1. Introduction
Wombat Clothing (“Wombat”) strives to conduct
business to the highest ethical and environmental standards
seeking to use and utilise manufacturers that do the
same. Wombat has its own detailed code of conduct, which
is integral to its business and that all suppliers and
their sources must adhere to. Wombat’s code of
conduct is based on current best practices with regard
to employment ethics, health and safety practices and
environmental practices; so that when a customer purchases
our goods they know that they have been produced under
acceptable conditions. That means that the goods must
have been produced:
- lawfully, through fair and honest dealing;
- without exploiting the people who made them;
- in decent working conditions;
- reducing the environmental impact during production and
transportation.
Wombat has the right to run audits and spot checks
by themselves, or by external parties, on suppliers’
premises without prior their knowledge to verify that
they are behaving in an appropriate manner.
2. Employment
All suppliers must meet the local laws on conditions
such as minimum wages, hours of work, overtime and
deductions. Or, where determinable the prevailing
industry wage for the type of work involved. (International
Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions 1, 26, 95,131
and Recommendation 85).
3. Employing children
Wombat does not condone the use of child labour and
our suppliers must not employ children, other than
under the ILO Convention 138 and Recommendation 146,
which define a child as a person younger than 15 years
old.
Wombat does support legitimate, legally sanctioned
apprentices and educated-related work as long as the
child is not being exploited, there is no risk to
the child’s health, education and development,
and you have the permission of the child’s parents.
(Article 32 of the United Nations Convention on the
Rights of the Child).
4. Forced labour
Forced labour, whether in the form of prison, bonded
or uncompensated labour is not used. People are not
forced to work for our suppliers by threatening them
with a penalty. (ILO Conventions 29 and 105).
5. Disciplinary practices
Every employee must be treated with respect and dignity.
No employee is treated with threatening behaviour,
physical punishment or any form of mental or verbal
abuse.
6. Non-Discrimination
Wombat suppliers employ and deal with all their employees
fairly and without discrimination. (ILO Convention
111 and Recommendation 111) This is regardless of
age, sex, race, religion or disability.
7. Freedom of association
Suppliers acknowledge that employees have the right
to associate or unionise with any organisation that
is legal in that country.
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8. Health, safety and welfare
Wombat’s suppliers all provide a safe place of
work meeting all local laws relating to health, safety
and welfare in the workplace. This means:
- every effort is made to prevent accidents or injury;
- health and safety procedures are implemented and
employees are regularly trained and tested in what
to do in certain situations;
- there is always adequate lighting and ventilation;
- clean drinking water is always available.
9. Environment
Wombat is continuing to develop its environment practices
in the production of the garments, the choice of fabrics
used and the Wombat working environment. Key examples
of these procedures are:
9.1 Garment
production
- Wombat is constantly working to minimise the waste
fabric during production operations.
- All companies comply with the EU general Product
safety Directive 2001/95/EC.
- Wombat is working towards all suppliers complying
with the requirements of the Azo dye directive and
Nickel directives meaning that no Dangerous substances
and Preparations are used during the make up of
any of its garments.
9.2 The Azo Dye Directive EU Directive 2002-61-EC,
and subsequent amendments
This directive covers those Azo dyes, which
are degradable to carcinogenic aryl amines, and is applicable
to Textiles and Leather used in finished articles or
their dyed parts, which may come into direct and prolonged
contact with the human skin or oral cavity.
National Laws implementing the new directive restrict
azo-colourants (dyes) in textiles and leather, replacing
current restriction in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands.
(The German and Austrian requirements for Azo-pigments
will be retained, as they are not covered under this
directive.)
The requirements of the directive will be enforced by
trading standards authorities, who will expect the retailer
and supply chain to be able to demonstrate due diligence
with respect to their enforcement of the requirements.
Their expectations may extend beyond a paper trail,
to a requirement for random spot checks on actual product.
9.3 Fabrics
- A selection of the range now carries the FAIRTRADE
mark. This the only independent consumer label that
guarantees a better deal for the producers in developing
countries.
- All Wombat products are 100% cotton (except one
which contains a little elastane).
9.4 Head Office recycling
- Toner cartridges from laser printers are returned
to the manufacturer for recycling.
- All cardboard waste from the warehouse is recycled.
- Wombat is working towards all their plastic bags
carrying recyclable logos.
- Use of environmentally friendly office consumables
where possible.
- Collection point for office staff to recycle paper.
- Email is our preferred method of communication
to reduce the amount of paper used.
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