ICS (Initiative for Compliance and Sustainability)

The Initiative for Compliance and Sustainability (ICS) is an international initiative focused on improving working conditions and promoting environmental sustainability in the supply chains of its member retailers and brands. Established in 1998 by the French Fédération du Commerce et de la Distribution, ICS includes 70 multinational members from sectors such as textiles, retail, footwear, electronics, and furniture. ICS encourages suppliers to adhere to universal human rights principles and local labor regulations through a set of social and environmental codes of conduct. The organization offers services like audit mutualization to streamline compliance processes, a shared database for members to access factory information, and a handbook to guide factories in enhancing compliance. Additionally, it provides an online feature for factories to address non-compliances through corrective action plans. ICS collaborates with audit companies and organizations to ensure high-quality audits and has been recognized for its contributions to human and environmental rights in supply chains.