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Supply Chain Innovation

Patagonia

All Patagonia in-store products including footwear. Patagonia's compliance program is accredited by FLA.

From the Patagonia website: We have integrated corporate responsibility into our sourcing strategy: when considering new factories we take a fourfold vetting approach – one that includes social and environmental practices equally with quality standards and business requirements like financial stability, adequate capacity and fair pricing.

Fair Labor Association Welcomes Three Board Members

WASHINGTON, DC – The Fair Labor Association, a joint effort of universities, civil society organizations and socially responsible companies dedicated to protecting workers’ rights around the world, announced today the appointment of three new members to its board of directors.  Each new member will represent a sector of the organization’s membership. The new members include a former child worker form Bangladesh, the retail and licensing expert at California State University, Long Beach, and the head of traceability for outdoor brand Patagonia.

Fair Labor Association Welcomes Three Board Members
WASHINGTON, DC – The Fair Labor Association, a joint effort of universities, civil society organizations and socially responsible companies dedicated to protecting workers’ rights around the world, announced today the appointment of three new members to its board of directors.  Each new member will represent a sector of the organization’s membership. The new members include a former child worker form Bangladesh, the retail and licensing expert at California State University, Long Beach, and the head of traceability for outdoor brand Patagonia. “The strength...
123 Apparel and Footwear Companies Sign New "AAFA/FLA Apparel & Footwear Industry Commitment to Responsible Recruitment"
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – October 22, 2018 – Today, 123 apparel and footwear companies signed the new “AAFA/FLA Apparel & Footwear Industry Commitment to Responsible Recruitment,” reflecting the industry’s commitment to the fair treatment of workers in the global apparel, footwear, and travel goods supply chain. Developed in conjunction with the American Apparel & Footwear Association and the Fair Labor Association, the Commitment is a proactive industry effort to address potential forced labor risks for migrant workers in the global supply chain. Each...
Letter to The Honorable Daniel Ortega Saavedra
On June 29, 2018, the Fair Labor Association joined with seven leading companies and the American Apparel and Footwear Association to send a letter to the President of the Republic of Nicaragua expressing concern about the nation’s political and social crisis threatening the rights, livelihoods, and physical safety of workers and others and the capacity of Nicaragua’s industries that export around the world.
RESPECT Survey Sheds Light on Purchasing Habits
The RESPECT Project is an initiative of the European Commission, supported by FLA, which encourages buyers and suppliers to engage in more responsible purchasing practices. In support of this project, FLA conducted an online survey among 25 buyers and 30 suppliers from various sectors throughout Asia, Central America, the Middle East and Bulgaria. Several FLA affiliates – including Zephyr Graf-X, adidas Group, Patagonia, Mountain Equipment Co-op, New Wave, The s. Oliver Group, and prAna – participated in the survey. Of the Buyers: 100% have a dedicated department in...
Common Ground: Patagonia’s Common Threads Initiative and the FLA
This is a guest post from FLA Participating Company, Patagonia. It was written by Vincent Stanley, co-author with Yvon Chouinard of The Responsible Company, to be published August 2012. Bill McKibben made an interesting point a few years back when he compared the yields of factory farming and organic or low-input farming. Factory farming (with subsidies) yields more dollars per acre but an organic field yields more food. Factory farming requires industrial simplicity and heavy engineering: a few hundred acres of straight-rowed crops of the same variety, requiring vehicles as expensive as...
Patagonia Assessment for Reaccreditation, October 2017

On October 4th, 2017, the FLA Board of Directors voted to approve the reaccreditation of Patagonia's labor compliance program.  Patagonia's reaccreditation covers the period from 2014 to 2017.  The reaccreditation commends several of Patagonia's strengths, including its commitment from top management to improve working conditions not only at facilities manufacturing for Patagonia, but also through deeper tiers of the supply chain; the company's strong engagement with civil socieity to address issues facing migrant workers, pursue living wages, and ensure workers have a voice in their workplaces; and its collaborative "4-fold" approach to purchasing, whereby the sourcing, quality, environmental, and social responsibility teams all have an equal say in where and how to source products.

17 FLA Affiliates Oppose Unfair Minimum Wage Exemption for Myanmar Garment Workers

On Tuesday, July 14, 2015, the Fair Labor Association sent a letter to the Ministry of Labor in Myanmar standing against efforts to exempt the fast-growing garment sector from paying their workers the country's new minimum wage.  The letter was signed by the FLA Vice President of Programs and 17 FLA affiliates.  

Patagonia Assessment for Reaccreditation

Patagonia was approved by the FLA Board for affiliation as a Participating Company in 2001. The FLA Board accredited Patagonia’s labor compliance program in October 2008.

This assessment for reaccreditation of Patagonia’s labor compliance program covers the period 2009-2012. It is based on information provided by Patagonia in its annual reports to the FLA, verified through visits to the company’s headquarter office, field observation, a review of FLA supplier-level assessments at Patagonia applicable facilities, and interactions with civil society organizations.

Patagonia 2008 Accreditation Report

Patagonia is a privately owned company that designs, develops, and markets clothing and gear for a wide range of outdoor sports, travel, and everyday wear. Patagonia is headquartered in Ventura, California. The FLA Board of Directors voted to approve the accreditation of Patagonia’s compliance program on October 28, 2008, based on proven adherence to FLA’s Workplace Code of Conduct and the Obligations fo Companies.