SUP.R06 Rev 2, 02-MAY-18 © 2006 Starbucks Coffee Company. All rights reserved Page 1 of 4
Starbucks Ethical Sourcing for Manufactured Goods
Starbucks Ethical Sourcing Standards: Manufactured Goods
Starbucks endeavors to work with businesses who train and develop their employees, and who work
with governments and communities in which they operate to improve the educational, environmental,
cultural, economic and social well-being of those communities. At a minimum, we require our suppliers
to comply with all applicable laws, codes and regulations, including health codes, employment and
discrimination laws, environmental regulations, safety codes and building ordinances for each location
in which they do business. Suppliers shall inform their workers of these laws, codes and regulations,
ensuring any illiterate workers are informed verbally.
We require our suppliers to communicate and uphold these Standards with their employees, suppliers,
contractors and subcontractors and, when appropriate, to post them in the local language in a
prominent place accessible to all workers. Suppliers shall communicate these Standards verbally to any
illiterate workers. Suppliers shall also publicize and enforce a non-retaliation policy that permits
workers to discuss these Standards with their management, suppliers, customers and Starbucks or its
designated third party, without fear of retaliation by management.
Transparency
Starbucks expects suppliers to provide transparency into their operations, policies, processes, and
relevant records to Starbucks or its designated third party. Suppliers are required to disclose
conditions that may be in conflict with any of these Standards or any applicable regulations or laws in
facilities that produce, store, or handle Starbucks products or provide services to Starbucks. Suppliers
must also allow unannounced inspections of their records and facilities by Starbucks or a Starbucks
approved third party to verify compliance to these Standards, including confidential employee
interviews.
Suppliers must disclose the identity, physical location and ownership of all factories that will produce
goods for Starbucks, including the use of sub-contractors. Any proposed change from one facility to
another or the use of sub-contractors must be approved by Starbucks before production begins.
Worker Health and Safety
Suppliers must provide all their workers with a safe and healthy work environment and comply
with all applicable laws and regulations regarding working conditions including, but not limited to:
Access to potable drinking water, emergency medical care and first aid kits
Appropriate personal protective equipment, available at no cost to all applicable employees
Instruction in and enforcement of proper use of protective equipment
Appropriate safety training for the use of machinery and other equipment, and the handling of
chemicals
Proper labeling of machinery, hazardous materials and other potentially dangerous items
Workers are not permitted to engage in the manual transport of a load which, by reason of its
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Starbucks Ethical Sourcing for Manufactured Goods
weight, is likely to jeopardize a worker’s health or safety
Worker housing, where provided, meets the same standards for health and safety as the workplace
Adequate lighting, ventilation, heating and clean toilet facilities in all work areas
Doors and other exits are well marked, unobstructed and unlocked from the inside during all
working hours for orderly evacuation in case of fire or other emergencies
All main exit doors allow workers to clear the building
Evacuation drills are conducted at least annually
Maintain written standards for a safe and healthy work environment and the prevention of accidents
and injuries to workers
Worker Treatment and Rights
Starbucks recognizes that cultural differences exist and different standards apply in various
countries. We do, however, believe that all terms and conditions of employment should be based
on an individual’s ability to do the job, not on the basis of personal characteristics or beliefs.
Suppliers shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual
orientation, religion, disability, age, parental status, pregnancy, or other similar factors in hiring
practices or any other term or condition of work, including assignment of work, occupational training,
advancement, promotion, wages and other compensation, granting of social benefits, discipline or
termination. We expect our suppliers to have a commitment to basic principles of human rights.
Suppliers must treat all workers with respect and dignity. Suppliers must not use or permit corporal
punishment or any other form of physical or psychological coercion including verbal abuse and sexual
harassment. Suppliers shall implement reasonable procedures for disciplining and/or terminating
workers including maintaining appropriate documentation. Suppliers shall not use monetary fines as a
punitive disciplinary practice.
Suppliers shall have a comprehensive set of employment/personnel policies and procedures that
are fully communicated to their workforce. In addition, suppliers must foster and maintain conditions
in which workers can freely communicate grievances and expect prompt and reasonable action.
Suppliers must recognize and respect the right of workers to freedom of association and to bargain
collectively. Workers must not be subject to intimidation or harassment in the exercise of their right to
join or to refrain from joining any organization.
Suppliers will not employ any persons under the age of 15. Exceptions to this apply only to family or
small-scale businesses which do not regularly employ hired workers. If local regulations stipulate
compulsory education up to an age greater than 15, those regulations will apply during school hours.
Suppliers must observe all legal requirements for the work of minors (age 15 to 17), including, but not
limited to, those pertaining to age, hours of work, wages, minimum education and working conditions.
We encourage suppliers to support education and work-study programs, and to encourage all workers
to participate.
