79 of the FY25 Annual Report.
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