Crafting is caring

Sustainability & our manufacturing process

Growing and maintaining sustainable fashion starts with a sustainable manufacturing process. Not only are we precise when it comes to designing our garments, we are just as precise in selecting the factories we work with. We only operate with factories and suppliers where stringent environmental policies and good working conditions are ensured. We don’t work with factories in countries where we can’t maintain control. Scotch & Soda takes pride in its long-term relationships with suppliers and factories, some of which have existed for over 20 years. Our trusted business partners, these factories are fundamental to the unique Scotch & Soda design and production process.

Leading the charge on sustainable trade

In 2013 we became a member of amfori, the leading global business association for open and sustainable trade. Amfori is a business-driven initiative for companies committed to improve working conditions in the global supply chain. The code aligns with international frameworks concerning human rights and labour standards, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Children’s Rights and Business Principles, UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights and OECD guidelines, as well as International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions and Recommendations which are relevant to improving working conditions in the supply chain.

A sustainable code of conduct

The program unites more than 2,000 companies worldwide around a common code of conduct, and supports them with a step-by-step development focused system. Scotch & Soda fully endorses and lives by each of the values and principles set out in the code. All of Scotch & Soda’s production factories have signed the amfori BSCI Code of Conduct. These factories are regularly audited by independent and certified (SAAS) audit firms, in accordance with the amfori BSCI requirements and for compliance with this code. If it becomes evident that a factory does not fully comply with the amfori BSCI requirements, Scotch & Soda insists upon the agreement and implementation of a remediation plan. In so doing, we monitor the factories on a yearly basis, improving – if necessary – working conditions in factories producing for Scotch & Soda.

A primer on the amfori BSCI Code of Conduct

The code comprises the following core labour rights...


The Rights of Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining

• Our factories respect the right of the workers to form unions or other kind of work associations and to engage in collective bargaining.

Fair Remuneration

• Our factories respect the right of the workers to receive fair wages.

Occupational Health & Safety

• Our factories assess workplace risks and take all necessary measures to eliminate or reduce them to ensure a healthy and safe working environment.

No Child Labour

• Our factories do not hire any worker below the legal minimum age.

Special Protection for Young Workers

• Our factories provide special protection to any workers that are not yet adults.

No Bonded Labour

• Our factories do not engage in any form of forced servitude, trafficked or non-voluntary labour.

Ethical Business Behaviour

• Our factories do not tolerate any acts of corruption, extortion, embezzlement, or bribery.

No Discrimination

• Our factories provide equal opportunities and do not discriminate against workers.

Decent Working Hours

• Our factories observe the laws regarding hours of work.

No Precarious Employment

• Our factories hire workers on the basis of documented legal contracts.

Protection of the Environment

• Our factories take the necessary measures to avoid environmental degradation.

Protecting the rights of our workers

In upholding these rights, the factories producing for Scotch & Soda are obliged to protect workers’ rights as mandated by the law and the amfori BSCI Code of Conduct. These factories are similarly obliged to keep workers informed about their rights and responsibilities and provide for a grievance system to collect complaints and suggestions from their employees, as well as using the amfori principles to influence other business partners, such as sub-contractors.

Training: an important marker on the road to sustainability

A key element of the development focused amfori approach is offering a broad range of training programs for factories and their workers (amfori Academy). Examples of recent programs include ‘Worker Involvement and Protection (Grievance Mechanism)’, ‘Responsible Recruitment’, ‘Occupational Health and Safety’ and ‘Drafting a Remediation Plan’. Scotch & Soda regularly invites its employees to attend such training programs. Scotch & Soda equally requires the factories to offer its workers to attend these trainings.

Sustainability in the materials & resources we use

A balance between quality, comfort and sustainability is the lead criterion when choosing our materials. Cotton is an important resource within our collections, but also a material with environmental consequences. That is why we choose to work the Better Cotton Initiative as much as possible and also organic cotton. Our goal is to source 50% of our cotton as Better Cotton by 2022 and to increase that percentage on a yearly basis, resulting in 100% more sustainable cotton by 2025, including Better Cotton sourced through BCI and certified organic cotton.

Sustainability & our stance on animal welfare

ANGORA & OTHER RABBIT HAIR
As furry rabbits are not kept in a species appropriate manner, rabbit hair and angora wool must not be used in Scotch & Soda products.

ANIMAL TESTING
Scotch & Soda does not support animal testing for cosmetic products. All our cosmetic products or the raw materials used in the formulation should not be tested on animals.

