We promote safe and fair working conditions by empowering workers and creating solid relationships with our partners. A main priority is the health and wellbeing of everyone who makes our products - not just our own employees. We dedicate a lot of effort and resources with the goal to make garment production more fair and equal worldwide.
We always look for the best production location, considering technical expertise and knowhow. Many factories with cutting and sewing skills are located in Asia, and we select the partners that follow strict social requirements and collaborate with them to reach even higher standards of working conditions.
Fair Wear Foundation
Salewa is a member of Fair Wear Foundation, the most rigorous labour conditions expert that we know of. FWF is an independent non-profit organisation that works with brands to improve working conditions in the garment industry. We have been working with them since 2016, to make step-by-step improvements for the workers who make the clothes we sell. They help us keep factories monitored and they also assess our progress through a yearly Brand Performance Check. We have achieved the prestigious “Leader” status in 2017 as a result of our exceptional work, improving every year to maintain the status. In 2022, for the 6th year in a row.
Code of conduct
A reflection of our values
As an international company, we work with manufacturing facilities around the world and invest in responsible, long-term business relationships that meet the highest standards. All our partners respect our values and sign our Code of onduct - Salewa’s basic requirement for a supplier relationship.
Chemical & enviromental standards
Chemical Safety
Our efforts and our responsibility is not limited to our sustainability strategy and our goals. As part of factories best in class, circularity and best in class policies and processes, the topic of chemicals falls under every one of those categories. We do not produce chemically safe items because we are testing. They are safe because we have strict regulations in place that are upheld by all suppliers.
What does Salewa do to make sure that the products are safe?
- All suppliers have to adhere to the Oberalp Chemical Policy, which outlines our strict internal standards for chemical compliance. It includes a Restricted Substances List (RSL), a list of all the chemicals that we’ve either banned from our products, or set a very strict limit on.
- We conduct internal or external tests to ensure compliance.
- (data refers to 2022 summer collection)
RESPONSABILE BUSINESS CONDUCT POLICY
[SOCIAL REPORT 2024](https://oberalp.a.bigcontent.io/v1/static/Social Report2024Oberalp)
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The Forever Chemicals – PFAS
Why are they used? The PFAS family includes hundreds of chemicals. They are used to make everyday products resistant to water and to ensure water repellency and permeability. Why are they “forever”? PFAS are persistent, they do not easily degrade in nature and can also travel through water and wind. Their use has been criticized because they are linked to negative effects on humans and wildlife.
