Responsible sourcing is the process of making sure products made and sold are done so in the most sustainable and ethical way possible, and this really matters to consumers.
We seek out suppliers that adhere to our rigorous social compliance standards and global operating principles. All factory selection and vetting is based on principles established by the International Labor Organization, as well as a system of comprehensive compliance audits and a demonstrated commitment to product safety.
SanMar is an Accredited Participating Company of the Fair Labor Association (FLA). The FLA has helped SanMar to continuously improve social compliance systems and promote sustainable solutions. As part of our participation with the FLA, we uphold the FLA’s Code of Conduct and are committed to implementing responsible sourcing best practices.
We’re also a member of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), a collective of nearly 200 global brands, retailers, manufacturers, government, non-profit environmental and academic organizations committed to improving supply chain sustainability in the apparel, footwear and textile industries. SanMar uses the Higg Index, a sustainability measurement tool, to measure sustainability performance throughout our supply chain.
We enthusiastically support our suppliers who share our positive community and environmental values and are proud of their continued efforts.
Many of our factories go above and beyond to operate in the most responsible way possible. Our factory partners are actively doing their best to make the planet a better place through their energy reduction efforts. For example, in recent years our supplier in Kerala, India has been experiencing a regional-wide water shortage. To do its part, in 2016 the Kerala factory started projects to collect and recycle rainwater. They were so successful their program was cited in a study for the World Bank for their amazing processes in water harvesting and conservation.
Our partner in El Salvador started an environmental sustainability program in 2005 that reduced the amount of their solid waste going to landfills by 90%. Over the past 13 years, the El Salvadorian factory moved about 80,000 tons of textile waste from landfills, converting most of the waste into energy.
More on what SanMar and our partners do to reduce energy consumption and how we make and distribute products in the most responsible, sustainable and ethically accountable way can be found in our Corporate Responsibility Report and in our most recent Corporate Responsibility Update.
How do you incorporate responsible sourcing into your business? Let us know and continue the conversation on social media. You can follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.