Our commitment to Ethical and Responsible Sourcing
Farmers has been part of New Zealand communities for generations. As a leading department store retailer, we recognise our responsibility to source products in ways that respect people, protect the environment, and meet customer expectations.
We conduct our business with integrity and are committed to maintaining high social, ethical, and environmental standards across our supply chain. We take all reasonable steps to help ensure our products meet applicable New Zealand laws, regulations, and industry standards, so our customers can shop with confidence. We value the trust our customers place in us and strive to build long-term partnerships with suppliers who share our commitment to responsible and sustainable practices.
Together, we aim to create positive outcomes for our communities, our partners, our customers, and future generations.
Respect People: We prioritise worker rights, wellbeing, and dignity, expecting all our suppliers to consistently uphold ethical, responsible, and socially conscious practices.
Protect The Environment: We encourage sustainable practices, minimise environmental impacts, and actively support continuous improvement over time and across our operations.
Meet Customer Expectations: We ensure products are safe, high-quality, accurately described, and compliant with laws and standards.
Responsible Sourcing at Farmers
What Responsible Sourcing Means To Us: Responsible sourcing means considering how products are made, where they come from, and the impacts they may have on people, communities, and the environment. We recognise that supply chains can be complex and that responsible sourcing is an ongoing journey. We work with our suppliers to support responsible practices and continuous improvement over time.
Our Code Of Compliance: Our Code of Compliance (COC) sets out the minimum standards we expect across our sourcing and supply chain. It supports ethical, legal, and responsible business practices and helps build long-term, trusted relationships with our suppliers.
Our Values: Fairness, integrity, and respect guide how we do business. These values underpin our reputation as a trusted New Zealand retailer and shape the expectations we set for our suppliers.
What This Means In Practice
Product Quality and Safety: We work with suppliers to ensure compliance with relevant legislation, laws, regulations, and industry standards. Our aim is to offer products our customers can trust and rely on.
Ethical and Social Responsibility: We require suppliers to respect the rights, dignity, and wellbeing of workers. Suppliers are required to provide ethical or social audit information or recognised certifications to demonstrate responsible practices.
Environmental Responsibility: We encourage suppliers to minimise their environmental impacts. We actively support continuous improvement and recognise that sustainability is an ongoing and evolving journey.
Human Rights and Modern Slavery: We do not tolerate child labour, forced labour, or any form of modern slavery in our supply chain. We expect our suppliers to take steps to identify and address these risks, and to comply with applicable New Zealand laws, regulations, and recognised industry standards.
Working with our Suppliers: We achieve positive outcomes by working collaboratively with suppliers to support responsible sourcing and address issues. If expectations are not met, we will review and, if necessary, take further action. Our suppliers must ensure that their operations and supply chains comply with our Code of Compliance. This means: meeting minimum ethical, legal, and safety standards; cooperating with audit and verification processes; and addressing issues promptly.
Supporting Policies
Our responsible sourcing approach is supported by robust internal policies that guide how we work collaboratively with suppliers and consumers to effectively manage risk across our supply chain. These policies cover the following key areas.
Product safety, quality, recalls, & labelling: helping ensure products are safe, consistently meet quality standards, and are accurately and transparently described.
Environmental and product performance claims: supporting truthful, clear, and appropriately substantiated product claims.
Fair trading and consumer protection: upholding our legal obligations under New Zealand consumer protection laws.
Human rights and modern slavery: proactively identifying and managing risks related to labour practices in our supply chain.
Ethical sourcing, traceability, and transparency: strengthening supply chain integrity through responsible and transparent sourcing practices.
Animal welfare: promoting the responsible and ethical use of animal-derived materials in line with applicable standards and expectations.
Sanctions and export controls: fully complying with all applicable trade and regulatory requirements.
Privacy and data protection: respecting personal information and managing data in line with New Zealand privacy requirements, see The Farmers Trading Company Ltd Privacy Notice.
Advertising and marketing standards: supporting honest, accurate, and responsible advertising and promotional practices.
Pricing transparency: supporting clear and accurate pricing information for customers - see “Pricing and Promotions” under www.farmers.co.nz/terms-and-conditions.
Customer feedback and complaints handling: supporting fair and timely resolution of customer concerns through our stores and "Contact Us" link
Consumer guarantees: respecting customer rights under New Zealand consumer guarantee requirements.
These policies operate alongside our supplier agreements and internal governance processes to support ethical, responsible, and legally compliant sourcing.
Governance and Review
Our responsible sourcing approach is supported by internal governance processes and is periodically reviewed to ensure it remains relevant and effective.
Updates to this Statement
This Responsible Sourcing Statement is approved through Farmers’ internal governance processes and is regularly reviewed to ensure it remains relevant, accurate, and aligned with our business practices and applicable New Zealand requirements. From time to time, we may update this Statement to reflect changes in our approach, evolving best practices, or regulatory developments. Any material updates will be reflected on this page. Last updated: April 2026.
Questions or Feedback
If you have questions about our responsible sourcing approach or would like more information, we welcome you to contact us. Please contact: contactus@farmers.co.nz.
