Chapter 3: Ethics & Social Responsibility

Forever 21 and Corporate Social Responsibility

Ethics refers to well-founded standards of right and wrong that prescribe what humans ought to do, usually in terms of rights, obligations, benefits to society, fairness, or specific virtues. It comes into play when we work, when we play, and at any time that we are interacting with others. Ethics is a set of rules that we each live by, essentially, although they are generally unwritten rules.

1. Supplier and Vendor Social Compliance and Ethical Sourcing

Just as a consumer has choices, at Forever 21, they take their business choices seriously, including in the way they  obtain the products and sell.  They care not only for their employees but also for the employees of hundreds of vendor manufacturing facilities throughout the world which make their products. They want all of these employees also to work in safe and healthy environments and to provide products to the consumer, which are made by such employees. Therefore, their Corporate Social Responsibility program includes the Forever 21 Vendor Audit Program.  In that program they make sure there is no discrimination, pay minimum/fair wages, hire qualified workers, safetyness, etc.

2. Charity Programs

Shopping is becoming about the power you have to support charitable organizations when you buy their products. They know you love Forever 21 for great fashion, being on trend and always having amazing prices. What you may not know is that their passion for charitable causes and helping those in need is of the utmost importance to them.

At Forever 21, one of their core values is to encourage giving, to lend a helping hand to those who need it most. Over the years, they have carried product that has helped a number of organizations. However this year they formally introduced their Give to Love to Give brand, which encompasses a collection of items where proceeds will go back to a designated charity. As of  2011, they have donated over $9.5M worth of money and merchandise donations.

3. Environmental Policy

Forever 21 is committed to reducing its environmental footprint throughout its global operations. Environmental sustainability is a key responsibility and they can play an integral role in ensuring that their impact is minimal in the countries where we source materials and products through to the markets where products are sold.

• They will continue to transport our products via sea vs. airfreight in order to help reduce carbon emissions.

• Their new stores are using energy efficient lighting systems to vastly cut down on the energy usage.

• They recycle all shipment boxes at our distribution center daily.

• They  have many other new programs in the works- check in with us from time to time to see what's new.