NE BUSINESS BUREAU
NEW DELHI, MAY 25
The US-based Responsible Sourcing Network and Shahi Exports on Thursday announced their collaboration in promoting due diligence towards ethical cotton sourcing practices in the garment industry. The partnership aims to build a transparent and forced labour-free supply chain for cotton as countries across the world move to strengthen due diligence and sourcing standards.
- The YESS standards were officially presented in India on May 2, 2023, at a workshop in Bengaluru, Karnataka, attended by multiple industry members
- In 2022, Shahi was one of the seven global suppliers that piloted the YESS Standards and have now become the first mill in India to take the lead in implementing robust due diligence measures.
YESS: Yarn Ethically & Sustainably Sourced is an initiative by Responsible Sourcing Network that dedicated several years to developing rigorous due diligence standards to achieve a forced labour-free cotton supply chain for the garment and textile industry.
The YESS standards were officially presented in India on May 2, 2023, at a workshop in Bengaluru, Karnataka, attended by multiple industry members. The workshop highlighted the significance of due diligence in building an ethical supply chain for cotton sourcing and furthering the goal of preventing forced labour.
Following the workshop, YESS conducted its initial independent assessments in India at Shahi Exports’ knitting and spinning facilities in Shivamogga. The YESS program assesses management systems and inventory controls of mills to identify, assess, and mitigate the risks of forced labor based on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) due diligence framework. In 2022, Shahi was one of the seven global suppliers that piloted the YESS Standards and have now become the first mill in India to take the lead in implementing robust due diligence measures.
While already operating with firm checkpoints for cotton sourcing, the YESS assessment provided additional insights that enabled Shahi to further strengthen its management processes in response to evolving legislation and growing consumer demand on traceability against forced labor.
Spinners and textile mills play a critical role in facilitating visibility and due diligence in the complex cotton-sourcing landscape as gatekeepers. YESS recognizes the position they hold and values its partnership in connecting the industry agenda across the global supply chain.
