by TODD MERTON, Director of Member & Partnership Growth, Ethical Supply Chain Program
As global temperatures continue to rise, businesses across international supply chains are facing the impacts of heat stress on productivity and the health, safety, and well-being of workers. What was once a seasonal issue is becoming an operational consideration for responsible business. The question is no longer whether heat stress should be addressed, but how.
The Heat Is On
Communities are experiencing the impacts of climate change, including increasingly intense extreme heat events. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 2.4 billion workers worldwide are exposed to excessive heat, resulting in more than 22.85 million occupational injuries each year, with more than one-third of all workers who frequently work in hot conditions experiencing physiological heat strain.
Within manufacturing environments, factory workers may experience dehydration, fatigue, reduced concentration, and increased risk of accidents during periods of extreme heat. Beyond immediate health implications, prolonged heat exposure can affect attendance, productivity, and operational continuity. This is an issue for workers and a business resilience challenge.
impacts of climate change, including
increasingly intense extreme heat events. | Source: ESCP
Staying Cool
Many manufacturers have already introduced practical measures to amend these conditions, including improved ventilation, greater access to water, and scheduled rest breaks. These interventions are valuable, but future planning is needed as adverse climate conditions continue to evolve.
The next phase requires more collaborative thinking, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Different regions, factory layouts, and production processes present different challenges.
The objective is not to prescribe a single approach, but to facilitate practical discussions, share emerging good practices, and help businesses navigate the growing issue.
Industry programs, brands, and suppliers can learn from one another by identifying practical solutions applicable across diverse manufacturing settings. Combining operational experience, worker perspectives, and emerging best practices is essential to effectively responding to challenges.
The Ethical Supply Chain Program is engaging in conversations with companies to better understand how heat stress affects factory operations and where collaborative solutions can support both workers and businesses. The objective is not to prescribe a single approach, but to facilitate practical discussions, share emerging good practices, and help businesses navigate the growing issue. Effective grievance channels and communication tools help businesses understand the realities facing frontline workers.
Improving Conditions
While regulations and customer expectations will continue to evolve, manufacturers in the toy and game industries do not need to wait for new requirements before taking action.
For more information on how you can protect your workforce, strengthen businesses, and support a more sustainable supply chain, please contact todd.merton@ethicalsupplychain.org.
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A version of this feature appears in The Toy Book‘s 2026 Fall Toy & Licensing Preview Issue. Read the full issue here!
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