)
)
)
ISSUES WE CARE ABOUT
The textile industry’s supply chain is extremely complex and presents many challenges in both the ecological and the social sphere. We have high standards regarding the quality of our products. We select materials carefully and it is important to us that they are processed to a high standard. At the same time, we work hard to ensure decent working conditions for the people who manufacture our products. We have developed a Code of Conduct for our suppliers which incorporates key international guidelines and agreements regarding human rights, occupational health and safety, and fairness in the supply chain. Amongst other things, it prohibits child labour and sets out rules on safe workplaces, freedom of association and living wages. To heighten our influence in this field, we are a member of amfori BSCI and the Fair Wear Foundation.
FAIR WEAR FOUNDATION
We joined the Fair Wear Foundation (FWF) in 2020. The Fair Wear Foundation is a leading international initiative committed to improving conditions at textile factories in Asia, Europe and Africa. The independent, multi-stakeholder initiative works with clothing brands and factories along with NGOs, trade unions and governments. It applies the highest standards in the textile supply chain. By joining the FWF, we undertook to have an annual evaluation performed by the initiative and regular audits at the production facilities. In 2021, we received a ‘GOOD’ rating in our first Brand Performance Check.
HOW ARE WORKING CONDITIONS BEING IMPROVED?
Regular audits and independent third-party inspections are conducted at the production facilities as part of our work with both amforiBSCI and the Fair Wear Foundation. These are primarily performed in high-risk countries and focus on garment factories, as the work done there is less automated and very labour-intensive. The FWF also offers its members a unique complaints procedure, which can be used by both factory workers and NGOs to address violations of the Code of Labour Practices at member companies. Complaints are communicated and handled by the FWF using a transparent process.
ENSURING TRANSPARENCY TOGETHER
The question of where and in what conditions our products are made is a key issue today. In 2022, we entered into a partnership with the blockchain-based platform retraced with the long-term aim of making each individual product fully traceable to ensure transparency. Furthermore, we strive to work with all our suppliers over an extended period of time. It is important to us that we work with partners who share and fulfil our requirements in relation to both working conditions and product safety. To ensure this is the case, we regularly request social and ecological data from these partners. Read our factory portraits to get to know some of our partner companies.