Jellycat Ltd Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking Statement 2020/21
The Modern Slavery Act 2015 was passed in the UK in recognition that throughout the world there are offences of slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour and human trafficking. It highlights the need for discourse and awareness of the topic and requires UK businesses to produce a statement regarding the steps they have taken throughout the financial year to demonstrate the part they have played in mitigating this issue.
We at Jellycat are determined that slavery and human trafficking in any form should not enter our supply chain and the integrity with which our products are created should be upheld all the way through the manufacturing process and beyond.
We have a Head Office in London, a UK warehouse facility, an office in Minneapolis, USA and an office in Shanghai, China. In each location our senior management have a clear directive to report any concerns in relation to modern slavery and to act upon them without delay.
Since our establishment in 1999 we have strived to develop, maintain and uphold direct and sustainable relationships with all our manufacturers and suppliers as this ensures transparency throughout every step of the manufacturing process. It also encourages a partnership based on honesty and openness. Our supply chain, the people who help manufacture and deliver our products, includes manufacturers in Asia, international shippers and third-party warehouses in Hong Kong, Minneapolis, and Shanghai.
We have always worked closely with new manufacturer to ensure they are audited to social and ethical standards before we commence any manufacturing of Jellycat products. Subsequent annual audits are conducted wherever any Jellycat design is manufactured, and these all follow recognised audit programmes such as ICTI, SMETA or BSCI. Audits include worker interviews, documentary evidence checks and site tours. These assessments and audits can be planned or unannounced and are carried out by both third parties and senior Jellycat personnel.
We are committed to the wellbeing and welfare of our colleagues and workers in our supply chain. To reinforce our zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery, we introduced the Jellycat Responsible Sourcing Code of Practice (JCRSCOP). The JCRSCOP is used in conjunction with our long-standing, existing requirements for social compliance transparency and regular third-party audits. It specifies in more detail the obligation of those manufacturers and suppliers that work with us to adhere to the UK’s Modern Slavery Act 2015 ensuring there is compliance and support within the management of our manufacturers and suppliers, embedding the understanding that Jellycat will not tolerate any form of modern slavery.
In this financial year, 2020/21, we worked with our key manufacturing partners to ensure they are fully aware of the requirements within our JCRSCOP ensuring compliance is documented and reported back to us.
Our tier 1 supply chain – those responsible for manufacturing Jellycat products – is fully mapped. Despite the Covid-19 restrictions all suppliers were able to arrange social and ethical audits in line with our expectations and commitment to worker rights and welfare.
Packaging components are sourced separately from our key manufacturing partners. In this financial year (2020/21) we broadened the scope of manufacturers committed to our JCRSCOP to include key printing manufacturers.
Covid-19 restrictions during this period impacted physical visits to our key manufacturing partners as senior Jellycat personnel could not travel from the UK. However, close communication was maintained [WITH WHO?] and visits are planned when restrictions are lifted.
We continue to have direct ongoing dialogue with key partners within the supply chain to reiterate the values integral to our business that we expect to see reflected within their supply chain too. The JCCOP and the JCRSCOP are both evolving documents that we continue to review and update.
Looking forward into the next financial year (2021/22) our scope will broaden further to key tier 2 suppliers as well as the continued support for our manufacturing partners during the restrictions and lockdowns imposed in various countries as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
This statement is made in reference to section 54 (1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 for the financial year 2020-2021.
Holly Ashby
Brand Director
On behalf of the Board of Directors
