At ettitude, our mission is to create a world that is as comfortable today as in 100 years, for all living things. In alignment with our mission and as part of our ongoing sustainability efforts, we have developed the ettitude Supplier Code of Conduct (Code) to ensure that all supplier business on behalf of ettitude meets ethical and legal standards that protect people and the environment. These standards are based on well-respected and recognized international standards, including the International Labor Organization, United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and industry best practices. Our Code applies equally to every level of our supply chain from farm to garment factory, including all subcontractors and sub-suppliers.
Compliance with these standards is an expectation of doing business with ettitude, as the Code defines the non-negotiable minimum standards that we ask our suppliers and their sub-tier suppliers or sub-contractors (suppliers), to respect and adhere to. ettitude seeks to develop and strengthen partnerships based on a shared commitment to transparency, collaboration and mutual respect. We recognize that our suppliers are independent businesses and the exclusive employers of their workers. While ettitude appreciates that our suppliers operate in a variety of different legal, geographical and cultural environments, we expect all suppliers to comply with the Code, and hope that our suppliers will strive to exceed these standards. The standards of this Code are in addition to, and not in lieu of, the provisions of any legal agreement or contract between a supplier and ettitude.
- Compliance with Law. Suppliers business activities shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations in the countries and jurisdictions in which they operate. This Code applies to activities in the locations where “suppliers" goods are produced, sub-suppliers and where any related services are performed, and where the goods enter the supply chain.
- Employment Relationship. Employers shall adopt and adhere to rules and conditions of employment that respect workers and, at a minimum, safeguard their rights under local, national, and international labor and social security laws and regulations.
- Child Labor. Suppliers shall not employ any person below the age of 15 years, or under the age for completion of compulsory education, or whichever is higher. Suppliers shall not employ young workers (under the age of 18) in any work that may jeopardize their health, safety, education or development. In the case of a family-owned business, and in accordance with local law, suppliers may be allowed to employ the owner’s children (under the age of 15) as long as the work isn’t hazardous, and does not hinder compulsory education. ((ILO Convention 138 and 182)
- Forced Labor. Suppliers must not use any form of Forced Labor, whether in the form of prison labor, indentured, bonded, slave or other forms of forced labor. Acts of human trafficking are prohibited. All work must be conducted on a voluntary basis, and not under threat of penalty or reprisal. All workers should have access to and/or control of their citizenship and travel documents at all times and are guaranteed full freedom of movement. Suppliers are required to monitor any third party entity which assists them in recruiting or hiring employees, to ensure that people seeking employment at their facility are not compelled to work through force, deception, intimidation, coercion or as a punishment for holding or expressing political views. (ILO Conventions 29, 105, 182)
- Harassment, Abuse and Disciplinary Practices. Every employee shall be treated with respect and dignity. ettitude suppliers shall be committed to a workplace free of harassment and in no way tolerate any physical, sexual, psychological, or verbal bullying and abuse or to monetary fines or embarrassing acts as a disciplinary measure. (ILO Convention: 190)
- Nondiscrimination. No person shall be subject to any discrimination in any aspect of the employment, relationship including recruitment, hiring, compensation, benefits, work assignments, access to training, advancement, discipline, termination or retirement, on the basis of sex or gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, race, religious creed, color, caste, national origin, ancestry, political opinion, union affiliation, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, illness, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, ethnic group, socio economic situation or any service, past, present, or future, in the uniformed services (military or veteran status), or any other consideration protected by local law. All employment decisions must be made based on the principle of equal employment opportunity, and shall include effective mechanisms to protect migrant, temporary or seasonal workers against any form of discrimination. (ILO Conventions 100 and 111)
- Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining. Workers must be free to join organizations of their own choosing. ettitude Suppliers shall recognize and respect the right of employees to freedom of association; to form and join trade unions and other worker organizations and participate in collective bargaining without fear of harassment, interference, or retaliation. All suppliers must give worker representatives access to the workplace in order to carry out their representative functions, in accordance with international labor standards. All suppliers must develop and fully implement effective grievance mechanisms which resolve internal industrial disputes, employee complaints, and ensure effective, respectful and transparent communication between employees, their representatives and management. (ILO Conventions 87, 98 and 135)
