Making an impact – together with partners worldwide
Put into practice: our zero-tolerance strategy
We stand for fair working conditions – wherever we source materials, services, and products. A scheduled BSCI audit at one of our partner companies revealed that international social standards were not being complied with: a Thai supplier had passed on the costs of the necessary work permits to employees from Myanmar – a practice that does not contravene local laws but is prohibited under the BSCI Code of Conduct.
The workers affected began their employment with significant debt, which was classified as a form of forced labour. ZWILLING responded immediately and made it clear that this practice is not compatible with its own values and human rights due diligence.
From awareness to concrete change
In consultation with our purchasing department, our subsidiary DEMEYERE, as the supplier's main customer, and external experts from amfori BSCI, we initiated a structured improvement process. In regular online meetings and on-site visits, we discussed the situation, were able to bring about a change in thinking, and initiate concrete changes.
The supplier retroactively reimbursed the amounts withheld to employees who were still active – with financial support from DEMEYERE. In future, it will also bear the costs of hiring new staff. In addition, the supplier's HR department took part in an amfori training on responsible recruitment and integrated the new procedures into the company guidelines. A re-audit following confirmed the successful implementation of the corrective measures.
The case impressively demonstrates how perseverance, willingness to engage in dialogue, and commitment can lead to substantial improvements for workers—even where there is no legal obligation to do so.
Since 2024, ZWILLING has been a member of the international amfori BSCI System Project Group, a committee consisting of amfori experts and around 20 company representatives. Within the network, we work with other industry players to further develop the amfori BSCI standard and adapt it to dynamically changing global requirements.
In addition to conceptual work, the regular meetings focus primarily on knowledge transfer and the exchange of experiences. The aim is to develop innovative approaches that protect vulnerable groups and strengthen human rights and working conditions worldwide. Our involvement in this committee enables us to play a direct role in shaping the standard and supporting its implementation in practice.
Environmental management at ZWILLING: a model for the amfori BEPI program
As part of the amfori BEPI program, ZWILLING's production facility in Solingen was selected as an example company to show suppliers worldwide how an environmental management system works in everyday operations. A film crew visited our site, spoke to ZWILLING employees, and documented how we implement environmental standards.
The focus was on the eight environmental areas of amfori BEPI: environmental management system, energy and greenhouse gas emissions, water management, waste management, hazardous substance and chemical handling, air emissions, environmental pollution, and biodiversity. In the resulting videos, we explain how we approach these issues in practice, providing suppliers worldwide with concrete assistance in improving their own environmental performance.
The videos are available on the amfori BEPI platform, where members and participating suppliers worldwide can access them. In this way, we are helping to strengthen environmental standards in global supply chains in a sustainable manner.
