Social
Ethics

Sustainable. Ethical & Environmentally Conscious.

At Solbari, we are committed to having a sustainable, environmentally conscious and ethical supply chain.

We manage the manufacturing process of all of our UPF50+ garments from beginning to end. We only work directly with well established companies to ensure we know where our garments are made and by who.

We only manufacture in factories that we can access frequently to ensure their commitment to social and ethical standards.
Members of the Solbari team travel to visit the facilities of our partners on a regular basis, at a minimum we inspect them on a quarterly basis.

Our key suppliers who are part of our regular supply chain have also been audited by independent bodies and adhere to international business practices that include Sedex and BSCI certification. These globally recognised standards ensure compliance with ethical business practices in apparel supply chains. These practices include labour standards, health and safety, the environment and business ethics.

Our ethical sourcing policy

We continually provide our team with guidance and clarification to help identify what workplace practices and working conditions are acceptable. This policy does not replace the local laws of each country where our factories operate but provides overarching principles which are important to us. As a minimum we expect all our manufacturing partners to comply with all relevant laws and regulations.

Our expectations

We are committed to working with our suppliers to implement improvement plans and help them achieve the highest compliance standards. Solbari reserves the right to cease business with suppliers that do not meet these minimum ethical standards.

Ethical Standards

Business integrity
Suppliers must demonstrate honesty, fair dealing and the proper treatment of workers at all times. Bribes, favours, gifts, benefits, facilitation payments, secret commission, or similar unlawful or improper payments, in cash or kind, are strictly prohibited, whether given to obtain business or otherwise.


Labour rights

Employment is freely chosen and workers are free to leave their employer after reasonable notice. Forced, bonded or involuntary prison labour is strictly prohibited.


Working conditions

A safe and hygienic working environment shall be provided, consistent with all applicable local laws / regulations or industry best practices in order to avoid preventable work related accidents or injuries. Workers shall receive regular health and safety training and such training shall be repeated for new or reassigned workers.  Accommodation, where provided, shall be clean, safe, and meet the basic needs of the workers.


Child labour

Suppliers shall not use child labour and must only employ workers who meet the local minimum age requirement. Suppliers must verify the age of their workers and maintain evidence of workers’ proof of age.


Living wages

Suppliers must comply with all laws regulating local wages, overtime compensation and legally mandated benefits. In any event, wages should always be enough to meet the basic needs and to provide some discretionary income.  All workers shall be provided with written and understandable information about their employment conditions in respect to wages before they enter employment and about their particulars of their wages for the pay period concerned each time that they are paid.


Working hours

Working hours must comply with any local laws and international labour standards, whichever affords greater protection.  In any event, workers must not be required to work excessive working hours per week including overtime and have the option of at least one day off in seven. We expect that all record keeping will be strictly accurate, complete and transparent at all times.


Subcontracting

Subcontracting is not permitted by Solbari.


Discrimination

All conditions of employment must be based on an individual’s ability to do the job, not on the basis of personal characteristics.  There must be no discrimination in hiring, compensation, access to training, promotion, termination or retirement based on race, caste, national origin, religion, age, disability, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, union membership or political affiliation.


Harsh or inhumane treatment

Physical abuse or discipline, the threat of physical abuse, sexual or other harassment and verbal abuse or other forms of intimidation shall be prohibited.  Suppliers will provide a workplace free from harassment of any form including physical, sexual, verbal or behaviour that creates an offensive, hostile or intimidating environment.


Freedom of association

Suppliers must respect the right of their workers to freedom of association or collective bargaining to the extent that local laws permit. This includes the right to join trade unions or other worker associations of their choosing without interference, harassment or retaliation.

Environmental
Standards

We promote the protection of the environment and the conservation of natural resources.

All of our suppliers shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations relating to the environmental impacts of their business and maintain procedures for notifying local authorities in the event of an environmental infringement resulting from the supplier’s operation. Supplier compliance with environmental law shall include any international or applicable local laws affecting the source of materials and processes used to manufacture products.


Consumer protection and environment management
Suppliers must take responsible steps to ensure goods produced are safe and not harmful to consumers. As a minimum, Suppliers must meet all relevant local and national environmental protection laws and will comply with international environment protection standards such as ISO 14000 Environmental Management. The use of banned raw materials is prohibited and includes but is not limited to Uzbekistan Cotton and AZO dyes.


Animal welfare
We do not use angora, fur or mulesed wool in keeping with our commitment to avoid animal cruelty and hygiene standards. None of our products include leather materials.


Waste management
We are not a fast fashion brand, our products are made to last. We are careful not to over order product. We do not destroy unsold inventory. Waste is minimised and items recycled whenever this is practicable. Effective controls of waste in respect of ground, air and water pollution must be adopted. In the case of hazardous materials, emergency response plans must be put in place.


Packaging 
Undue and unnecessary use of materials is avoided, and recycled materials should be used whenever appropriate. We recognise that we have room for improvement in this area and are looking to find ways to constantly improve.

 

Conservation
Processes and activities shall be monitored and modified as necessary to ensure conservation of scarce resources including water, flora and fauna.

 

Energy usage
All production and delivery processes, including the use of heating, ventilation, lighting, IT systems, transportation, must be based on the need to maximise efficient energy use and to minimise harmful emissions.

 

These standards are subject to regular review as we work towards continuous improvement (last updated, July 2020).