Responsible Sourcing

Our responsible sourcing compliance program, which is integrated with Walmart’s global responsible sourcing program, establishes requirements to help ensure we further our commitment to buying and sourcing from responsible supply chains. Products should not be produced using forced, underage, or involuntary prison labour, and we expect suppliers to provide safe and healthy working conditions and protect workers from violence and harassment in the workplace.

Standards for Suppliers

Our Standards for Suppliers set expectations for anyone that supplies product to Massmart, including goods for resale and for Massmart’s own use. Suppliers are responsible for compliance with these Standards throughout their business and throughout the process of providing products to Massmart. This includes responsibility for the conduct of any suppliers, subcontractors, and agents they use as part of their Massmart business (including, for example, factories, processing facilities, and raw material, component, and ingredient providers).

Disclosure Requirements

Supplier transparency about the facilities used to manufacture products for us is a foundational aspect of our program. Supplier transparency and facility disclosure allows us to assess supply chain risk, monitor supplier compliance with our Standards for Suppliers, respond effectively to supply chain incidents, and deploy resources in a risk-based manner – all of which helps us earn and keep our customers’ trust.

Audit Requirements

We use third-party social, safety and environmental compliance audits to help us evaluate our suppliers’ overall compliance and to manage risk in the supply chain. These audits seek to monitor whether, among other things, workers are properly paid for the work they do, labour is voluntary, workers are not being exploited, facilities comply with employment age laws and standards, working hours are not excessive and are consistent with local laws and standards, and facilities meet health and safety laws and regulations.

Small Supplier Audit Alternative

In order to cater for specific challenges small and less mature suppliers face, while still providing Massmart with the ability to identify and mitigate risk, Massmart affords an alternative option to a traditional third-party audits. When an audit is normally required, small suppliers have the choice to submit social compliance audits from approved audit firms or participate in the approved small supplier program.

Visit the Walmart Responsible Sourcing Compliance hub.