Factories of Finisterre

Ethical and responsible trade has always been central to the Finisterre ethos. We have an unerring commitment to human rights and the welfare of people who make our products.We remain determined to ensure that inhumane and illegal practices such as child labour, human trafficking, forced/bond labour, or unsafe working conditions, have no place in our core business or wider supply chain network. 

After years of working together, in 2022 we formalised our partnership with Fair Working Conditions (FWC), cementing our commitment to ethical and responsible trading. FWC are Irish-based Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) specialists with almost two decades of experience working alongside major retailers and brands in over fifty countries worldwide.  Working across a broad range of industries, FWC maintains a steadfast approach to supporting clients, suppliers, and employees on the path to sustainable improvement. Their track record is one of on-the-ground delivery, supplier engagement, factory worker input, practical corrective action, and tailored training. 

The cornerstones of Finisterre’s Supplier Code of Conduct align with the standards set out by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and UN Declaration of Human Rights. We implement these through a combination of Finisterre values and FWC field experience, considering the individual geopolitical, demographic, and socioeconomic challenges of each country. Together with FWC, we have developed a pragmatic program to drive best practices throughout our sourcing and procurement network in a hands-on and transparent manner.

In Phase 1 of the collaboration we completed Tier 1 supply chain mapping and the collation and review of independently verifiable third-party CSR reviews. In 2023, the program’s roll-out will include comprehensive supplier screening and onboarding protocols, and increasingly targeted on-site audits at geographically high-risk locations. With the help of locally based FWC labour/CSR experts, we will closely examine and report upon fundamental human and employment rights on a supplier-by-supplier basis – occupational health and safety, hours of work, compensation, benefits, and, above all, employee welfare. Bespoke corrective action plans and response reviews will follow where necessary. If and where issues are found, we will act.

As we expand our in-house expertise and grow our capacity to conduct more first-hand and independently verifiable reviews of our supply chain, we will continually set ourselves demanding goals and targets that go the extra mile and strive for the highest possible level of visibility. 

Our facilities are listed on Open Supply Hub. Open Supply Hub (OS Hub) is an accessible, collaborative, supply chain mapping platform, used and populated by stakeholders across sectors and supply chains. It is a neutral, non-profit organization registered in the USA.

We know that good journeys can’t be rushed. The global apparel industry is responsible for over 6 million tonnes of carbon a year from transport alone,* with brands typically air freighting products around the world.

We choose to transport products by land and sea, using less carbon-intensive journeys and avoidingair freight wherever possible. Less than 1% of our finished goods from our supply chain partners were air freighted in 2023 (down from 5% in 2020). Read more in our 2023 Impact Report.

Although ocean freight is less carbon intensive than flying, we will continue to work with our freight partners, Flexport, to reduce it and protect marine habitats.

*Source: McKinseyFashion on Climate