- Wages and Benefits. ettitude supports the right of workers to fair compensation for a regular work week that is sufficient to meet the worker’s and their family’s basic needs and provide some discretionary income. Suppliers shall pay wages which are equal to or exceed minimum wage or the appropriate prevailing wage, whichever is higher. Suppliers must comply with all legal wage requirements, and provide any fringe benefits required by law and/or contract. In addition to compensation for regular working hours, employees must be compensated for overtime hours at the rate legally required in the country of manufacture or, in those countries where such laws do not exist, at a rate exceeding the regular hourly compensation rate by at least 125%. (ILO Conventions 26 and 131)
- Hours of Work. Suppliers shall not require workers to work more than the regular and overtime hours allowed by the law of the country where the workers are employed. The regular work week shall not exceed 48 hours or the maximum allowed by the law of the country of manufacture, whichever is less. Suppliers shall respect all workers’ rights to breaks during work shifts and to allow workers at least 24 consecutive hours of rest in every seven-day period. All overtime work must be consensual. No person shall be subject to any threat, penalty of unfair treatment in relation to agreeing or not agreeing to overtime work. Other than in exceptional circumstances, the sum of regular and overtime hours in a week shall not exceed 60 hours. (ILO Convention 1)
- Health and Safety. Suppliers shall provide a safe and healthy workplace to prevent accidents and injury to health arising out of, linked with, or occurring in the course of work or as a result of the operation of employers’ The employer shall take a proactive approach to health and safety by implementing policies, systems and training designed to prevent accidents, injuries and protect worker health. (ILO Convention 155)
- Subcontracting. ettitude does not permit subcontracting without our prior written approval. All salesman-sample and bulk production orders must be placed within facilities that have been pre-approved by ettitude, without exception. Direct suppliers are required to continuously monitor approved subcontractors and sub-suppliers for social and environmental responsibility using standards that meet or exceed our Code.
- Transparency and Traceability. ettitude acknowledges a joint responsibility with their suppliers to ensure social and environmental responsibility and the integrity of our product content claims. ettitude requires suppliers to track and monitor all locations in all levels of their supply chain and, upon request, to provide transparent information into the owned and/or subcontracted farms, mills, plants, factories and other sites that are involved in the production of our products. All suppliers must also ensure all material and finished product claims are backed by third party certifications.
- Code of Communication. All suppliers are required to highlight the ettitude grievance email address within this document and post the full ettitude Supplier Code of Conduct standards in a conspicuous place frequented by all employees in the local languages spoken by employees, supervisors and managers. Suppliers shall be fully transparent when submitting to onsite assessments as well as maintain all accurate documentation necessary for demonstrating compliance with the Code. This includes full access to production facilities, employee records and employees for confidential interviews.
- Environment. ettitude does business with suppliers who share our urgency for and commitment to preserving the environment. We ask all suppliers to commit to excellence in innovative technologies that reduce the impacts their manufacturing has on the environment, and favor those who invest in renewable energy and report their environmental impacts publicly. Suppliers must have policies and procedures in place to manage and minimize their environmental impacts. These include resource consumption, recycling, and responsible waste management. Suppliers must comply with all applicable local law in the management of (waste) water and air emissions. Additionally, suppliers must meet all requirements related to chemical restrictions, safely labeling, handling, and storage of approved substances while preventing or mitigating the release of chemicals and hazardous materials. All employees who handle chemicals must be adequately trained to do so.
- Community. ettitude encourages and aligns with suppliers who are engaged in their communities. By investing in infrastructure and creating education opportunities we take a leadership position alongside our suppliers in promoting social development in the communities where we work and live.
- Continuous Improvement. All suppliers are expected to take necessary corrective actions to promptly remediate any noncompliance and strive for continuous improvement. ettitude reserves the right to terminate business relationships with any supplier who is unwilling or unable to comply with the Code.
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