Burlington’s commitment to environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues extends beyond our direct operations, as we factor ESG considerations into our global supply chain. Issues such as human rights, environmental impacts and responsible sourcing all inform how we manage the suppliers we use to stock our facilities and stores. To ensure ESG is a core part of our business, we must employ a resilient, responsible and sustainable supply chain.

Our Suppliers:
Our network of approximately 5,100 brands is an essential part of our business. We strive to partner with companies who treat their workers with dignity and respect, adhere to applicable laws and regulations and maintain high standards of business conduct. Burlington considers a range of risks, including environmental and social, before entering into these business relationships.

All of Burlington’s suppliers are expected to comply with our Code of Conduct and we reserve the right to refuse to do business with those who do not uphold, in action as well as words, these established principles. We also have an Open Door Policy and we strongly encourage our associates to voice concerns about product safety and compliance. If we suspect or discover non-compliance, we make every effort to work with the supplier to correct the problem through implementing a corrective action plan and a subsequent audit. For more information, please see our Legal & Social Compliance Manual.

Human Rights:
Burlington is committed to protecting the human rights of workers, in the U.S. and abroad, as informed by such standards as the United Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights. We do this by promoting ethical and lawful employment practices, including compliance with the California Transparency in Supply Chain Act.

We strive to conduct business with partners whose workers are fairly treated and compensated. As clearly established in the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, no supplier should use forced or child labor and all must pay at least the legal minimum wage.

Sustainability in the Supply Chain:
To properly assess risks – including environmental and social – within our supply chain, Burlington’s outside counsel conducts annual risk assessments for all countries where we directly import. We also ask our manufacturing partners to complete a questionnaire and, in some cases, require a third-party audit before taking possession of goods. These responses help inform how we engage with our vendors as well as how we as a company can better improve sustainability considerations throughout our supply chain.

Product Safety:
Product safety is a major priority at Burlington. Though our company is not involved in raw materials sourcing, we require vendors who manufacture for Burlington to comply with our policy on ethical and responsible sourcing. We also work collaboratively with our supply chain partners to reduce chemicals of concern and promote animal welfare. At Burlington, we do not knowingly procure or sell items that contain real animal fur; if fur is discovered in any of our product assortments, the merchandise is returned or donated to a charitable, not-for-sale organization. We also follow hazardous chemicals limits established by federal, state and local regulations and expect our vendors and suppliers to do the same. All our product assortments are regularly audited.