According to a report by the investigative journalism platform Follow the Money, Adidas is facing allegations of contributing to worker exploitation and Amazon destruction in producing its sports shoes. The report suggests that the leather used in Gazelle and Spezial trainers comes from Brazilian meat producers involved in Amazon deforestation. Follow the Money also claims that workers in Brazil are subjected to unethical conditions, deemed as “modern slavery.”
In response to these allegations, Stefan Pursche, spokesperson for Adidas, refutes the claims, telling Fashion United, “We reject the allegations. Adidas has established mandatory standards for sourcing raw materials for leather products regarding animal welfare and environmental protection for all suppliers worldwide. The company has been a member of the Leather Working Group since 2006.”
Pursche emphasizes Adidas’ commitment to environmental responsibility, stating, “Currently, more than 99 percent of our amount of leather is controlled in accordance with the Leather Working Group [LWG] protocol, and most of our hides come from tanneries with the highest LWG rating (LWG Gold).”
Conducts regular audits
Addressing concerns about labor practices, Pursche asserts, “Adidas is committed to fair labor practices, fair wages, and safe working conditions in its global supply chain. A team of around 50 experts around the world works every day to ensure that our labor standards are applied and complied with.” He added that Adidas conducts regular audits, with over 1,200 factory audits conducted by 2022. If standards are violated, the company has a sanction mechanism that can lead to the termination of business relationships.
