Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
Brands Commited to Gender Equality
Latest Gender Equality Brand Actions
B Corp Certified
B Corp Certification confirmed that our community and the environment are stakeholders in our impact-driven business model and our commitment to balancing social and planetary good in everything we do against the highest standards of transparency and accountability. We are now part of a global network of businesses shifting our global economy from a system that profits few to one that benefits all.
Ethical Manufacturing
We make all of our underwear ethically in China. We ensure safe and respectful working conditions for all our makers. As part of our sustainable fashion practices, we are uncompromising on the materials and processes we use, including regenerated eucalyptus and utilising waste to create recycled items. We invented our own recycled elastic because we could not buy it.
Underwear Recycling
Underwear is delicate and worn every single day, and therefore has a limited life with a high turn-over rate. You cannot donate it in Australia, so the only pathway is landfill. With 204 million underwear items being imported into Australia every year that is a lot of waste! We live by our values and exist to create positive change, so we take back our waste, plus other brands! How does it work? Our mail-in underwear recycling system is dedicated to our customers. We would love to take everyone's underwear regardless of purchasing from us, but it costs us approx 42c per pair to recycle and the sale of our underwear covers some of that cost. We are a social enterprise running on low margins and would really love your support to help make this happen. How is underwear recycled? We sort, sanitise and send for shredding. They are then processed to have a second life as carpet underlay or insulation.
Indigenous Collaboration
We are deeply disturbed by the treatment and dislocation of Indigenous people from their land. We believe we have an obligation to pay rent to Indigenous people for the land we operate on. 50c from every item purchased with us goes to Indigenous programs. We must all be considering how we can contribute to paying the rent in Australia and we hope that this acknowledgment on our product will spark that conversation and action. What is Pay the Rent? The Pay the Rent Grassroots Collective is an Indigenous organisation that supports Indigenous initiatives, and advocate for the need to ‘Pay the Rent’ in reparation of benefitting from stolen land. All funds given to Pay the Rent are distributed according to the insights and wisdom of the Sovereign Body, who centre the self-determination, social justice and sovereignty of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people in all they do. Some of their projects include contributing toward funeral expenses within Indigenous communities and financial support to those affected by deaths in custody. Additionally we are working with Arakwal people (Byron Bay, our head office) to fund programs of their choice. So far their first program is around protecting and sharing culture, we will post updates when they are ready. But we are very clear that we do not expect anything nor dictate, the money is theirs to use as they see fit. We will share stories because it is healing for all.
Plastic Free Packaging
We made our packaging minimal in size to preserve natural resources. We use recycled kraft board. We developed it utilising soy-based inks instead of the more common fossil fuel ink. There is zero plastic and small amount of animal free glue holding it together. We transfer our stock into kraft card pick boxes. They are picked and mailed in a small compostable mailer. We are looking into reusable mailers because whilst compostable mailers are great, the reality is there are so few facilities in Australia that can take them, if you can add them to your home compost that is the best current way.
One-for-one Underwear Donation
We are incredibly proud of the underwear that we are able to donate through our one-for-one campaign. It all started one day when we found thousands of meters of elastic at one of our factories that was destined for landfill, and this sparked a transformation in our business model. We now utilise all of our factories' deadstock – from other customers’ cancelled orders, half rolls, leftover elastic - to create the underwear we give away. The special thing is, they are all different. We have a close 10-year relationship with the factory that makes our donation underwear, based on mutual trust. They have been using BCI and organic cotton, as well as Oeko-Tex non-toxic dyes, for many years to unsure their fabrics are safe. WHO DO WE DONATE TO? If you have an organisation that needs underwear donations, please contact us. The National Homeless Collective. A local Australian charity that provide programs and resources for people experiencing homelessness, domestic violence and social disadvantage. Kara House Kara House provides support to women and children affected by domestic and family violence. They offer crisis accommodation, outreach and emotional support to those in need, and are waiting on new donations. Days for Girls In many areas of the world, having your period means not going to school. Days for Girls creates critical period packs and sewing circles to prevent girls from leaving their education in developing parts of the world.
