Corporate Responsibility
alphabroder is dedicated to being a responsible corporate citizen; therefore we hold ourselves to the highest ethical business standards. This includes publishing and enforcing a social accountability statement for not only our internal practices but also all of our customers, vendors and factories. We have also partnered with U.S. Customs & Border Protection in a trade program designed to help secure our borders and ensure the continued free flow of international trade.
The ab | Prime Line "Green Team" is passionate about advancing our commitment to sustainability. Sustainable practices are as important today as product safety, fair labor & supply chain safety were ten years ago. Our industry already invests resources to maintain & verify our safety and social compliance requirements. We recognize the importance of committing resources to sustainability too.
Working together with our facilities and our partners we are forging a new path. Our goal is to create a meaningful and measurable corporate sustainability platform. We're identifying the good things we are already doing and improving those current processes. We are researching ways to improve our impact and our industry with a mindset of continuous improvement.
Education and awareness are key components of our efforts. To help you easily source products that meet your sustainability needs we've created a 3-factor method for identifying styles with accurate & verifiable global sustainability practices and a responsible mindset.
Learn More
» Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative
alphabroder is presently engaged in an aggressive initiative with regards to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). CSR is an ongoing, continuous process that evolves as new laws, guidelines, consumer expectations and industry initiatives come to light. It is not a static process. alphabroder will publish updates on this initiative as part of our process of continued improvement.
Download the January 2022 Update
» Social Accountability Policy Statement
alphabroder has a tradition of conducting its business in an ethical manner that reflects respect for the public franchise under which we operate. As an International business, alphabroder is concerned with the worldwide state of human rights and environmental degradation. alphabroder follows the Fair Labor Association's (FLA) example and partners only with vendors that allow us full knowledge of the facilities used in their production. alphabroder and FLA utilize accredited third party audit companies to ensure its business partners are socially compliant with all applicable international and local laws. Any effort to suppress any of these standards will be met with strong objection. alphabroder will take into account any such actions on the part of vendors and factories when evaluating our business relations as our pledge to uphold these standards. When differences or conflicts in standards arise, the highest standard shall apply.
Employment Relationship
alphabroder vendors shall adopt and adhere to rules and
conditions of employment that respect workers and at a minimum,
safeguard their rights under national and international labor and social
security laws and regulations.
Discriminatory Practices
alphabroder recognizes and respects cultural differences found
in the worldwide marketplace. No person shall be subject to any
discrimination in employment, including hiring, compensation,
advancement, discipline, termination or retirement, on the basis of
gender, race, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation,
nationality, political opinion, social group or ethnic origin.
Harassment or Abuse
alphabroder vendors shall treat every employee with respect and
dignity. No employee shall be subject to any physical, sexual,
psychological or verbal harassment or abuse.
Forced or Compulsory Labor
alphabroder shall partner only with vendors which allow workers
to accept their employment voluntarily. There shall be no use of forced
labor, including prison labor, indentured labor, bonded labor or other
forms of forced labor.
Commitment to Responsible Recruitment
alphabroder is committed to the fair treatment of workers
throughout the supply chain. One important part of this ongoing effort
is working together with our global supply chain partners to drive
positive change and eliminate the potential for forced labor in the
countries from which we source products.
We commit to work with our global supply chain partners to create conditions so that:
- No worker pays for their job
- Workers retain control of their travel documents and have full freedom of movement; and
- All workers are informed of the basic terms of their employment before leaving home.
Child Labor
alphabroder shall partner only with vendors who take a strong
stance against the use of child labor. Vendors are expected to comply
with local and international laws in defining the term "Child". No
person shall be employed under the age of 15 or under the age for
completion of compulsory education, whichever is higher.
Human Trafficking and Slavery
alphabroder will not partner with vendors who engage in or
support the use of human trafficking or slavery within their
organizations and/or their international supply chain.
Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining
alphabroder adopts an open attitude toward worker's rights and
their freedom to associate with others, form, and join (or abstain from
joining) organizations of their choice, collective bargaining, without
interference, discrimination, retaliation, or harassment. Employers
shall recognize and respect the right of employees to freedom of
association and collective bargaining.
Health, Safety and Environment
alphabroder vendors shall provide a safe and healthy workplace
setting to prevent accidents and injury to health arising out of, linked
with, or occurring in the course of work or as a result of the
operation of employers' facilities. Employers shall adopt responsible
measures to mitigate negative impacts that the workplace has on the
environment.
Working Hours and Overtime
alphabroder shall work with vendors who do not require workers
to work more than the regular and overtime hours allowed by the law of
the country where the workers are employed. The regular work week shall
not exceed 48 hours. Employers shall allow workers at least 24
consecutive hours of rest in every seven-day period. All overtime work
shall be consensual. Employers shall not request overtime on a regular
basis and shall compensate all overtime work at a premium rate. Other
than in exceptional circumstances, the sum of the regular and overtime
hours in a week shall not excel 60 hours.
