Our Code of Vendor Conduct (COVC) seeks to safeguard workers’ rights in the factories where Gap Inc. branded products are made. Since writing our first COVC in 1996, we have made progress in working to ensure that these factories abide by a strict set of social and environmental criteria. You can view our COVC here.
Because our Code’s effectiveness depends on its enforcement, we have a dedicated team of Social Responsibility Specialists who work with the factories we monitor to ensure they meet our COVC requirements. This work entails far more than checking items off a list. It involves gaining the trust of workers, looking beyond the obvious to truly understand how a factory operates, working effectively with management to make improvements, and following up on an array of complicated details. Read more about our work with factories.
In 2010, we conducted more than 2,500 audits on over 1,200 facilities that make our branded products, and we are constantly exploring new ways in which our COVC can be more effectively enforced to ensure it is having a positive impact.