I N T R O D U C T I O N
dōTERRA’s mission is to deliver the highest quality standard in the world of essential oils, and to do so while being a force for good. dōTERRA has a formal commitment to creating positive impact through its business operations and practices. These priorities extend throughout dōTERRA’s global supply chain, where we are committed to working with our supply chain partners to build greater inclusivity and create share value through the production of essential oils.
The dōTERRA Supplier Code of Conduct defines standards for fair, safe and healthy working conditions and environmental responsibility throughout dōTERRA’s global supply chain. The Code’s standards are based on International Labor Organization (ILO) standards and internationally accepted good labor practices. All preferred suppliers must commit to adhering to this Code of Conduct and detailed Supplier Scorecard. Requirements in this Code apply to the whole supply chain, including sub-suppliers, sub- contractors and farms. Standards equally apply to permanent, temporary, and agency workers, as well as piece-rate, salaried, hourly paid, legal young workers (minors), part time, night, and migrant workers. We seek suppliers committed to continuous improvement who are moving forward on their sustainability journey from basic to leadership practices. All suppliers must agree to announced and unannounced assessments by dōTERRA.
dōTERRA expects all suppliers to quickly make improvements when any of these Code standards are not met, and to develop sustainable management, reporting and tracking systems within their operations, to ensure ongoing compliance. Timelines for achieving compliance shall be reasonable and defined. Providing proof of correction to dōTERRA for each non-compliance is also required. dōTERRA pledges to help its suppliers improve labor, health and safety and environmental conditions in the workplace, and to help suppliers understand how to move from “basic” to “leadership” sustainability practices. We recognize that this effort requires listening to our suppliers and their employees’ needs, and requires a collaborative approach using capacity building tools such as root-cause analysis, training, and management-system development to drive meaningful change.
dōTERRA seeks at all times to exercise the best possible practices for the respectful and ethical treatment of workers and promote sustainable conditions in which workers earn fair wages in safe and healthy workplaces. For more information on dōTERRA corporate responsibility please visit www.doterra.com.
S U P P L I E R C O D E O F C O N D U C T
LAW AND CODE COMPLIANCE: dōTERRA suppliers are expected to comply with (1) all relevant and applicable laws and regulations of the country in which workers are employed including those at the federal, state/provincial, and local community levels; (2) dōTERRA’s Supplier Code of Conduct; (3) dōTERRA’s Co-Impact Sourcing Scorecard (where applicable); (4) Collective Bargaining Agreements (where applicable). When differences or conflicts in standards arise, suppliers are expected to comply with the highest standard that is the most in favor of the employees.
CHILD LABOR: No person shall be employed under the age of 15 or under the age for completion of compulsory education, whichever is higher. Juvenile workers (ages 15-17) shall not perform work which, by its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to compromise their health, safety or morals. (ILO Convention 138 and 182)
III. FORCED LABOR: There shall be no use of forced labor, including prison, indentured, bonded, slave or other forms of forced labor. Acts of human trafficking are also prohibited. Suppliers are required to monitor any third party entity which assists them in recruiting or hiring employees, to ensure that people seeking employment at their facility, farm or other operation are not compelled to work through force, deception, intimidation, coercion or as a punishment for holding or expressing political views. (ILO Conventions 29, 105, 182)
HARASSMENT, ABUSE AND DISCIPLINARY PRACTICES: Every employee shall be treated with respect and dignity. No employee shall be subject to any physical, sexual, psychological or verbal harassment or abuse or to monetary fines or embarrassing acts as a disciplinary measure.
DISCRIMINATION: No person shall be subject to any discrimination in any aspect of the employment, relationship including recruitment, hiring, compensation, benefits, work assignments, access to training, advancement, discipline, termination or retirement, on the basis of race, religious belief, color, gender, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identification, physical or mental disability, medical condition, illness, genetic characteristics, family care, marital status, status as a veteran or qualified disabled veteran (in the USA only), caste, socio- economic situation, political opinion, union affiliation, ethnic group, illness any other classification protected under applicable law. All employment decisions must be made based on the principle of equal employment opportunity, and shall include effective mechanisms to protect migrant, temporary or seasonal workers against any form of discrimination. (ILO Conventions 100 and 111)
FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING: Workers must be free to join organizations of their own choice. Suppliers shall recognize and respect the right of employees to freedom of association and collective bargaining. All suppliers must develop and fully implement effective grievance mechanisms which resolve internal industrial disputes, employee complaints, and ensure effective, respectful and transparent communication between employees, their representatives and management. (ILO Conventions 87, 98 and 135)
VII. EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP: Employers shall adopt and adhere to rules and conditions of employment that respect workers and, at a minimum, safeguard their rights under national and international labor and social security laws and regulations.
