Responsible Sourcing

One of our core values at AMARA is to operate our business in a sustainable way to ensure the environmental and ethical impacts are suitably managed. Our values guide us when choosing our suppliers, and we expect all suppliers across our Private Label (PL) ‘Designed by AMARA’, branded, and Goods Not For Resale (GNFR) to share these values. The Responsible Sourcing requirements set out our core principles that all our suppliers – including agents, factories, raw material suppliers, brands, and GNFR - must comply with where relevant to the products and services they supply.

These are a compulsory part of the terms and conditions of trading with AMARA. We want to ensure that any products sold by us are produced under ethical working conditions, that workers have their human rights respected, that animals have high standards of animal welfare and that suppliers minimise their impact on the environment. It is the supplier’s responsibility to ensure that the manufacture of all products is carried out in compliance with these requirements throughout the whole of their supply chain. Regular independent audits of production facilities throughout the whole supply chain should be carried out and any shortcomings found and acted upon. Compliance with the law and these requirements is mandatory and we will view any failure to adhere to these requirements and the law as a potential material breach of contract.

 

The following sets out our minimum standards that all of our suppliers must meet.

 

Supply Chain Traceability and Accountability

 

  • Suppliers must nominate a contact who will provide full disclosure on all responsible sourcing practices.

  • Our Responsible Sourcing Supplier Questionnaire, which assesses compliance with the Code of Conduct, must be completed. Proof of audits, good practice and certifications should be provided on request.

  • Full supply chain traceability across all tiers will be provided. Traceability systems such as Supplier Ethical Data Exchange (SEDEX) or similar are required.

  • All PL suppliers must be notified and approved. No unauthorised factories, sub- contractors or homeworking are allowed. Suppliers must communicate any requirement to change the supply chain to AMARA for approval.

  • We reserve the right to conduct checks for compliance, for example, for restricted substances, like chemicals or real fur, or correct labelling. We may conduct random tests on products.

 

Human Rights, Labour and Modern Slavery

Modern Slavery includes any form of servitude, forced or compulsory labour, bonded labour, child labour and/or human trafficking.

We recognise that product supply chains, distribution centres and logistics services are high risk for modern slavery in our supply chain. Under the UK Modern Slavery Act, modern slavery is a criminal offence. We do not tolerate modern slavery in our business, including our supply chain, and expect both our direct suppliers and indirect suppliers to share the same values. These obligations will apply to your supply chain as well as you. You are responsible for compliance with relevant legislation and industry standards to ensure labour standards and human rights at work are met. These include compliance with relevant legislation on modern slavery and human trafficking, and you will need to provide evidence of this to us. This can be your company’s Modern Slavery Statement, policies, and practices. You shall adhere to International Labour Organization (ILO) standards to prevent forced and compulsory labour, child labour, and discrimination in the workplace.

Beyond legal compliance, we strongly encourage participation in good practice labour initiatives and compliance with industry standards. Should you become aware of any actual, suspected or threatened modern slavery instance, you shall notify us in writing within a maximum of 14 business days, including details of the instance and actions proposed or taken to resolve it.

 

No forced or bonded labour

There is no forced labour including, but not limited to, involuntary overtime, prison, indentured or bonded labour.

 

No child labour

All employees must be at least 15 years of age. They must meet local legal working age and the age for completing compulsory education, whichever is the highest.

 

Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining

Allow employees the right to join or form trade unions of their own choosing and to bargain collectively.

 

Minimum Wage Guaranteed

Wages should always be enough to meet basic needs and to provide some discretionary income. Employees must be paid at least the local national legal minimum wage or industry benchmark standards, whichever is higher.

 

Working Hours and Overtime

Working hours must comply with national laws, collective agreements, and shall not exceed 48 hours per week. All overtime shall be voluntary and compensated at the premium rate. The factory/brand will take ownership for any required overtime and AMARA are not responsible and/or will not reimburse this cost.

 

No Bribery and Corruption

Avoid all forms of corruption including extortion, bribery, theft, or other abuse of power to gain an advantage.

 

No Discrimination

Avoid all 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.

 

No Harassment, Abuse and Disciplinary Action

Physical abuse or discipline, the threat of physical abuse, sexual or other harassment and verbal abuse or other forms of intimidation shall be prohibited. Disciplinary practices must be clearly defined, legal and impartial.

 

Health and Safety

Provide safe, healthy, and hygienic workplace facilities which meet applicable legal requirements, including for factories, dormitories, canteens, and toilets. Adequate measures must be taken to prevent accidents and injuries.

 

Fire Safety

Abide by all applicable legislation in addition to having fire prevention and protection systems in place at all supplier facilities.

 

 

Animal Welfare

We do not tolerate the mistreatment of animals in the procurement of any animal product. All animal products must be a by-product of the meat industry only. Suppliers are required to take responsibility for the standard of animal welfare within your supply chain and meet all applicable legislation on welfare, transportation, and slaughter. As a minimum, the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) five fundamental freedoms must be met:

  • Freedom from hunger and thirst by ready access to fresh water and an appropriate diet to maintain full health and vigour;

  • Freedom from discomfort by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area;

  • Freedom from pain, injury or disease by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment;

  • Freedom to express normal behaviour by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal’s own kind;

  • Freedom from fear and distress by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid physical or mental suffering in transit.

 

Raw Materials

No Animal Fur

No real fur is allowed in products. We will not accept any non-food animal products unless they are a by-product or co-product of the meat industry, such as shearling animal hides.

  • "Fur" means any animal skin or part thereof with hair or fur fibres attached, either in its raw or processed state or the pelt of any animal killed solely for its fur.

  • "Animal" includes, but is not limited to, mink, coyote, sable, fox, muskrat, rabbit, and raccoon dog.

