On this page, you will find information about how we work to ensure decent working conditions and human rights in our supply chain, as well as our annual disclosure under the Norwegian Transparency Act.
Purpose of the Act
The purpose of the Transparency Act is to promote businesses’ respect for fundamental human rights and decent working conditions in connection with the production of goods and services. The law ensures transparency in supply chains and requires companies like Viking to conduct and publicly disclose our due diligence assessments.
Policies and Agreements
Viking is committed to responsible business practices that respect people, animals, society, and the environment through our policies for responsible business conduct. Our ethical guidelines are developed in collaboration with Ethical Trade Norway, are anchored in management, and signed by both the CEO and the Chair of the Board. The Head of Sustainability reviews these policies annually. Together with our Supplier Code of Conduct and our Impact Roadmap 2030, they form the foundation of our sustainability efforts.
Supplier Guidelines
Our Code of Conduct for suppliers includes requirements related to human rights, working conditions, animal welfare, environmental protection, and anti-corruption. They are based on internationally recognized UN and ILO conventions, as well as our own risk assessments. These guidelines set a minimum standard, and where national laws offer greater protection, the stricter standard applies.
Viking’s contractual framework, including the Responsible Business Conduct agreement, Code of Conduct, and minimum criteria for suppliers, is based on international frameworks such as the OECD Guidelines and UN conventions. These criteria were last revised in 2023 and are part of our partnership agreements.
Responsible Purchasing Practices
To ensure responsible procurement and clear expectations for suppliers, we have established internal routines with minimum requirements for pre-qualification and collaboration. Viking’s Code of Conduct lays the foundation for sustainable business practices, sets specific expectations for suppliers, and is actively used in risk assessments and follow-up of any breaches.
Read our policy for Responsible Business Conduct here.
Read our Code of Conduct here.
Open supplier lists and long-term collaborations
Viking invests in long-term relationships with our suppliers. We have worked with 24% of our first-tier suppliers for over 10 years. The collaboration between Viking and our suppliers is based on transparency and close communication, and we have maintained open supplier lists since 2016. You can view our first-tier suppliers here.
Factory visits and inspections
Since 2003, Amfori BSCI has enabled companies to improve their social performance within their value chains and create meaningful change. At Viking, we initiate BSCI audits at the production sites of our first-tier suppliers. BSCI reports are reviewed with factory management routinely and during site visits by Viking staff.
Our first-tier manufacturing partners are required to develop corrective action plans (CAPs) for any significant findings from the annual BSCI audits. If any findings are serious, suppliers must act immediately. If the corrective action plan is inadequate, the supplier is required to schedule a new audit within three months.
BSCI audits at Viking’s first-tier manufacturing partners cover the following areas, which include Viking’s Code of Conduct and internationally recognized conventions (UN and ILO):
Responsible Social Management Systems
The Involvement and Protection of Workers
The Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining
Discrimination Free Workplace
Fair Remuneration
Decent Working Hours
Occupational Health and Safety
Ban of the use of Child Labour
Special Protection for Young Workers.
Ethical Employment Standards
Ban of the use of Bonded Labour
Protection of the Environment
Due diligence assessments
The work with due diligence assessments is currently organized under purchasing and sourcing. Since 2022, Viking has conducted annual due diligence assessments to identify risks of negative impacts on people, animals, society, and the environment in our supply chain. As a member of Ethical Trade Norway, we are committed to conducting annual assessments based on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and the OECD Guidelines for Responsible Business Conduct. The assessment method consists of six steps that guide our work toward more responsible business.
If Viking identifies risks of situations or activities in our supply chain that may have negative impacts, we are responsible for attempting to prevent, mitigate, or limit those impacts. The measures we initiate must be monitored and assessed for their effect and communicated to those affected. If our activities cause or contribute to negative impact on people, society, or the environment, we will ensure remediation or cooperate in remediation efforts. Our Code of Conduct requires our suppliers to follow the same approach. If the supplier is responsible for the negative impact/damage, they are also responsible for remediation.
Annual disclosure
Viking reports annually on responsible business practices to Ethical Trade Norway. The report is prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Transparency Act and forms the basis of our annual disclosure. The report is read and signed by the company’s board.
Our Asia office is operationally responsible for initiating BSCI audits and addressing deviations, as well as following up on the risk areas outlined in our action plan. Viking’s strategies and plans for responsible business practices are followed up through meetings throughout the year, with close communication between the general manager and those operationally responsible.
See our action plan for the risk areas we have mapped here.
Read our due diligence assessment for 2025 here.
Previously published due diligence assessments: 2022, 2023, 2024
Notification channel
As part of our due diligence efforts, Viking has established an independent whistleblowing channel to identify and address any potential negative impacts in our supply chain. The channel is open to external stakeholders, including supply chain workers and affected communities, and is operated by the third-party provider HR-huset AS.
Reports can be submitted via the dedicated email address varsel@hrhuset.no. All reports are handled confidentially by a case officer at HR-huset, and the whistleblower may choose to remain anonymous.
Do you have any questions?
If you cannot find the information you are looking for or would like additional information, please feel free to contact us at viking@vikingfootwear.com.
