Fair Labor Association reaccredits SanMar’s social compliance program

WASHINGTON, DC, March 23, 2023 — The Fair Labor Association (FLA) announced today that its board of directors has voted to reaccredit the social compliance program of SanMar Corporation (SanMar), a family-owned and operated business distributing blank manufactured apparel and accessories. SanMar brands include Port Authority, Sport-Tek, Port & Company, Mercer+Mettle, Allmade, District, CornerStone, and Volunteer Knitwear.

The decision by the FLA board follows a rigorous, multi-year review of SanMar’s business systems for compliance with international labor standards designed to protect workers in its global supply chains. SanMar sources from one self-operated facility and 110 contract facilities across 21 countries.

“Since SanMar first joined FLA in 2007, the company and its leadership have demonstrated an enduring commitment to achieving better working conditions throughout its supply chain,” said FLA President and CEO Sharon Waxman. “Through sustained engagement with suppliers and workers, SanMar has consistently embodied the 10 Fair Labor principles, and we commend them for the continual progress they have made since their first accreditation in 2012.” 

“SanMar is honored to build on our decade-long legacy of accreditation with FLA,” said SanMar CEO Jeremy Lott. “Our people are our top priority and the work we do with supplier relationships, data management and workplace training are critical steps toward setting a high standard for labor rights in the apparel industry.”

SanMar first earned Fair Labor Accreditation in 2012. The reaccreditation report details FLA’s updated evaluation of SanMar’s social compliance program through January 2023, and reflects continuous improvements that kept pace with updates to FLA standards during the intervening period.

Highlights of SanMar’s reaccreditation include:

• Supplier relationships: SanMar regularly engages with its suppliers to discuss challenges that may impact production processes and workers. SanMar actively participates in Better Buying, which allows suppliers to submit anonymous feedback on SanMar’s purchasing practices. SanMar also is one of the few companies that make Better Buying reports available on their websites.

• Compliance data management: SanMar tracks assessment remediation progress and evidence through its comprehensive data platform. SanMar also uses its factory and assessment data to identify noncompliance trends throughout its supply chain, including identifying the most frequent types of findings that require further action.

• Capacity-building: Recognizing that companies, suppliers, and workers all have a part to play in promoting workers’ rights, SanMar emphasizes training for suppliers and for workers. SanMar also partners with civil society organizations to train workers on using grievance mechanisms to speak out about issues in the workplace. Finally, if suppliers are found to be non-compliant with FLA standards, SanMar requires them to complete training to help ensure the issues are remediated successfully.

Fair Labor Accreditation helps investors and consumers make informed choices by showing that a company is actively fulfilling the highest standards in labor rights.

It is the only comprehensive program of its kind that is based on international standards and frameworks such as the International Labour Organization, UN Guiding Principles, the OECD, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Fair Labor Accredited companies are evaluated on an ongoing basis and must demonstrate continuous improvement in addressing working conditions and protecting workers’ rights. To see a list of Fair Labor Accredited companies and to learn more, please visit www.fairlabor.org.

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The Fair Labor Association (FLA) promotes human rights at work. We are an international network of companies, universities, and civil society organizations collaborating to ensure that millions of people working at the world’s factories and farms are paid fairly and protected from risks to their health, safety, and well-being.

At SanMar® Corporation, we do more than make and sell t-shirts. We build meaningful connections that elevate lives. As the largest supplier of wholesale imprintable clothing and accessories in the United States, our products and the connections they create impact organizations, individuals and the world we live in. It all started more than 50 years ago with a business philosophy that has held true since day one: Be Nice and Tell the Truth. Family owned and operated, SanMar is based in Issaquah, Washington, with eight distribution centers nationwide and apparel from more than 30 celebrated brands.

FLA CONTACT:
Stacy Hope
communications@fairlabor.org

SANMAR CONTACT:
Michelle Dumler
michelledumler@sanmar.com