JA SOLAR has expanded the scope of its Social Accountability International SA8000 certification, a globally recognised standard for social responsibility and working conditions. This move reinforces the company’s commitment to responsible manufacturing, ethical business conduct, and respect for people throughout its entire value chain.

The SA8000 certification sets stringent requirements in areas such as fair working conditions, labour rights, health and safety, and ethical labour practices. Its framework ensures that social audits are conducted in an impartial, competent, and transparent manner, while promoting the continuous improvement of organisations’ social performance.

JA SOLAR emphasises that extending the scope of this certification goes beyond formal recognition and represents a tangible step in its sustainability approach. The company highlights that the energy transition must be supported by responsible production processes aligned with internationally recognised social and labour principles.

Supplier Audits and Assessments in 2024

In 2024, JA SOLAR carried out sustainability assessments for 104 suppliers across key categories, including silicon materials, cell materials, and module materials. In parallel, the company conducted centralised ESG audits for silicon material suppliers, supported by third-party audits.

According to the audit results, no significant risks were identified, and the majority of assessed suppliers achieved a good level of performance or above. For category suppliers, on-site audits of the SA8000 social responsibility management system were conducted, with positive results in areas such as environmental responsibility, ethical conduct, fair competition, anti-corruption, labour relations, and capacity building.

JA SOLAR also conducted written and on-site audits that resulted in corrective action plans, achieving a 100% correction rate during the reporting period.

Training, Incentives, and Continuous Improvement

Beyond risk management, JA SOLAR focused on strengthening the ESG capabilities of its supply chain partners throughout 2024. The company organised multiple sustainability training sessions for suppliers, covering topics such as sustainable development concepts, decarbonisation, SA8000 standards, labour rights, and ESG assessment criteria.

JA SOLAR has also implemented incentive measures for suppliers that perform strongly in sustainability assessments, including priority in business opportunities, increased transaction volumes, and higher supply ratios.

Taking into account differences in size and available resources across the supply chain, the company underlines its commitment to supporting small and medium-sized suppliers. This approach is complemented by ongoing communication, grievance mechanisms, and follow-up processes aimed at driving continuous improvement.

In 2024, suppliers participating in the CDP Supply Chain Program accounted for more than 68% of JA SOLAR’s total procurement volume, further strengthening the integration of environmental, social, and governance criteria into its sourcing strategy.