Corporate & Social Commitment
- Child Labor - That no one under the legal minimum age is employed in any stage of manufacturing; that a minimum age of 16 applies in all circumstances.
- Forced Labor - That no forced or prison labor is employed, that workers are free to leave once their shift ends and that guards are posted only for normal security reasons.
- Harassment or Abuse - Employees are treated with dignity and respect, and that no employee shall be subjected to any physical, sexual, psychological or verbal harassment or abuse.
- Wages and Benefits - Vendors must recognize that wages are essential to meeting employees' basic needs. Wage and overtime pay practices must comply with the standards set by law. Including the payment of compensation for overtime hours at such premium rates as is legally required in that country, but not less than at a rate equal to their regular hourly compensation rate.
- Working Hours and Overtime - That working hours must not exceed prevailing local work hours in the country where the work is to be performed, except with respect to appropriately compensated overtime; must not require in excess of a 60 hour week on a regularly scheduled basis, and must permit at least one day off in every 7 days.
- Health and Safety - Vendors shall provide a safe and healthy working environment for their employees, and comply with or exceed all applicable local laws concerning sanitation and risk protection in order to prevent accidents and injury to health arising out of, linked with or occurring in the course of work, or as a result of the operation of employer facilities.
- Environmental Protection - Vendors shall comply with all applicable environmental laws and regulations. In addition, we proactively select and work with vendors that use higher standards than those enforced locally.
- Other Laws - Vendors shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including those pertaining to the manufacture, pricing, sale and distribution of merchandise, as well as voluntary industry standards.
Edwards ensures that vendors meet corporate social responsibility requirements with a combination of:
- External 3rd party audits where independent auditing professionals perform extensive reviews looking at all key factors (i.e., compensation, benefits, labor rights, safety) using a combination of interviews with factory and administrative staff, and review of documentation to confirm that compliance requirements are being met.
- Internal staff visits and evaluations where Edwards visits the factory and confirms the conditions of the operation and the welfare of the employees. Edwards vendors operate qualified factories that are frequently certified by organizations like WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Apparel Production), and other global entities with high standards of compliance and certification levels.
- Vendor may not subcontract work without the express written permission of Edwards Garment, and then such subcontracting shall only be permitted to companies that abide by this Code of Conduct.
- Failure to comply with the Code or to implement a corrective action plan on a timely basis is a breach of contract for which the contract may be canceled.
It is Edwards’ policy to provide a safe and healthful work environment for all company associates. Protecting human life from harm and property from damage is a key responsibility of every associate. The objective of our company's Safety and Health Management Program is to reduce work-related accidents and illness and to promote safety and health in every task undertaken by associates. Our Safety and Health Management Program includes a comprehensive safety and health training program for all associates.
To ensure products are safe, Edwards has defined guidelines on the materials and processes that are acceptable for their construction. Monitoring vendor compliance for product safety, Edwards uses a combination of testing in certified laboratories and certifications such as Oeko-Tek. OEKO-TEX® is a worldwide, independent testing and certification system for textile products that contribute to ensuring high and effective product safety levels. Certified mills undergo extensive product checks and regular on-site visits to monitor sustainable awareness of the responsible use of chemicals and adherence to test criteria and limit values that in many cases are more strict than applicable local and international standards. Because of these strict testing standards, we prefer to source materials from vendors that are STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX*#174; certified. STANDARD 100 is a highly known certification that tests for harmful substances and stands for customer confidence and high product safety.
As a result of the efforts above, Edwards has been recognized by PPAI, as an ambassador of product safety. |
Edwards is committed to a supply chain that is capable of providing continuity of garments while minimizing the total environmental footprint of our products. We have begun the journey to take steps necessary to preserve our natural resources.
In May 2018 Edwards Garment joined Cascale, a group of nearly 200 global brands, retailers, and related organizations (non-profit environmental organizations, academic and scientific institutions) committed to improving supply chain sustainability in the apparel and textile industries. As part of the Cascale membership, Edwards uses the group's sustainability measurement tool, the Higg Index, to drive environmental and social responsibility throughout its supply chain. Learn more at Apparel Coalition.
All garments produced by Edwards are Proposition 65 compliant.
What is Proposition 65?
- California Proposition 65, officially known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, was enacted as a ballot initiative in November 1986. The proposition protects the state's drinking water sources from being contaminated.
- Proposition 65 requires businesses to provide warnings to Californians about significant exposures to chemicals that cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.
For more information on Proposition 65, Click here.
At Edwards, People Matter. Our Community Outreach Mission is to encourage our associates to get involved with local programs that improve the human condition. Edwards and our associates are making a lasting impact for future generations through in-kind and monetary donations, along with volunteer opportunities that emphasize children, education and families,
Community Outreach Initiatives - These are just a few areas of emphasis- Big Brothers Big Sisters
- "Bigs in School" Program with with Prairie Ridge Elementary School; working with elementary children to boost reading and comprehension skills
- Big Brother Big Sisters' Annual Fundraising Bowl for Kids Sake event - Edwards sponsors 10 teams
- Kalamazoo Community Foundation - Edwards | Family Enrichment Fund
- Financially support to address current community needs with emphasis on family enrichment
- Partner with United Way of Battle Creek and Kalamazoo
- Pop-up Giving/Volunteer Events
- Support/Collaborate Donation Drives (i.e. Diaper Drive, United Against Hunger Quarter Drive)
- Annual United Way campaign
- Edwards’ associates vote on what IMPACT area Edwards’ Corporate Gift and volunteer efforts for the year will be focused.
- Company Foundation Contribution
- Financially support several local non-profit organizations that aligns with Edwards Community Outreach Mission
- In-Kind Donations
- YWCA partnership providing career wear to clients ready to re-enter the work force
- Goodwill Industries and Salvation Army partnership providing garments throughout the year
- Community Drives
- First Day Shoe Fund – guaranteeing children have new shoes to start the school year
- Communities in Schools School Supply Drive
- Annual Holiday Drive supporting children’s wish list items for Community in Schools, Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes and Kalamazoo Gospel Mission
- Annual Adopt A Family to ensure all members of the family have a gift to open
- Paid Parent and Volunteer Time
- Edwards associates are eligible to attend Parent/Teacher conferences during their work shift
- Edwards associates are eligible to participate in volunteer activities during their work shift
Edwards requires all vendors manufacturing our product to provide a safe and healthy working environment for their employees and comply with or exceed all applicable local laws concerning sanitation and risk protection within their facilities. This includes:
Monitoring vendor compliance for social compliance,Edwards’ uses a combination of visits by company staff, audits by qualified third-party firms, and certifications like WRAP. Worldwide Responsible Apparel (WRAP) is an independent, objective team of global social compliance experts dedicated to promoting safe, lawful, humane, and ethical manufacturing around the world through certification and education. Certified factories undergo regular checks on work conditions, adherence to social compliance standards and the execution of manufacturing in a safe, humane and respectful environment for employees. WRAP has over 2,700 factories certified worldwide, which translates to almost 2.5 million employees covered with certification in those locations.