AMFORI

To tackle the big issues the fashion industry is facing surrounding worker rights and environmental protection, we believe collaboration is key, which is why in 2018 we joined Amfori Business Social Compliance Initiative. We understand that success in addressing the more complex issues involved with Modern Slavery cannot be achieved independently and therefore a collaborative approach is essential in developing solutions. Joining Amfori we believe was an important step towards this.

Who is Amfori?

Amfori is a leading business association for transparent and sustainable trade. Their vision, ‘Trade with purpose’ helps members monitor and improve their supply chains to deliver social and environmental benefits. BSCI incorporates all of our Code of Conduct including environmental sustainability.

How Amfori works.

Through joining this program, we have access to a sustainability intelligence dashboard. We add our suppliers to our personal dashboard allowing us to clearly visualise complex supply chains and provides a single point for all supply chain performance information. 

Audit results are stored on this platform, covering each of 13 performance areas and evidence to support the findings, including worker interviews, proof of worker committees, working hours and much more. Each producer also map’s their supply chain giving us full transparency on any second-tier suppliers they might use i.e. Yarn and trim suppliers. 

By sharing monitoring activities’ results it reduces audit fatigue on factories, as all brand members who use the same factory have access to the same data. That collaboration also means if something needed intervention then brands can come together to help remediate the issue.

Why Amfori?

Amfori BSCI is not a certification. This means brands and suppliers aren’t just handed a grade year after year with no direction or resources. Instead, they are an industry-driven supply chain management system, giving members access to world class standards and tools to improve our own processes of supply chain mapping, monitoring, and remediation. We get a wide range of training, workshops and e-learning. Some of which is compulsory. Brands having to be active members of Amfori, enabling us to respect human rights and drive continuous improvement on social issues in our supply chain. 

Through our membership our suppliers also gain access to work shops and e-learning on issues such as Women’s Equality, Worker Empowerment & Grievance Mechanisms in their local languages. In the platform suppliers submit remediation plans post audit on any areas they need to improve on. All brand members can then see the remediation plans for their suppliers, and or aid them in creating the plans.  

Global challenges such as climate change, ensuring decent working conditions for all, and responsible consumption need a global plan for action. Businesses are in a unique position to contribute, given their influence not only among consumers but also throughout the impact of their supply chain. Amfori believes they are called upon to bring businesses together and scale efforts to have an impact. Believing that by brands implementing their tools in our global supply chains, we can contribute to the achievement of numerous United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

For a small New Zealand business, the opportunity to tap into tools, support and network of international like-minded brands is invaluable in terms of shared learnings, experiences and increased leverage with suppliers and impacting our industry for the better. 

For more information on Amfori, click here.

Amfori BSCI is not a certification. Amfori is an industry-driven supply chain management system who provide members with world-class tools to improve the processes of supply chain mapping, monitoring, and remediation.

Amfori require all members to be active, which enables us to respect human rights and drive continuous improvement on social issues in our global supply chains.

We believe that collaborating with like-minded brands like Amfori, is essential to addressing complex issues involved with Modern Slavery and enable us to contribute to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

For more information on Amfori, click here.