Responsibility in Our Supply Chain
Our Commitment
We are committed to conducting our business responsibly and with respect for human rights, environmental standards and ethical business practices.
Our due diligence approach is based on internationally recognized frameworks such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the OECD Due Diligence Guidance and the requirements of Green Button 2.0.
Our Supply Chain Approach
Our products are primarily sourced through long-standing partners and business houses, mainly in Bangladesh.
We work with suppliers that are audited according to recognized standards such as amfori BSCI.
Due to our indirect sourcing structure, business houses act as intermediaries between our company and the production facilities.
We regularly assess risks in our supply chain and maintain ongoing dialogue with our business partners to support improvements.
Our Due Diligence System
Our due diligence system is based on a combination of policies, supplier requirements and continuous monitoring.
It includes:
risk-based assessment and prioritization of supply chain risks
clear expectations towards suppliers
collaboration with business partners to implement improvements
monitoring of progress through audits and feedback
continuous development of our approach
Due to our indirect sourcing model, there are certain limitations in visibility into upstream supply chain tiers. We are working to improve transparency over time.
Key Risks in Our Supply Chain
The most significant risks in our textile supply chain relate to:
working conditions and occupational health and safety
wages and working hours
environmental impacts, especially in wet processing (e.g. chemicals, water use and wastewater)
In addition, limited transparency in upstream supply chain tiers presents a structural challenge.
Our Measures
We implement a range of measures to prevent, mitigate and address risks:
collaboration with business houses and suppliers
use of audit systems such as amfori BSCI
communication of requirements through our Supplier Code of Conduct
monitoring of audit results and improvements
long-term business relationships to support stability
Where issues are identified, suppliers are informed and given the opportunity to improve. In cases of repeated non-compliance without sufficient progress, business relationships may be responsibly terminated.
Example
In one case, a supplier repeatedly failed to meet agreed requirements. After several notifications and attempts to improve the situation, and in the absence of sufficient progress, the business relationship was discontinued.
Fair Wages
We are committed to supporting improvements in wage conditions.
Due to our indirect sourcing model, we have limited direct insight into actual wage levels. We therefore:
consider external benchmarks for living wages
use audit results to assess wage practices
address wage-related topics in dialogue with business partners
We follow a step-by-step approach and continuously develop our activities in this area.
Grievance Mechanisms
Stakeholders can raise concerns via our general communication channels (e.g. email).
In addition, grievance mechanisms are available through suppliers and audit systems.
Currently, no complaints related to human rights or environmental issues have been reported.
Transparency
Our sourcing currently focuses mainly on:
Bangladesh
Due to our indirect sourcing structure, detailed information on production regions and upstream suppliers is partially limited.
We are working to improve transparency over time.
Continuous Improvement
We continuously develop our due diligence processes and review our approach regularly.
This information is updated at least once per year.
Our Policies and Standards
Due Diligence Policy
Our Due Diligence Policy describes our overall approach to responsible business conduct and risk management in our supply chain.
Due Diligence Policy on Human Rights and the Environment
Supplier Code of Conduct
Our Supplier Code of Conduct defines the requirements we expect from our suppliers, including human rights, labour standards, environmental protection and business ethics.
Supplier Code of Conduct – Annex
The Annex defines binding contractual requirements, including audit rights, corrective actions and termination conditions.
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
At ELVE, we do not only actively invest in sustainable development activities., we also believe in the importance of a company’s social responsibility and long-term commitment.
Because quality is our priority, our materials are chosen with the outmost care, our products are free of any harmful substances (when applicable, OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 certified) and our manufacturing partners hold numerous accreditations proving their social and eco-engagement.
While placing our employee’s safety and health at heart (ISO 45001:2015 certified), we ensure that everyone follows all of our eco-responsible guidelines such as the recycling of paper and fabric. ELVE’s ISO/IEC 27001 certificate also validates that adequate and proportionate security controls are set within the company to safeguard information and intellectual property assets.
Certified ISO 9001 & ISO 14001:2015, ELVE does not only demonstrates its social and ecological pledge through its quality and environmental management systems accreditations or numerous investments in renewable energies, but through concrete & regular caritative initiatives:
Over the last years, ELVE has donated clothes to the refugees center in Kavala, fabrics to local theatre and to dog shelters for the making of blankets and beds, and even procured Greek governmental institutions, hospitals, companies, retirement homes and some other local organizations with medical masks and coveralls against the COVID pandemic.