CASHMERE & MOHAIR
Cashmere and mohair used in Scotch & Soda products must be sourced from producers with good animal husbandry.

ENDANGERED SPECIES
Endangered species appearing on either the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) or the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) lists must not be used in Scotch & Soda products.

FEATHERS & DOWN
Feathers and down if used in Scotch & Soda products must be sourced as a by-product of the meat industry (excluding foie gras production) and from producers with good animal husbandry. Feathers and down must not be harvested through live plucking. Where possible, we replace feathers and down with Primaloft (thermoplum)

FUR
Real fur or pelts must not be used in Scotch & Soda products, except for fur products (hair on hides) from cows, pigs, goats and sheep if these are sourced as a by-product of the meat industry and from producers with good animal husbandry.

LEATHER & SKIN
All leather or skin must be sourced as a by-product of the meat industry and from producers that use good animal husbandry. Leather or skin must not be obtained whilst the animal is still alive or from aborted animals. Skins from wild-caught animals and exotic animals must not be used in Scotch & Soda products.

WOOL
Wool must be sourced from producers with good animal husbandry. Merino wool used in Scotch & Soda products must not be sourced from farmers who practice mulesing.

Sustainability within our factories & sub-contractors

In June 2018, at least 80% of Scotch & Soda factories scored an acceptable or better amfori BSCI Code of Conduct compliance rating. These factories represent at least 75% of all the garments manufactured for Scotch & Soda. In relation to most of the remaining 20% a remediation plan is in place or being implemented.

In addition to the amfori BSCI standard, 20% of our factories comply with other important standards, such as ISO 14001, SA8000, GOTS and GRS (Global Recycle Standard). Moreover, some factories developed their own initiatives to improve labour conditions, such as the organization of child care, access to education for employer’s children and providing employees with various sports and relaxation opportunities.

When developing our garments, we never make use of sandblasting – a technique used for creating denim garments with a worn look. The amounts of silica dust produced in the process could damage the worker’s health if performed without suitable protective equipment. Therefore, we use ozone and laser treatments instead, which substantially reduces water and chemical use.

On top of the strict legal regulations, all our suppliers comply to the Scotch & Soda Restricted Substance List (RSL). This list serves on top of the legal regulations to guarantee that the legislation and regulations on safety when using a minimum amount of chemicals and substances are being upheld. The products are regularly checked by third party certified testing’s labs.

We work with:

DYONTEX
POPMODE LIMITED
Maimianqiao Village
Jishigang Industrial Zone
Ningbo
Zhejiang
The parent company: NINGBO DYON IMP&EXP CO.,LTD

No of workers: maximum 460

METRACO
Factory name: Metraco Ith. Ihr. ve Tic. A.S.
Izmit Akmese Karayolu 10. km
Karaabdulbaki Koyu
Kocaeli
Turkey

No of workers: maximum 1,000

Denim AUTHORITY
Factory name: DENIM AUTHORITY S.A.
Boulevard de l’Environnement 7070
Ras Jebel
Tunisia

No of workers: maximum 1,182

Radnik Exports
Factory name: Radnik Exports
186 Udyog Vihar
Phase 1 Gurgaon – 122016
Haryana
India

No of workers: 1201

D201, Sector 63
Noida – 201301
Uttar Prasdesh
India

No of workers: 1789

Sustainability & the climate

Together with our factories, stores and head office, we are working hard to reduce our environmental footprint by including a range of energy-efficient measures. This is realised by installing LED lighting, heat pumps – that minimise the dependency on gas – and energy-efficient machineries in our stores and head office. Further, Scotch & Soda encourages employees to travel by bike, or public transport via a travelling allowance.

Our stores and head office operate 100% on green energy (hydropower). We closely monitor the transport movements, so we can better plan the supply and removal of materials to reduce transport and minimise CO2 emissions. Lastly, most of our factories get their energy from solar panels or work with renewable energy, in addition to having a zero waste to landfill policy.

Together, we are continuously looking for new circular ways to reduce the environmental impact, ideally reducing this impact to zero. This is done partly within the certificates that the factories hold and partly by their own initiative. One way to reduce the environmental impact is to Reduce, Recycle and Reuse (the 3R concept) water in manufacturing in order to reduce fresh water consumption.

For 10 years Scotch & Soda has collected used cartridges in our offices for the AAP foundation. These cartridges are recycled, with the revenue going towards AAP. This way, we support their loyal mission in rescuing animals and making the case for better animal legislation in Europe.