Protecting Workers
Boden’s responsible trading initiatives
We want the work that goes into Boden products all over the world to be as ethically sound as the work that goes on in our UK and US offices.
When we start working with a new supplier, they sign our Responsible Sourcing Commitment, which sets out our expectations of working conditions. Take a look at the full document to understand all of the ways in which it protects the people who work for our suppliers.
Boden does not work with any suppliers or factories in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and we do not [knowingly] source any materials from the region either. We work with our trusted manufacturing partners in China who are ethically audited on an annual basis using the SMETA audit methodology.
We are aware of the on-going situation and are in communication with our peers and ethical partners like the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) to ensure supply chains in China are free of any forced labour.
We have a team charged with working closely with our suppliers to ensure products made for Boden are responsibly sourced. We work proactively with our partners on site, holding workshops and training sessions, and invite suppliers to visit us in London to share our working culture. We also visit factories in person to make sure our standards are being met.
Our programme is constantly evolving, but it’s centred on the Ethical Trading Initiative Base Code, an internationally recognised set of labour standards based on the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions. It helps us and all ETI members drive improvements in working conditions across the world. Read more about the ETI Base Code in the dropdown below.
Our modern slavery statement
We are fully committed to supporting the Modern Slavery Act, and this statement outlines the steps Boden is taking to prevent modern slavery and human rights abuses within our business and supply chains. Our statement has been published in accordance with the UK Modern Slavery Act of 2015. Click the link below to view the full document.
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Our ethical partners
Boden became a member of ETI in 2008, and committed to the ETI Base Code, an internationally recognised set of labour standards aimed at improving workers’ rights in global supply chains.
ETI is an alliance of brands, NGOs and Trade Unions that promotes workers’ rights all over the world.
‘A world where all workers are free from exploitation and discrimination, and enjoy conditions of freedom, security and equity.’
As members, we join in forums and working groups addressing specific issues and regions, and work together to share our learnings. Very real solutions continue to come out of our work with the ETI: https://ethicaltrade.org
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BSR
BSR is a global non-profit organisation working with businesses to create a just and sustainable world. We’re proud to partner with them on HERproject, the largest workplace-based women's empowerment program in global supply chains (see below).
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HERproject
HERproject educates and supports women in the workplace, home and community.
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Sedex
This organisation helps us to use and share data about working practises with other similar businesses. It has a community of 55,000 members helping one another to manage and monitor their supply chains – working together with open dialogue: https://www.sedexglobal.com/
