Why get accredited with Ethical Clothing Australia?
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More than just a trade mark
Since 2000, we’ve operated as a multi-stakeholder initiative within the Textile Clothing and Footwear industry. We diligently check compliance against the relevant Australian legal frameworks to provide credibility and confidence in our trade mark.
BENEFITS OF ACCREDITATION
Accreditation with Ethical Clothing Australia demonstrates that your local supply chain is compliant, ethical, and transparent from design to dispatch.
It shows that your business protects the rights of the people who make your products, no matter where they work in the local supply chain. The accreditation certifies that your business has undertaken on-the-ground third-party checks to ensure compliance with the relevant Australian workplace laws.
The accreditation provides verifiable assurance to your customers – no matter who they are, from your everyday shopper to procurement professionals and government bodies – that your business and its local supply chain are ethical. By being accredited, you are contributing to a stronger, more transparent industry in Australia.
Business operations and supply chain risk management
- Protect your business by certifying your operations and your supply chain are compliant with Australian labour laws.
- A recognised and respected certification to meet tender requirements to evidence adherence to labour laws and supply chain transparency.
- A rigorous accreditation program to underpin modern slavery reporting obligations or ESG management and SDG alignment.
- Boost visibility to procurement professionals.
- Be part of a local and ethical manufacturing community.
Practical guidance to meet your obligations under the relevant Australian workplace laws
- Continuous support to meet legislative requirements under the relevant Australian workplace laws.
- Ongoing education through industry resources and training.
- Access to regular legislative updates and how they should be applied.
Use of a recognised trade mark to verify ethical business practices
- Communicate ethical manufacturing standards backed by third party compliance checks.
- Demonstrate your commitment to protecting workers’ rights.
- Give customers confidence that your products are made locally and responsibly.
The accreditation process
Here’s what to expect on your path to accreditation – from checking your eligibility to completing the compliance audit.
Check your eligibility
Take our Accreditation Eligibility Quiz and find out if your business is eligible for accreditation.
Speak with an Advisor
Book a chat with an Accreditation Program Advisor. In this no-obligation, 30 minute call, you will discuss your eligibility and have the chance to ask questions about the accreditation process.
Review fees and guidelines
Review the Accreditation Guidelines and annual accreditation fees before you apply. The Accreditation Guidelines provide an overview of the accreditation program and answer frequently asked questions about the compliance audit.
You can also take a look at the industry resources page on the Ethical Clothing Australia website. This page has been designed to assist you during the compliance audit, and help you better understand your legal obligations.
Brief your suppliers
To be Ethical Clothing Australia accredited, all of your manufacturing operations are audited, including any outsourced locations in Australia. It’s important to speak with your suppliers to introduce them to the Ethical Clothing Australia accreditation process and explain why accreditation matters, and what the process will look like for them.
The team at Ethical Clothing Australia can assist you with these conversations if needed.
Submit your application
Submit the online Fee and Manufacturing Form, which captures information about your business and all manufacturing locations in Australia. Information in this form will determine your annual accreditation fee.
Read and sign the online Code of Practice, which outlines the terms of the agreement for the accreditation program. These application forms will be reviewed and confirmed by the Accreditation Program Advisor before proceeding.
Pay your application fee
Ethical Clothing Australia will send you an invoice for the application fee with a two-week deadline for payment. Your accreditation period commences on the date the initial fee is paid, and this will remain your annual renewal date going forward.
Complete the compliance audit
Once the fee is paid, the Compliance Officer will reach out to you over email to commence the compliance audit. The email will detail all documentation required for the compliance audit and suggest a date for a kick-off meeting.
The timeframe of the compliance audit will vary depending on your business’s manufacturing circumstances and the size of your supply chain. In practice, most smaller applications will be completed within three to six months.
Resolve any breaches
If there are any breaches of the Award or relevant legislation, the Compliance Officer will explain what these are, how to rectify them, and provide you with time to do so. The compliance audit process is about working collaboratively with businesses and supporting them to understand their obligations.
Get accredited
Your business is now accredited by Ethical Clothing Australia. We will issue your business an accreditation certificate and a copy of the compliance audit report.
Our marketing and communications team will be in touch to help you get the most out of your accreditation, including preparing your business listing on the Ethical Clothing Australia website and announcing your accreditation on social media. They will also share tips on using the Ethical Clothing Australia trade mark to promote your accreditation.
Accredited businesses can also make use of the Ethical Clothing Australia Toolkit, which is a great resource for maximising the promotion of your accreditation and communicating it effectively to your customers.
Testimonials
Take our accreditation eligibility quiz
Find out if your business is eligible for accreditation. Refer to our privacy policy to find out how we protect your personal information.
Join our next Accreditation 101 webinar
Learn more about the process from our team, union representatives, and an accredited business.
Go behind the seams
Protecting the rights of Australian Garment Workers
Ethical Clothing Australia is a not-for-profit organisation and joint union and industry initiative. We independently accredit businesses to uphold and protect the rights of local textile, clothing, and footwear workers from design to dispatch by ensuring they are paid according to Australian workplace laws, receive all their legal entitlements, and work in safe conditions.
Support local
Ethical Clothing Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout the lands now known as Australia and recognise and celebrate their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples today.We are a place free from discrimination, where diversity is celebrated and everyone belongs. We are committed to creating a safe and welcoming space for all.