Arch’s factory labor standards is governed by a Code of Conduct consistent with the United Nations’ Global Compact, the international workplace norms of the ILO convention, and the United Nations’ Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. One of our most important obligations is to protect the physical security and health safety of our stakeholders. We partner with factories that share our commitment to international human rights standards and we are creating mechanisms to ensure compliance with our ethical standards.
Realizing our Commitments
Respect for the basic dignity of all persons is the animating principle behind Arch’s policies. To meet this principle and our above commitments, Arch is putting in place the following mechanisms:
Third-Party Certification
Arch works with a number of third-party certification groups, including Bluesign, OEKO-Tex, GRS, GOTS. These third-party certification groups provide independent verification of our claims regarding sustainability and quality. Arch is currently pursuing B Corp Certification. Arch received B Corp certification in 2021. As a certified B Corp, Arch undergoes a third-party verification process to ensure that Arch meets rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.
Holding Partner Factories to High Labor and Environmental Standards
Arch is improving its capacity to monitor the labor conditions of partner factories. We are developing ways for third-party entities to audit and provide constructive feedback to our production partners. We require partner factories to remedy issues that violate our Code of Conduct and provide strategies for meeting the most rigorous standards of corporate social responsibility, such as those outlined in the B Corp certification process. These efforts build trust with the Arch brand by ensuring ethical integrity throughout the supply chain.
Responsible Ordering Through a Consistent Procurement Policy
Arch’s Production Department strives to maintain consistent orders and volumes with our partners in order to avoid unpredictable workflows for their employees. Predictability of workflow reduces the likelihood of excessive overtime and ensures workers have appropriate rest during any given seven-day period. This improves the labor conditions of our partners’ employees and helps ensure labor standards compliance throughout the supply chain.
Information Sharing with Business Partners
We build strong relationships of trust with partner factories through open and effective bilateral communication. Clear and open channels of communication allow challenges in workflow to be quickly identified and resolved. It improves transparency throughout the supply chain and builds confidence between first and second tier factories.
Improving Labor Conditions in our Community
Arch’s Small Business Support Program supports our partners in the community within which we operate. The program is part of our commitment to use our technological and managerial expertise to develop the local economy, empower our local partners, and cooperate with other to improve the working conditions of our community members.
