SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
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The textile supply chain is complex and presents many environmental and social challenges. We have high standards for the quality of our products and select materials carefully. At the same time, we are working to improve appropriate working conditions in the factories of our direct Tier 1 suppliers of merchandise.
Our Code of Conduct is a binding part of our cooperation with suppliers and license partners*. It is based on the Fair Wear Code of Labour Practices and sets requirements relating to human rights, occupational health and safety, freedom of association, the prohibition of child and forced labour, working hours and remuneration. These requirements also include adequate or living wages.
We review the implementation of the Code of Conduct at the factories of our direct Tier 1 suppliers for merchandise using a risk-based approach, including external Fair Wear and amfori BSCI audits. The Code of Conduct is also contractually agreed with our license partners*. However, license partners* are not covered by the FWF or amfori BSCI audit programme.
Marc O’Polo has been an amfori BSCI member since 2009 and a Fair Wear Foundation member since 2020. The associated audit and monitoring processes relate to factories of our direct Tier 1 suppliers for merchandise. They do not cover the entire supply chain.
Partner of the Fair Wear Foundation
The Fair Wear Foundation is an international multi-stakeholder initiative. It works with brands, factories, NGOs, trade unions and governments to improve working conditions in the garment industry. Its work is based on the Fair Wear Code of Labour Practices.
Marc O’Polo joined the Fair Wear Foundation in 2020. In the Brand Performance Check, Marc O’Polo was awarded Leader status. This status assesses our management approach and our activities to improve working conditions; it is not a product certification.
Our membership of the Fair Wear Foundation includes a regular review of our management approach by the Fair Wear Foundation. In addition, we conduct Fair Wear audits at selected factories of our direct Tier 1 suppliers. Other direct Tier 1 production sites are audited, among other things, according to amfori BSCI as part of our risk-based approach.
AUDITS
The implementation of our Code of Conduct at the factories of our direct Tier 1 suppliers is reviewed and assessed through external audits. These audits cover, among other things, the prohibition of child and forced labour, occupational health and safety, protection against discrimination, freedom of association, working hours and remuneration.
As part of our risk-based approach, we use amfori BSCI and Fair Wear audits. Based on the audit reports, suppliers agree on improvement measures. We monitor their implementation through follow-up processes and further discussions. Our CSR team also supports implementation through regular visits to selected suppliers.
TRAININGS
In addition to audits, training is an important preventive measure. As part of our FWF membership, we have provided selected strategic production partners with training on Fair Wear labour standards, the complaints mechanism, and gender-based violence and harassment. We report on further measures and results in our sustainability reporting.
The Fair Wear complaints mechanism
The Fair Wear Foundation offers its members a complaints procedure. It can be used by workers in the factories concerned and by NGOs to report possible violations of the Code of Labour Practices. Since joining, we have gradually introduced the complaints mechanism in the factories concerned of our direct Tier 1 suppliers. In the factories concerned, information with contact details for workers is made available in clearly visible locations. These details can be used to contact a local Fair Wear Foundation representative in the relevant language, anonymously if desired. Complaints can help us better understand risks in our direct supply chain and support necessary improvement measures in a targeted way. Fair Wear Foundation provides information on its website about how complaints are reported, reviewed and handled. For more information about the Fair Wear Foundation complaints mechanism, click here.
Transparency among direct production partners
We collect and publish information about our approach to direct Tier 1 garment manufacturing partners. We are gradually expanding transparency across further supply chain tiers. Since 2022, we have been using Retraced to digitally record and manage supply chain information. The platform supports us in collecting data on direct suppliers in a structured way and addressing risks more effectively. The supply chains of our license partners are currently not included.
*The product categories Eyewear, Body & Beachwear, Home, Junior, Legwear, Fragrance and Jewellery are developed, produced and distributed by license partners. Our Code of Conduct applies to our cooperation with them. The factories of license partners are not covered by the FWF or amfori BSCI audit programme.