Our business relationship is built on a mutual respect for and adherence to all legal requirements and the highest ethical standards. We expect our suppliers to observe international standards and national and local law and regulations, while operating their business.

All suppliers must comply with all laws regulating local wages, overtime compensation and legally mandated benefits. Wages and benefit policies must be consistent with prevailing national standards. Under ordinary business circumstances, employees must not be required to work excessive working hours per week including overtime and have the option of at least one day off in seven. We expect that all record keeping will be accurate and transparent at all times.

All suppliers must ensure that their employees are provided a safe and healthy work environment and are not subject to unsanitary or hazardous conditions. Suppliers must comply with all applicable laws of the countries in which they operate regarding work, sanitation and safety. Suppliers providing housing must ensure clean, safe and adequate sleeping quarters, bathing and toilet facilities.

Our suppliers must embrace a fundamental concern for environmental protection and conduct their operations and services consistent with both applicable local laws and internationally recognized environmental practices. They must also make progressive improvements by integrating principles of sustainability into their business decisions to operate more responsibly regarding natural resources, pollution prevention, and utilization of green technologies. Additionally, suppliers must meet all requirements related to chemical restrictions, safely labeling, handling, and storage of approved substances while preventing or mitigating the release of chemicals and hazardous materials. All employees who handle chemicals must be adequately trained to do so.

Our suppliers must not employ anyone under the age of 15 or under the age of completion of compulsory education, whichever is higher. Young workers, under the age of 18, must not be exposed to hazardous, unsafe or unhealthy working conditions or materials. Adequate protection against such hazards must be provided to all young workers.

Our suppliers must not use involuntary or forced labor, whether indentured, bonded, prison or labor obtained through slavery or human trafficking. Suppliers are required to monitor any third party assisting in recruitment or hiring employees to ensure no individual is compelled to work through force, deception, intimidation, coercion, or as punishment for personally held views. Workers must not be required to lodge deposits or identity papers upon commencing employment with the supplier.

All suppliers’ employees must be free to join organizations of their own choosing. This includes the right to form and join trade unions and other worker organizations and participate in collective bargaining without fear of harassment, interface, or retaliation.

Our suppliers may not discriminate against its employees during any stage of the employment relationship on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, color, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, political opinion, union affiliation, social group, marital status, pregnancy or any other classification protected by local, national and international law. All employment relationships should include effective mechanisms to protect migrant, temporary or seasonal workers from any form of discrimination.

Suppliers are required to treat all employees with respect and dignity. No employee shall be subject to physical, sexual, psychological or verbal harassment or abuse or to monetary fines as a disciplinary practice.

Suppliers must use only designated suppliers for raw materials and components to maintain supply chain transparency. Prior written approval must be obtained before any portion of the product is vendor sourced or substituted.

Our factories may only subcontract to previously approved suppliers for manufacturing or services according to our corporate requirements. All subcontracted suppliers must meet the same criteria as our direct contracted product and service suppliers.

Suppliers must respect and commit to promoting ethical animal welfare practices with a focus on the five freedoms. This includes capture, maintaining, breeding, raising, transportation, handling and slaughter. We believe that all animals, while taking into account their species’ needs should benefit from freedom from thirst, discomfort, pain, injury or disease, fear and distress and have the freedom to behave naturally. Our expectations are above national and international animal welfare, social and environmental laws and regulations, as well as internationally accepted human and labor rights standards.

Mara Hoffman Inc. is committed to sourcing wool that meets the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS). The RWS addresses animal welfare, land management, and traceability. The standard recognizes the best practices of farmers around the globe, creates an industry benchmark for animal care and land management to drive improvement where needed and ensures that wool comes from farms with a progressive approach to managing their land, and from sheep that have been treated responsibly. This also helps to provide a robust chain of custody system from farm to final product.

Wool must not be sourced from mulesed sheep. Mulesing is a practice used to combat the infection caused by a particular fly (the blowfly), but it harms the animals in the process. Non-mulesing certification must be provided.

Our factories and suppliers must comply with applicable customs’ laws and regulations and participate in Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism Programs (C-TPAT) for all products and services as directed by the US Department of Homeland Security. In addition, all products must specifically meet all Consumer Product Safety Commission regulations and requirements and guarantee to abide by all international restrictions for Hazardous Substances.