Guidelines for Manufacturers

We’ve created these guidelines to help you understand the expectations we have when it comes to acceptable social and environmental business practices on our site.

At a minimum, we expect all businesses to abide by these requirements:

1. Provide safe and humane working environments

Everyone should have the right to safe and healthy working conditions. We expect our manufacturers to provide and maintain working environments that satisfy all relevant legislation and local government guidance. This includes having a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination, bullying, or harassment within the workplace.

2. Maintain transparency within the supply chain

We require our manufacturers to know what’s happening to their products at every stage of the supply chain. This extends to both the internal operations of the company and the operations of suppliers/ any other outsourced labour.

3. No child labour, no involuntary or coerced labour

We do not permit products produced through involuntary, coerced, bonded, or indentured labour, nor do we allow products produced through child labour on our website (unless conducted lawfully). All payments made to workers should meet or exceed the minimum wage and living wage of that location.

4. Adhere to all environmental and animal welfare regulations

All businesses on our site must act according to all environmental and animal welfare rules and legislation, such as wildlife, pollution, conservation, and climate change regulations.

What we’re looking for

The guidelines above are just a starting point; we’re searching for companies pioneering real change within the retail sector. We want to work with value-driven businesses that are taking action towards a greener, brighter future with better opportunities for all. To successfully join our site, applicants should be implementing one or more of the following practices:

1. Exercising sustainable and environmentally-friendly manufacturing methods

We recognise that every business has a unique approach to sustainability and conservation. We’re interested in collaborating with companies taking responsibility for their impact and embracing environmentally-friendly ways of manufacturing – for instance, by:

• Implementing ‘carbon offset’ initiatives – e.g., using in-house renewable energy or investing in tree-planting carbon solutions.
  
• Creating goods using sustainable, recycled, or repurposed materials
• Providing eco-friendly end-of-life plans for products
• Designing durable and/ or biodegradable products
  
• Presenting products in sustainable packaging
• Minimising the production of waste during the manufacturing process
• Obtaining environmental/ sustainability certifications or using certified materials (e.g., Soil Association Organic, Carbon Offset & Carbon Trust Standard, Rainforest Alliance, Forest Stewardship Council, etc.)

2. Supporting local/ global causes and communities

Alongside green businesses, we want to work with manufacturers who are socially responsible and give aid to good causes. There are many ways to support worthy organizations and charities; we ask, however, that the services, donations, or resources you provide are ongoing and done in good faith. Examples of the actions your business may take to support charities and communities in need include:

• Providing in-house opportunities for underprivileged groups and individuals
• Donating a percentage of profits to charities or social enterprises
• Offering free training, products and resources to local charitable organisations
• Issuing sponsorships and/ or grants to disadvantaged groups and individuals
• Demonstrating fair business practices both in-house and within the supply chain through relevant certifications (e.g., Fairtrade Foundation, B Corporation, etc.)

Advice for Artisans

Slow manufacturing is at the heart of all genuine artisan products. Handmade goods created mindfully with time, effort, and care tend to last longer, use fewer raw materials, and create less waste than mass-produced alternatives.

Doing business in this way is already a step in the right direction, but there are other things we can do to ignite positive change in our world.