Starbucks will not tolerate the use of any forced or involuntary labor, either directly or indirectly,
by our suppliers, contractors or subcontractors. This includes the use of slave labor, bonded labor,
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Starbucks Ethical Sourcing for Manufactured Goods
indentured labor or involuntary convict labor. Workers cannot be required to surrender their identity
papers or other original personal documents or pay deposits as a condition of employment. Workers
must be free to leave the workplace at the end of their shift and to resign without repercussion. All
overtime should be voluntary and should not be in excess of legal limits.
Workers hired through contract agencies, including migrant workers shall be employed by the
supplier in strict accordance with relevant international legal agreements between the sending and
receiving countries.
Worker Hours and Compensation
Starbucks seeks suppliers who share our commitment to the betterment of wage and benefit levels
to improve the lives of workers and their families. All workers, including trainees, must be paid at
least the cash equivalent of the minimum legal wage. Workers must be paid directly on a regular basis
per a published schedule. At a minimum, legally mandated benefits must be provided to all employees
without onerous, unjust, or disproportionate deductions from their compensation. Employees must
have access to their accurate and complete personal earnings records, kept according to generally
accepted accounting principles Workers must not work more hours in one week than allowable under
applicable laws or 60 hours per week, whichever is less. Workers must be properly compensated for
overtime work and must be allowed at least one uninterrupted, 24-hour rest period after every 6
consecutive days worked.
Environmental Protection
Starbucks acknowledges that an essential component of our environmental mission is to buy, sell,
and use environmentally friendly products. At a minimum, Starbucks suppliers must fully comply
with all local environmental laws and regulations and shall conduct their operations in a way that
conserves natural resources. All waste materials and production by-products must be disposed of
legally and in an environmentally responsible manner. Suppliers must establish and demonstrate safety
practices and standards for the identification and handling of hazardous waste.
Environmental Permits and Reporting. All required environmental permits (e.g. discharge
monitoring) and registrations are to be obtained, maintained and kept current and their operational
and reporting requirements are to be followed.
Pollution Prevention and Resource Reduction. Waste of all types, including water and energy, are to
be reduced or eliminated at the source or by practices such as modifying production, maintenance and
facility processes, materials substitution, conservation, recycling and re-using materials. Written waste
prevention, waste reduction, recycling, energy conservation and greenhouse gas mitigation policies
shall be in place, along with demonstrable evidence of implementation. Records indicating utilization
of post-consumer recycled content materials shall be in place. Programs to utilize unbleached fiber and
post-consumer fiber in all paper products shall be implemented. Paper products shall contain a
minimum of 30% post-consumer fiber (wherever possible) unless not possible due to regulatory or
performance limitations.
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Starbucks Ethical Sourcing for Manufactured Goods
Hazardous Substances. Chemical and other materials posing a hazard if released to the environment
are to be identified and managed to ensure their safe handling, movement, storage, recycling or reuse
and disposal. Records of hazardous materials disposition shall be maintained. Written policies for the
minimization of hazardous materials shall be maintained.
Wastewater and Solid Waste. Wastewater and solid waste generated from operations, industrial
processes and sanitation facilities are to be monitored, controlled and treated as required prior to
discharge or disposal. Records of effluent monitoring shall be retained for comparison to permitted
discharge levels. Written plans to minimize water use in all operations shall be implemented.
Air Emissions. Air emissions of volatile organic chemicals, aerosols, corrosives, particulates, ozone
depleting chemicals and combustion by-products generated from operations are to be characterized,
monitored, controlled and treated as required prior to discharge. Records of air monitoring shall be
retained for comparison to permitted emission levels.
Product Content Restrictions. Participants are to adhere to all applicable laws and regulations
regarding prohibition or restriction of specific substances including labeling laws (for both source and
end market countries) and regulations for recycling and disposal.
Wood Products. A written program, with demonstrable evidence of implementation, shall maximize
the use of wood derived from forests which are certified as sustainably managed by the Forest
Stewardship Council (FSC). All solid wood for use in flooring, furniture and casework shall use wood
certified by the FSC.
Compliance and Corrective Action
Starbucks requires that an officer or senior management representative from the Supplier sign an
agreement pledging compliance with our Supplier Code of Conduct and any related Supplier Social
Responsibility Standards. If it is determined that a supplier is operating outside of these Standards, the
supplier will work with Starbucks or its designated third party to develop and implement a corrective
action plan, including a mutually agreed schedule for resolution of the issues.
Failure to meet a corrective action plan commitment will be considered a material breach of our
agreement and may result in cancellation of current orders and/or termination of our contractual
relationship. Gross violations or illegal activities will be cause for outright and immediate
termination of our contractual and business relationship.
Starbucks reserves the right to amend or modify these Standards at its discretion. Starbucks may
terminate its relationship with any Supplier found to be in violation of these Standards.