Social responsibility in the supply chain

Fair Wear is a multi-stakeholder organization with the principle of shared responsibility. This suits us very well, because the responsibility for fair working conditions does not lie with the producer alone; VAUDE as a client also contributes a large part. For this reason, Fair Wear regularly checks wheter we are complying with the requirements placed on us.

Our direct business partners for the manufacturing of our products are our producers. As garment makers, they manufacture our products: They prepare the fabrics, cut out pattern pieces and sew them into finished products. Quality control and packing finish off the process.

In general, the textile and clothing industry is very labour intensive. Because making clothing primarily involves manual processes that require a large number of workers, Fair Wear focuses on this part of the process. This gives us the opportunity to improve working conditions for the largest number of workers in our supply chain.

Fair Wear provides us with the opportunity to cooperate with other member companies. If, for example, other manufacturers work with the same producer, we can perform a joint audit. This is advantageous in that the producer must be audited only once, reducing the waste of resources – both the producer’s and ours. Another positive aspect is that in working together, we have a greater degree of influence on the producer. For example, after a joint audit or during joint training programs, we can work together with other member companies to enhance the effects of the improvement process. Read more here

• Step 1: Embedding human rights due diligence in policies and management systems
• Step 2: Identifying actual and potential human rights harms in supply chains
• Step 3: Preventing or mitigating potential harms in our own operations and in the supply chain
• Step 4: Tracking progress
• Step 5: Communicating about our efforts to fulfill human rights due diligence
• Step 6: Providing or participating in remediation as needed

All partners must sign a commitment to comply with the Code of Labour Practices and participate in the improvement process.

In addition, all production sites receive regular training on the content of the Code of Labour Practices and the complaint hotline. Find more here

• Employment is freely chosen
  
• Equal opportunity
  
• No exploitation of child labour
  
• Employee involvement in decisions
  
• Fair Wages
  
• No excessive working hours
  
• Occupational health and safety
  
• Legal employment
  

To ensure objective examination of working conditions at the production facility, producers are audited by independent FW auditors. During the audit, Fair Wear closely examines whether or not the producer is complying with the contents of the Code of Labour Practices and applicable laws. Any discrepancies are recorded in a corrective action plan (CAP).

Fair Wear audits include the following:

• Inspection of the entire production site
  
• Review of relevant documents
  
• Interviews with workers and the management
  

All interviews are conducted anonymously. Interviews take place both within and away from the production site.

In addition, Fair Wear surveys local stakeholders on each of the eight standards regarding the conditions and implementation of these standards in the country.

An audit alone does not change anything. The actual work begins after the audit. After each audit, Fair Wear and the production facility agree to a binding corrective action plan (CAP) in which all deviations are listed.

We discuss this corrective action plan intensively with our producers. Together we develop joint solutions and also a schedule that specifies the date by which the respective deviations should be remedied. The challenge is to anchor the implemented measures in a sustainable manner.

Here, too, we demand maximum transparency from our partners. If various production steps (such as embroidery, printing or washing) cannot be carried out internally, the producer must inform us.