Introduction:

Redbird Apparel is committed to ensuring that modern slavery, human trafficking, forced labour, and other forms of exploitation do not take place within our business or supply chains. We recognise that our operations have a significant impact on society and the environment and we aim to ensure that our business practices are ethical, transparent, and sustainable.

We are proud to affirm our unwavering commitment to combat modern slavery in all its forms, as mandated by the UK’s Modern Slavery Act 2015, the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act of 2010, and other relevant global legislation. By upholding these standards, we acknowledge our responsibility to promote transparency, accountability, and ethical practices throughout our operations and supply chains

Understanding Modern Slavery:

Modern slavery, also known as human trafficking, is the use of force, fraud, or coercion to exploit people for profit or personal gain. It involves the deprivation of a person's liberty and their rights, such as the freedom to leave work, to choose their employment or to negotiate their terms of work. Modern slavery can take many forms, including forced labor, debt bondage, forced marriage, and human trafficking.

When it comes to labor, modern slavery involves the exploitation of workers through force, coercion, deception, or debt bondage. Workers may be forced to work in hazardous conditions, for long hours, with little pay, or no pay at all. They may be physically or psychologically abused, and their movements may be restricted.

Here are some facts and figures related to modern slavery in labor:

1. Forced labor is the most prevalent form of modern slavery, accounting for 24.9 million people globally in 2016, according to the Global Slavery Index.
2. Men are more likely to be victims of forced labor than women, accounting for 64% of victims.
3. The construction, manufacturing, and agriculture industries are among the sectors where forced labor is prevalent.
4. Migrant workers are particularly vulnerable to forced labor, with many facing debt bondage, recruitment fraud, and passport retention.
5. The International Labour Organisation estimates that forced labor generates $150 billion in illegal profits each year.
6. In some cases, large companies may unknowingly or knowingly use suppliers that engage in forced labor or other forms of modern slavery. In fact, the ILO estimates that 16 million people are trapped in forced labor in the private sector worldwide.

These figures highlight the serious and ongoing problem of modern slavery in labor, and the need for continued efforts to combat and eradicate this form of exploitation.

Our Business:

Our mission is to propel a student revolution in eco-conscious college clothing, that enables you to express your individuality. While we take a holistic approach that looks at manufacture through to delivery, to us, embracing eco-conscious college clothing specifically means prioritising innovative techniques that harness recycled or regenerated fibres in favour of traditional yarns. This seeks to elevate concern for our planet by taking emphasis off virgin materials and minimising waste that goes to landfill. Redbird Apparel is a UK-based apparel brand that designs and sells high-quality university stash to students in the UK.

Our Supply Chains:

We are committed to working with suppliers who share our values and principles. Our suppliers are primarily based in Asia and Europe, and we work closely with them to ensure that their operations meet our standards for ethical and sustainable practices.

Due Diligence:

We conduct due diligence to ensure that our suppliers are compliant with our expectations and policies regarding modern slavery and human trafficking. This includes:

1. Assessing the risk of modern slavery in our supply chains and identifying any potential areas of concern.
2. Conducting audits of our suppliers to assess their compliance with our standards and identify any potential risks.
3. Ensuring that our suppliers have appropriate policies and procedures in place to address modern slavery and human trafficking.
4. Providing training to our employees and suppliers to raise awareness about modern slavery and human trafficking and to help them identify and report any concerns.
5. Investigating any reports of potential modern slavery or human trafficking in our supply chains and taking appropriate action to address these issues.

Our commitment to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking is based on the following principles:

1. We are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations relating to modern slavery and human trafficking, including the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
2. We expect all of our suppliers, contractors, and other business partners to adhere to the same standards that we set for ourselves.
3. We have a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery and human trafficking, and we will take swift action to address any instances of these abuses that are identified.

Conclusion:

Redbird Apparel is committed to preventing modern slavery, human trafficking, forced labor, and other forms of exploitation within our business and supply chains. We will continue to monitor our operations and supply chains to ensure that our business practices are ethical, transparent, and sustainable. We will also continue to work closely with our suppliers to promote responsible and sustainable business practices and to address any concerns that may arise.