Our partners' autonomous SRP (Socially Responsible in Production)

- help suppliers sustainably and constantly improve human performance using self-assessment tools
- encourage partner agility and efficiency through autonomous decision-making at the local level DECATHLON now aims to ensure that 90% of its partner suppliers have at least one certified site by 2026.

The programme was followed by 41 partner sites in 2023 (45 in 2022).
To earn their autonomy certificate, partners are required to meet a number of criteria demonstrating that they are indeed managing human risks autonomously through reliable systems and transparent sharing of information.

These criteria are:
- At least a B rating on DECATHLON’s HRP assessment scale
- Demonstrate high and constantly improving performance on human indicators
- Be assisted by an internal auditor whose training has been validated by Decathlon
- Perform at least one self-assessment per year using DECATHLON’s audit grid and share the results
- Conduct an Engagement and Wellbeing survey every year to assess employee well-being while guaranteeing confidentiality.

This year, five new partner sites in Mainland China were certified as autonomous, bringing the total number of certifications to 16 since 2022. After certification, local DECATHLON production teams conduct an annual review to monitor the criteria are being applied. This review is mandatory and re-examines the results of the partner’s self- assessment and of the Engagement and Wellbeing survey. It also provides an opportunity to discuss the supplier’s needs and any problems it has encountered. In this way, DECATHLON remains committed to its autonomous partners in order to provide them with support and assistance when necessary.
Note that the certificate of autonomy can be suspended if a non-compliance is identified.

From 2021, DECATHLON has rolled out a survey tool that measures worker satisfaction and well-being, based on the Engagement and Wellbeing survey that was originally developed by Nike® and is used especially by several companies in the textile sector. 

The survey guarantees confidentiality and simplified digital access for respondents, and is conducted by
external providers, primarily Labor Solutions, KNO, Diginex, SGS and Ulula.

In addition to HRP audits, the survey addresses six themes to provide a second perspective and a 360° view of human issues at production sites: communication, wages, work-related stress, labour relations, skills building and health and safety.

The 20 questions asked of factory workers (including one on sexual harassment) enable each site to identify areas for improvement for a better working environment. The results can be analysed by demographic group, such as gender, tenure or job role, to establish measures adapted to each individual.

In 2023, 68 sites13 from 11 countries14 conducted an Engagement and Wellbeing Survey (40 sites in 9 countries in 2022). Some 62,000 employees responded this year (38,000 in 2022) for an average response rate of 73% across all concerned sites (66.4% in 2022).