Fair Wages
alphabroder shall partner with vendors who share our commitment
to the betterment of wage and benefit levels that address the basic
needs of workers and their families. Every worker has a right to
compensation for a regular work week that is sufficient to meet the
workers' basic needs and provide some discretionary income. Employers
shall pay at least the minimum wage or the appropriate prevailing wage,
whichever is higher, comply with all legal requirements on wages, and
provide any fringe benefits required by law or contract. Where
compensation does not meet workers' basic needs and provide some
discretionary income, vendor shall take appropriate actions that seek to
progressively realize a level of compensation that does.
Product Safety
alphabroder is committed to aligning themselves with only those
vendors dedicated to ensuring the health and safety of our customers.
Merchandise manufactured on behalf of alphabroder must meet or exceed
all applicable U.S. and Canadian government product safety and quality
standards.
Corruption and Bribery
alphabroder is committed to acting professionally, fairly and
honestly in all of our business operations. alphabroder prohibits the
offering, giving, solicitation or the acceptance of any bribe or corrupt
incentive in any form.
alphabroder is committed to facilitating the accessibility and usability of its website. We have engaged UsableNet Inc., a leading provider of accessibility technology and services to ensure and maintain accessibility of our website.
If you have specific questions or concerns about the accessibility of any particular page or content on alphabroder.com, please contact us at [email protected]. If you do encounter an accessibility issue, please be sure to specify the webpage in your email, and we will make all reasonable efforts to provide assistance.
In 2007, alphabroder received the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) certification from the U.S. Customs and Borders Protection (CBP,) a division of the Department of Homeland Security. The C-TPAT program is a joint initiative between the U.S. government and certified businesses to cultivate cooperative relationships based upon the integrity of a company's security practices. These practices are vital in maintaining an overall efficient and compliant supply chain and strengthened border security.
A year later, alphabroder was granted Tier II status by CBP. To receive its current Tier II status, alphabroder's entire supply chain, including factories, brokers and transportation providers had to pass a vigorous inspection by CBP, maintain the "best practices" in the industry and demonstrate that comprehensive programs are in place to secure their facilities and supply chains from terrorists, smuggling and narcotics.
This significant recognition of our security program exemplifies our organization wide commitment to maintaining the highest levels of security standards, procedures, and processes at all of our facilities, and displays our serious concern for the security and well being of the United States (or our homeland).
As part of our partnership with CBP, alphabroder will continue to comply with procedures defined by the CBP to ensure safety along the entire portion of the supply chain that we control -- from point of origin to final destination. C-TPAT membership will require alphabroder to maintain written processes that are in place with all business partners within our network of service providers as well as all corporate facilities. These security procedures must be verifiable, and alphabroder will be required to demonstrate that our transportation partners are in compliance with CBP standards.
Some of the major benefits of receiving C-TPAT certification include:
- Fewer cargo border inspections of goods, leading to reduced lead times
- The assignment of an account representative from U.S. Customs and Border Protection to address questions
- Access to U.S. government anti-terrorism seminars, and the sharing of industry best practices
Additional information about the C-TPAT Program is available at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Website.
» Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA)
Product safety is a hot topic right now in the consumer products industry and we would like to make you aware of recently enacted legislation that applies to the products alphabroder sells to our customers.
The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) became law on August 14, 2008 and is applicable to consumer products (including textile wearables and non-wearables) manufactured on and after November 12, 2008.
The CPSIA requires all importers and domestic manufacturers of apparel and other applicable non-wearable consumer products to issue Certificate of Conformity for every lot manufactured on or after November 12, 2008. It is important to note that both imported and domestically made products will require COC's.
In order to better track and service the increasing requests that we are receiving with regards to Product Safety, alphabroder has set up a separate email address: [email protected]. The Merchandising team will respond to these emails accordingly.
» California Prop 65 Statements
alphabroder has a tradition of conducting its business in an ethical and socially responsible manner that reflects respect for the environment, culture and social impact of communities. As an international business, alphabroder is committed to providing quality, safe products that meet or exceed our customers' expectations.
The Safe Drinking Water & Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, also known as, Proposition 65 (Prop 65) is a California law that has been in effect since 1986 to promote clean drinking water and keep toxic substances that cause cancer and birth defects out of consumer products. Proposition 65 requires the State of California to publish a list of chemicals known to cause cancer or birth defects or other reproductive harm. This list, consisting of a wide range of naturally occurring and synthetic chemicals known to cause cancer or birth defects or other reproductive harm is updated at least once a year and has grown to include more than 900 chemicals since it was first published in 1987.
Prop 65 law requires that anyone at reasonable risk of exposure to be informed when substances classified as toxins are present. Proposition 65 enables Californians to make informed decisions about protecting themselves from exposure to these chemicals. It also prohibits California businesses from knowingly discharging significant amounts of listed chemicals into sources of drinking water.
View California Prop 65 Statements