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Social Responsibility

Responsible Sourcing

Where a T-shirt comes from affects how it feels when you wear it. That's why we work hard to provide apparel and accessories that you can be sure are made ethically and responsibly.

  • Long-term, reliable, and responsible supplier partnerships
  • Collaboration with respected independent third parties
  • Continuous improvement of SanMar's factory monitoring program

Factory Monitoring

As SanMar's business and supply chain continue to grow, it works to ensure its suppliers share its standards and operate in an ethical and responsible manner. SanMar makes social responsibility fundamental to its sourcing decisions and requires suppliers to follow its Global Operating Principles (GOP).

  • Third-party verification of Global Operating Principles
  • Engagement with multi-stakeholder initiatives
  • Training and resources for factories when improvement opportunities are identified
  • Independent, random monitoring by the Fair Labor Association (FLA)

The Fair Labor Association

The Fair Labor Association is a collaborative effort of socially responsible companies, colleges and civil society organizations to improve working conditions in factories around the world.

In November 2012, the FLA recognized SanMar (FEDS Apparel's main supplier) for its dedication to the Fair Labor and Responsible Sourcing Principles when it accredited SanMar's compliance program. In March 2023, SanMar's Factory Monitoring program received re-accreditation from the FLA.

  • Upholding the FLA's Code of Conduct and established systems to identify and remedy ethical violations
  • Working with the FLA to develop and improve social compliance systems
  • Monitoring supply chain partners to ensure strict labor standards
  • Engaging with local CSOs and NGOs to address regional challenges

Responsible Purchasing Practices

SanMar recognizes that its purchasing decisions affect working conditions. It trains its product creation teams and works to understand how its actions affect its suppliers.

  • SanMar's product creation teams receive ongoing training to help them understand how purchasing decisions influence supplier working conditions.
  • Since 2019, SanMar has partnered with the Better Buying Initiative to strengthen responsible purchasing practices.
  • Better Buying provides a platform where suppliers can communicate with buyers and anonymously evaluate purchasing practices.
  • The system delivers clear, transparent, and timely data that helps companies improve responsible sourcing.
  • In 2021, SanMar became the first Better Buying subscriber to publicly release its purchasing practices scorecard.

Sustainable Manufacturing

SanMar is proud to work with suppliers who invest in renewable energy, minimize water use, manage chemicals effectively and reduce waste in their operations.

  • Much of the apparel industry’s environmental impact comes from raw material and textile production, prompting increasing supply chain innovation to address these challenges.
  • As SanMar works with existing suppliers and new partners, it evaluates whether they are taking steps to improve environmental sustainability.
  • SanMar joined the Sustainable Apparel Coalition in 2017 and has since used the Higg Facility tools to assess suppliers’ environmental compliance during factory onboarding.
  • In 2022, SanMar required all facilities to use the Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM), which measures performance on environmental management systems, renewable energy investments, and other sustainability practices.

SanMar’s Commitment to Fair Compensation

The United Nations and its International Labour Organization (ILO) have declared a living wage a basic human right.

  • SanMar is committed to treating all workers in its supply chain with dignity, respect, and fair compensation.
  • Workers should receive pay for a regular workweek that meets basic needs and allows some discretionary income for expenses like healthcare, education, and transportation.
  • These standards are defined in SanMar’s Global Operating Principles and Factory Compliance Benchmarks, which outline detailed requirements for wages and benefits.
  • As a Living Wage Corporate Sponsor of the Anker Research Institute, SanMar supports research that improves the living standards of workers and their families worldwide.

Supply Chain Disclosure

SanMar is committed to conducting business in a socially responsible manner. This includes acknowledging SanMar's responsibility to ensure that modern slavery and human trafficking do not occur within its supply chain. SanMar seeks to comply with all applicable national laws where it does business and to respect international principles aimed at preventing and eradicating trafficking and slavery, as described in the 2000 United Nations “Palermo Protocol” and the 1926 Slavery Convention.

The 2010 California Transparency in Supply Chains Act (the Act), which became effective January 1, 2012, requires that companies disclose their efforts to eradicate slavery and human trafficking from their supply chains. SanMar's Global Operating Principles—a set of principles based on the International Labor Organization’s standards—address forced labor, child labor, harassment or abuse, discrimination, wages, freedom of association and more to protect against the risks associated with the trafficking and slavery of workers.
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