SanMar Reaccredits Social Compliance Program

Media Contact:
Ian Hanson for SanMar
ianh@wearedh.com

Leading apparel supplier secures Fair Labor Association reaccreditation

Issaquah, Washington – March 23, 2023 – SanMar Corporation, a leading supplier of wholesale accessories and apparel, today announced the Fair Labor Association (FLA) has reaccredited the company’s social compliance program. The decision demonstrates SanMar’s continued commitment to advancing better labor conditions throughout its global supply chain.

SanMar’s sourcing network spans over 100 facilities in 21 countries. The FLA’s decision follows a multi-year review of the company’s mechanisms to ensure these facilities are in compliance with international labor standards. As the only comprehensive program of its kind based on international frameworks, the Fair Labor Accreditation holds companies to the highest standards in labor rights.
 
“SanMar is honored to build on our decade-long legacy of accreditation with FLA,” said Jeremy Lott, CEO of SanMar. “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 its Fair Labor Accreditation in 2012. The FLA reaccreditation report details the organization’s evaluation of SanMar’s social compliance system through January 2023 and tracks continued developments that meet FLA standards. 

“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 Sharon Waxman, President and CEO of the FLA. “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.”  

Notable elements of SanMar’s reaccreditation include strengthened supplier relationships through Better Buying, which allows suppliers to provide anonymous feedback on the company’s purchasing practices. In 2021, SanMar became the first company to publicly publish its Better Buying report and score. To date, it remains the only company to share this information. SanMar has also built a comprehensive and customized data management platform to identify non-compliance trends throughout its supply chain and pinpoint the most frequent types of findings that require further action. The company tracks FLA program progress through detailed data management and offers training for suppliers and employees to exercise their rights in the workplace.

SanMar’s mission to drive positive change comprises responsible workplace practices and several high-impact corporate responsibility initiatives, including sustainable apparel and ambitious company-wide targets to cut emissions in global operations. Learn more about SanMar’s corporate responsibility initiatives at Canvas for Good. 

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ABOUT SANMAR
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 nine distribution centers nationwide and apparel from more than 30 celebrated brands.

ABOUT THE FAIR LABOR ASSOCIATION
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.