05.25.21
First Solar has a longstanding zero-tolerance policy towards forced labor, requiring its suppliers to abide by its standards and policies, regardless of geographical location.
As part of its efforts to drive industry best practices and strengthen its responsible sourcing program, First Solar announced it has joined the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA), the world’s largest industry coalition dedicated to supporting the rights and well-being of workers and communities in the global supply chain.
It is the first of the world’s 10 largest photovoltaic (PV) solar manufacturers to join the RBA.
As a regular member of the RBA, First Solar has aligned itself with the organization’s vision of creating a coalition of companies driving sustainable value for workers, the environment and business throughout the global supply chain.
First Solar’s membership also gives it access to the RBA’s due diligence tools and programs, and the company will leverage RBA’s Validated Assessment Program (VAP), which is a leading standard for onsite compliance verification and effective, shareable audits.
“Quite simply, our decision to join the RBA is underpinned by our commitment to Responsible Solar. It represents our efforts to build on our track record of responsible sourcing by leveraging the RBA’s tools and comprehensive Validated Assessment Program, which conducts third-party audits of potential high-risk suppliers,” said Mike Koralewski, chief manufacturing operations officer, First Solar. “As the solar industry struggles to address issues like forced labor in the absence of credible audit programs, the VAP illustrates the fact that there is no need to reinvent the wheel in the search for a robust and reputable assessment framework.”
As part of its efforts to drive industry best practices and strengthen its responsible sourcing program, First Solar announced it has joined the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA), the world’s largest industry coalition dedicated to supporting the rights and well-being of workers and communities in the global supply chain.
It is the first of the world’s 10 largest photovoltaic (PV) solar manufacturers to join the RBA.
As a regular member of the RBA, First Solar has aligned itself with the organization’s vision of creating a coalition of companies driving sustainable value for workers, the environment and business throughout the global supply chain.
First Solar’s membership also gives it access to the RBA’s due diligence tools and programs, and the company will leverage RBA’s Validated Assessment Program (VAP), which is a leading standard for onsite compliance verification and effective, shareable audits.
“Quite simply, our decision to join the RBA is underpinned by our commitment to Responsible Solar. It represents our efforts to build on our track record of responsible sourcing by leveraging the RBA’s tools and comprehensive Validated Assessment Program, which conducts third-party audits of potential high-risk suppliers,” said Mike Koralewski, chief manufacturing operations officer, First Solar. “As the solar industry struggles to address issues like forced labor in the absence of credible audit programs, the VAP illustrates the fact that there is no need to reinvent the wheel in the search for a robust and reputable assessment framework.”