VIII. WAGES AND BENEFITS: We seek and favor suppliers who progressively raise employee living standards through improved wage systems, benefits, welfare programs and other services, which exceed legal requirements and enhance quality of life. Every worker has a right to compensation for a regular work week that is sufficient to meet the worker’s and their family’s basic needs and provide some discretionary income. Employers shall pay wages which equal or exceed minimum wage or the appropriate prevailing wage, whichever is higher, comply with all legal requirements on wages, and provide any fringe benefits required by law and/or contract. Where compensation does not meet workers’ basic needs and provide some discretionary income, each employer shall work with dōTERRA to take appropriate actions that seek to progressively realize a level of compensation that does. (ILO Conventions 26 and 131)
OVERTIME WAGES: In addition to compensation for regular working hours, employees must be compensated for overtime hours at the rate legally required in the country of manufacture or, in those countries where such laws do not exist, at a rate exceeding the regular hourly compensation rate by at least 125%. (ILO Convention 1 and 30)
HOURS OF WORK: Suppliers shall not require workers to work more than the regular and overtime hours allowed by the law of the country where the workers are employed. The regular work week shall not exceed 48 hours or the maximum allowed by the law of the country of manufacture, whichever is less. Employers shall allow workers at least 24 consecutive hours of rest in every seven-day period. All overtime work shall be consensual. Employers shall not request overtime hours on a regular basis. The sum of regular and overtime hours in a week shall not exceed 60 hours or the maximum allowed by the law of the county of manufacture, whichever is less. (ILO Convention 1)
HEALTH AND SAFETY: Suppliers shall provide a safe and healthy workplace to prevent accidents and injury to health arising out of, linked with, or occurring in the course of work or as a result of the operation of employers’ facilities. The employer shall take a proactive approach to health and safety by implementing policies, systems and training designed to prevent accidents, injuries and protect worker health. (ILO Convention 155)
XII. ENVIRONMENT: Suppliers shall maintain written environmental policies and standards and must comply with all applicable environmental laws, dōTERRA’s Co-Impact Sourcing Scorecard, and agree to be monitored for environmental responsibility. Factories shall continuously monitor, and disclose to dōTERRA, their energy and natural resource usage, emissions, discharges, carbon footprint and disposal of wastes and take a progressive approach to minimize negative impacts on the environment.
XIII. COMMUNITY: dōTERRA encourages all suppliers and their employees to get involved in local social and environmental community charity efforts by volunteering time and/or providing other types of support. dōTERRA has a solid history of supporting community development initiatives and found the dōTERRA Healing Hands Foundation in 2008 to carry out such initiatives. dōTERRA seeks long-term partnerships with suppliers that share these same philanthropic values.
XIV. SUBCONTRACTING: dōTERRA does not permit subcontracting without prior written approval. All contracted oil production orders must be placed within facilities that have been pre-approved by dōTERRA, without exception. Direct suppliers are required to continuously monitor approved subcontractors and sub-suppliers for social and environmental responsibility using standards that meet or exceed this Code and dōTERRA’s Co-Impact Sourcing Scorecard.
ANIMAL WELFARE: Suppliers must respect animal welfare and work progressively towards adopting healthy and humane practices towards animals based on best available technology and standards.
XVI. TRACEABILITY: dōTERRA and our suppliers are jointly responsible for ensuring social and environmental responsibility and the integrity of our product content claims from the farm through the finished goods factory level. The only way to work towards this goal is to have transparency and traceability into all levels of our supply chain. dōTERRA requires suppliers to continuously track and monitor all locations associated with their supply chain and upon request provide transparency information into the owned and/or subcontracted farms, distilleries, and other sites that are involved in the production of our products.
XVII. CODE COMMUNICATION: All suppliers are required to: (1) post this Code of Conduct and separate dōTERRA grievance email address document in a conspicuous place frequented by all employees in the local languages spoken by employees, supervisors and managers; (2) undertake annual, documented training efforts to educate current and new employees about the dōTERRA Code standards and use of the dōTERRA grievance email address.
XVIII. QUALITY: Quality is the result of clarity, capable and well-integrated systems, and good communication. To achieve this, manufacturing facilities must have a clearly documented quality system and quality improvement plan. That system must include reliable “in process” and final finished goods audits and procedures that meet dōTERRA’s quality standards. These audits must be performed by a trained QA staff person provided by the factory. The QA staff person must be granted the autonomy and support he/she needs in order to provide an unbiased report on the quality of every shipment of finished goods. Compliance with our quality requirements is monitored by dōTERRA’s Strategic Sourcing Department.
CONTACT US: If you are aware of violations within our supply chain of these Code elements, we would like to know about it. Please bring these issues to our attention by contacting us at socialresponsibility@doterra.com. Please feel free to write in your local language. All information we receive will be kept in strict confidence and your identity protected.
THIS CODE OF CONDUCT AND OUR GRIEVANCE CONTACT INFORMATION MUST BE POSTED WITHIN THE FACTORY IN A CONSPICUOUS, FREELY ACCESSIBLE AREA IN THE LOCAL LANGUAGE(S) OF THE EMPLOYEE.