Pre-loved Bras - creating positive change
Second-hand bras and crops that are in good to excellent condition are sorted through our warehouse pick and pack training program and donated to help support women in need to lead healthy fulfilling lives with Support the Girls. Reuse is even better! Send us your bras and we will quality check them, and send them to Support the Girls a charity that supplies bras to women in need. The sorting of these bras also creates work for Social Engine. If your bras are in poor condition please still send them in, we will recycle them
Social Traders Certified
This certification shows that our business, as part of our constitution, has a social, cultural or environmental purpose as its primary objective, and ensures that our primary efforts and resources are invested into this purpose.
The Family Bond by Volvo Cars - Equal global parental leave for all
The Family Bond by Volvo Cars is our all-gender global paid parental leave policy – with this, we give all Volvo Cars employees with at least one year's service 24 weeks of parental leave at 80 per cent of their base pay by default. This global policy applies to either parent and is suited for a diverse variety of family types, as it includes adoptive, foster care and surrogate parents, as well as non-birth parents in same-sex couples. Learn more about The Family Bond at https://www.volvocars.com/au/about/family-bond/
Women and Minorities in Leadership
Sustainable Choice is female founded and operated, we’re pro-LGBTQIA+, believe in equal opportunity and are actively pursuing cultural diversity in our staff, supporting SDG 5 (gender equality) and 10 (reduced inequalities).
Protect A Woman
As part of our partnership with i=Change, one of the projects we support is Protect a Woman. The Women's Community Shelters experienced a 25% increase in inquiries for safe accommodation for women and children who are homeless or escaping domestic violence during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Existing services were already at full capacity, with more than 50% of women seeking shelter turned away due to a lack of beds. Across Australia, around 56,000 women are homeless each night, many with young children. Now, there are many more. Women unable to access shelters are left vulnerable, disconnected from community and support networks.Women’s Community Shelters is dedicated to providing women and children with a safe place to stay and an opportunity to rebuild their lives. $50 provides a hot meal and a safe, comfortable place to stay for one night.
Employee well-being
Our commitment to sustainability extends beyond environmental concerns; it encompasses the well-being and safety of our employees and stakeholders. We are focused on fostering a working environment where employees feel comfortable and can perform at their best through employee-centric sustainability practices. ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety): This achievement reflects our dedication to upholding the highest standards of occupational health and safety. ISO 45001 not only ensures a safe and healthy workplace but also contributes to a positive social impact and fosters a culture of respect and consideration for all. By prioritising the well-being of our workforce, we aim to reduce accidents and enhance employee satisfaction. Workplace safety: Continuously reducing the number of workplace accidents. In 2022, we reduced the number of occupational accidents per 200,000 production hours by 8.8 % to 3.39 compared to 3.72 in 2021. Employee turnover reduction: Reducing the employee turnover ratio. In 2022, we also reduced our employee turnover ratio by 3.4 percentage points year-on-year to 15.4 %. Human Rights Policy: Adopting a Human Rights Policy that enshrines a corporate culture of respect and consideration for all people in the company and business relationships. Access to education: To ensure that each employee has access to equal opportunities, we offer worldwide options that include apprenticeship and young talent management programs.
Social and Environmental Responsibility
We require all of our suppliers to abide by our standards in relation to human rights, environmental and ethical business practices and uphold the principles within the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) which we abide by. As we do, all our suppliers and partners must have a formal policy that outlines their approach to managing environmental impacts within their control. They must comply with local and national laws related to environmental standards and adhere to the principles set out by the Greenpeace Detox Movement which is committed to a toxic free future for people and the environment by the removal of hazardous chemicals from the entire production process for household textiles, garment textiles and footwear.
Sustainable Design Approach
By highlighting sustainability as important in our business this has fed into everything we do. This includes designing our building to reduce and improve our sustainable footprint wherever possible. Small examples of this include, laying the factory out to facilitate natural lighting to reduce reliance on electricity, utilising rapid-open/close roller doors to naturally manage air flow and temperature regulation, and using a lean approach to operations which leads to a more efficient flow of goods, and in turn saving electricity. We believe that making incremental changes can make a significant difference as little things add up.
