Remediation protocols & grievance mechanisms

Where a factory’s assessment reports show room for improvement, a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) is created, and our local colleagues visit the factories and provide them with guidance and training to make sure the necessary improvements are made and implemented according to the CAP.

In cases where we find that factories are not meeting our minimum requirements, we have a clearly defined escalation protocol. In the rare case that a factory or supplier is not sufficiently committed to remediating critical issues we will – as a last resort – offboard the factory and possibly the supplier. It is worth noting that no factory is onboarded or activated for BESTSELLER production before all concerns rated as Critical or Major have been remediated.

Labour disputes are best resolved as close to their origin as possible, through robust factory management systems and workplace structures such as Workplace Coordination Committees and other accepted social dialogue mechanisms. Addressing disputes at this level helps ensure timely, context-specific, and sustainable solutions. However, when these mechanisms prove insufficient or fail to achieve resolution, we actively support further action by engaging with relevant stakeholders, utilising credible alternative labour dispute resolution mechanisms, and working in close collaboration with rights holders to ensure fair and rights-respecting outcomes.

BESTSELLER's escalation protocols apply universally across all markets in our supply chain. Alignment of escalation protocols provides more reliable data on concerns in our supply chain and will help us share these concerns with our stakeholders and develop stronger business practices internally and with our partners in the industry to address and mitigate these issues before they arise.

Through BESTSELLER's parent company, HEARTLAND, we have a whistle-blower system that is available to all colleagues and cooperation partners. All reports are received by a team consisting of a few people from HEARTLAND A/S and United Law A/S. The whistle-blower system is not managed by the Global Supply Chain department.