  • Faux fur means non-real animal fur.

 

No Endangered Species, Horns or Exotic Skins

Goods must not be or contain ingredients from endangered species. Only farmed sources and/or those that can provide a CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) certificate are allowed.

CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. Ingredients or inputs from species listed in a “threatened category” on the International Union for Nature Conservation (IUCN) Red List or on the CITIES database are banned from our Goods.

 

Leather

Leather sourcing and production must comply with relevant environmental legislation. The environmental impacts of leather production are significant and must be suitably managed from cattle ranching to leather production. These include Greenhouse Gas emissions from cattle ranching, and chemical pollution, water and energy used in processing and tanning leather. Country of Origin of cattle used for leather should be identified to ensure cattle ranching is not causing deforestation and biodiversity loss such as in the Amazon biome.  

Our preference is the use of credible third-party certified schemes on sustainable leather. Examples are Rainforest Alliance certified ranches, and for production, tannery certifications such as The Leather Working Group (LWG) or Certicazione della Qualita per l’Industria Conciaria (ICEC).

 

Feather and Down

Only source feather and down from geese and ducks that are a by-product of the food industry, have not been force fed and not live plucked or live harvested during the moulting period.

Traceability systems including audits back to the farm are required using recognised industry schemes and standards to verify this. Our preference is for suppliers to be compliant with the Responsible Down Standard, DownPass 2017 Standard or equivalent. This should also be clearly labelled on packaging and consumer facing information, for example using the RDS Logo Use and Claim Guide or DownPass Label Guide.

 

Wool and Cashmere

Animal welfare and environmental impacts of wool sourcing and production must follow relevant sustainability legislation.

Our preference is for compliance with third-party certified schemes including Woolmark, Zque (for merino wool) or Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) for animal welfare and land management practices in sheep farming.

 

Animal testing and Cruelty-free products

No in vitro animal testing is required to put products on the UK or EU markets. We support Cruelty-free products certified to the Leaping Bunny scheme.

 

Vegan products

Must comprise of no animal products and be certified as Vegan, e.g. PETA approved Vegan.

 

Environment

As a minimum, you must comply with applicable environmental legislation. In addition to this, you should continuously work towards mitigating negative environmental impacts and align to industry best practice regarding:

  • energy use and greenhouse gas emissions causing climate change

  • water consumption

  • effluent generation and water pollution

  • chemical and hazardous substance use

  • air pollution

  • reduce use of resources and waste management

  • protecting biodiversity

 

Raw Materials

Sustainable Timber

Timber products such as furniture, homewares or paper products must be sourced in compliance with legislation to prevent deforestation and trafficking of endangered species. These include The Timber and Timber Products Placing on the Market Regulations (UKTR) , UK Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Regulations (FLEGT) Regulations and CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). Suppliers must provide the full chain of custody documentation, including details of timber species, quantity, supplier, and country of harvest.

 

Sustainably managed forests

Our preference is for all timber and paper products to meet certified sustainable timber supply chain schemes Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). Goods complying with these must be labelled accordingly and certificates provided.

 

Packaging and Consumables

Packaging, fillers and signage must be designed and sourced in a way that minimises the environmental impact. This includes using low impact and sustainably sourced materials and designs enabling resource efficiency, waste prevention, reuse and recycling. Ensure all packaging is clearly labelled to specify the material composition, certifications and waste management required, e.g. recyclable or compostable in line with the UK Producer Responsibility legislation.

 

Single use plastic (SUP)

Single use plastics can be defined as all products that are made wholly or partly of plastic and are typically intended to be used just once and/or for a short period of time before being disposed of.

Products containing single use plastic, including packaging fillers, water bottles, balloons, wet wipes, and Q-tips, are a major source of marine pollution. UK law has banned plastic straws, stirrers, and cotton buds since April 2020, These should be phased out by end 2021 at the latest and replaced with non-plastic, low environmental impact alternatives. Products should be clearly labelled to support an environmentally suitable disposal by customers. Where there is an alternative, other single use plastics should be phased out, for example, packaging fillers should be phased out by 2021. The UK government is expected to introduce a tax on plastic packaging.

 

Textile Fibres and Fabrics

Environmental impacts of fibre and fabric production must comply with relevant environmental legislation. Country of Origin should be identified. Our preference is to use sustainable fibres and fabrics meeting third party certification by:

 

Chemicals

Ensure compliance and certification with applicable legislation relevant to the products supplied relating to the use of chemicals in consumer products, packaging materials, and production processes, in particular REACH Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006, REACH Directive 2006/121/ and EC Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation. (CLP) Regulation (European Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008). This is intended to protect the environment, as well as employees and customers from exposure to potentially harmful substances. A bill of substances, declarations, test reports and certifications as relevant must be provided upon request.  

 

Precious Stones, Metals and Minerals

Manage the environmental and ethical impacts of mining and extraction of precious stones and metals used in jewellery, accessories, homewares, and electronics in compliance with applicable legislation. Country of Origin of should be identified. Our preference is the use of credible third-party certified schemes:

 

Electrical Products

All electronics must comply with applicable legal obligations on energy efficiency, Waste Electrical and Electronic Waste (WEEE) and Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS).

 

Energy Efficiency

Electrical equipment must meet minimum B rating or higher energy efficiency requirements in line with the EU Energy label (to a minimum of level B and ideally A to A++) or Energy Star, Energy Saving Recommended or EU Eco label.

 

Fragrance and Personal Care Products

Choice of raw materials, sourcing, farming and supply chain management should reduce chemical toxicity, respect biodiversity, and prevent deforestation. Products free from parabens, synthetic colours, dyes or fragrances, or palm oil, as well as products that meet eco labels, must provide certifications.