Social and Environmental Responsibility
We require all of our suppliers to abide by our standards in relation to human rights, environmental and ethical business practices and uphold the principles within the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) which we abide by. As we do, all our suppliers and partners must have a formal policy that outlines their approach to managing environmental impacts within their control. They must comply with local and national laws related to environmental standards and adhere to the principles set out by the Greenpeace Detox Movement which is committed to a toxic free future for people and the environment by the removal of hazardous chemicals from the entire production process for household textiles, garment textiles and footwear.
Sustainable Design Approach
By highlighting sustainability as important in our business this has fed into everything we do. This includes designing our building to reduce and improve our sustainable footprint wherever possible. Small examples of this include, laying the factory out to facilitate natural lighting to reduce reliance on electricity, utilising rapid-open/close roller doors to naturally manage air flow and temperature regulation, and using a lean approach to operations which leads to a more efficient flow of goods, and in turn saving electricity. We believe that making incremental changes can make a significant difference as little things add up.
Social and Environmental Responsibility
We require all of our suppliers to abide by our standards in relation to human rights, environmental and ethical business practices and uphold the principles within the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) which we abide by. As we do, all our suppliers and partners must have a formal policy that outlines their approach to managing environmental impacts within their control. They must comply with local and national laws related to environmental standards and adhere to the principles set out by the Greenpeace Detox Movement which is committed to a toxic free future for people and the environment by the removal of hazardous chemicals from the entire production process for household textiles, garment textiles and footwear.
Sustainable Design Approach
By highlighting sustainability as important in our business this has fed into everything we do. This includes designing our building to reduce and improve our sustainable footprint wherever possible. Small examples of this include, laying the factory out to facilitate natural lighting to reduce reliance on electricity, utilising rapid-open/close roller doors to naturally manage air flow and temperature regulation, and using a lean approach to operations which leads to a more efficient flow of goods, and in turn saving electricity. We believe that making incremental changes can make a significant difference as little things add up.
Pre loved candles lighting up a new home for survivors of domestic violence
We welcome donations of good quality and clean used candle containers. We refill and currently donate to Sydney based organisations supporting survivors of domestic violence and refugees, when setting up a new home.
The Gidget Candle
Gidget Foundation exists to promote emotional wellbeing for expectant and new parents and to raise awareness of perinatal depression and anxiety (PNDA). CandleXchange collaborated with Gidget Foundation to create this sentimental Jasmine and Mint candle, named in honour of Gidget's daughter Jasmine. All funds raised from the sale of the Gidget candles are directed to the Foundation’s Gidget House program which provides free psychological support (up to 10 sessions) for families experiencing emotional distress during pregnancy and early parenthood.
Northern Beaches Women's Shelter
CandleXchange have partnered with Northern Beaches Womens Shelter to create a custom branded candle to support their fundraising efforts. You can buy a 300g Australian Bush NBWS candle from Luscious Kiki Cakes at 16 Sydenham Rd, Brookvale and support the great work NBWS continue to do supporting women rebuilding their lives.
HopeStreet Women's Services Candle Making Workshop
HopeStreet Women’s Services provides specialised support for women who have experienced trauma in Sydney. They support women who have experienced domestic violence, mental health issues, homelessness and substance abuse.
Social and Environmental Responsibility
We require all of our suppliers to abide by our standards in relation to human rights, environmental and ethical business practices and uphold the principles within the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) which we abide by. As we do, all our suppliers and partners must have a formal policy that outlines their approach to managing environmental impacts within their control. They must comply with local and national laws related to environmental standards and adhere to the principles set out by the Greenpeace Detox Movement which is committed to a toxic free future for people and the environment by the removal of hazardous chemicals from the entire production process for household textiles, garment textiles and footwear.
Sustainable Design Approach
By highlighting sustainability as important in our business this has fed into everything we do. This includes designing our building to reduce and improve our sustainable footprint wherever possible. Small examples of this include, laying the factory out to facilitate natural lighting to reduce reliance on electricity, utilising rapid-open/close roller doors to naturally manage air flow and temperature regulation, and using a lean approach to operations which leads to a more efficient flow of goods, and in turn saving electricity. We believe that making incremental changes can make a significant difference as little things add up
Social and Environmental Responsibility
We require all of our suppliers to abide by our standards in relation to human rights, environmental and ethical business practices and uphold the principles within the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) which we abide by. As we do, all our suppliers and partners must have a formal policy that outlines their approach to managing environmental impacts within their control. They must comply with local and national laws related to environmental standards and adhere to the principles set out by the Greenpeace Detox Movement which is committed to a toxic free future for people and the environment by the removal of hazardous chemicals from the entire production process for household textiles, garment textiles and footwear.
Sustainable Design Approach
By highlighting sustainability as important in our business this has fed into everything we do. This includes designing our building to reduce and improve our sustainable footprint wherever possible. Small examples of this include, laying the factory out to facilitate natural lighting to reduce reliance on electricity, utilising rapid-open/close roller doors to naturally manage air flow and temperature regulation, and using a lean approach to operations which leads to a more efficient flow of goods, and in turn saving electricity. We believe that making incremental changes can make a significant difference as little things add up
Modern Slavery Statement
Ball and Doggett is committed to understanding and managing ethical, social and environmental issues along its supply chain. The Modern Slavery Statement has been created to meet our commitment and outlines the terms and conditions of doing business with Ball and Doggett
Supporting IIMPACT Australia
Joyce Foam supports IIMPACT Australia's mission to improve girls' access to education in India. In their 18 years of operation, they have established over 2,000 learning centres, providing academic, emotional, and social support for over 100,000 girls.
Safeguarding the wellbeing, health and safety of our people, patrons and communities
Health & Safety: Ensuring a safe and healthy workplace for our employees and the public. Our People: Protecting the human and labour rights, mental, physical and emotional wellbeing of our people through targeted initiatives, upskilling and inclusion for all. Our Patrons & Communities: Ensuring the highest service quality and accessibility of transportation for all, making sure that we are kind and responsible to our communities and broader society.
Assisting Sustainable Purchasing
Global GreenTag operates on two levels towards environmental actions. 1. We facilitate action within the procurement and design sectors towards purchasing ecologically, health end ethical supply chain preferred products; 2. We have formal Sustainability and Climate Action plans that include being a member of the Rainforest Trust's Conservation Circle preserving core biodiversity and habitat for threatened species. We operate a largely virtual office with core office functions within a 6 Star Green Star Certified office building in central Brisbane.
Closing the gender pay gap
As an all-female law firm, we champion a workplace culture rooted in equity and fairness. We’re committed to closing gender pay gaps by ensuring every member of our team is valued and compensated equitably for their skills and contributions. By fostering an environment that prioritizes equal opportunities, we not only break down barriers but also set an example for the legal industry.
Walk Club!
Law Team Walk Club is business mentoring on the move on the Central Coast. Every Tuesday we walk and talk with inspiring female CEOs, Directors, Executives and Founders about all things business and entrepreneurship. Attendees get to swap knowledge with other aspiring women, form meaningful connections that can help them grow and stay motivated with their very own all female hype crew. Every walk is an opportunity to connect your mind, body and aspirations. Learn more here: https://www.lawteam.com.au/law-team-walk-club
Committed to Partnership
Partner with our customers and brand on their journey towards sustainable pathways. Our commitment to our customers, brands and the creative community to support their journey through and experience of education and information remains our priority.
Saving lives while meeting your ESG and CSR requirements with DV Safe Phone
Victims of domestic violence often have their primary phones smashed, monitored or stolen. Your old phone can save a life. It's also extending the live of the phone through this circular economy. Any phone we cannot use is recycled through a an official e-waste program, so we ensure nothing goes into landfill. You can help us by donating FUNDS, donating PHONES, running a VOLUNTEER day, or even STAFF GIVING programs... all of which counts towards your ESG and CSR requirements. Involvement in our program directly correlates to the United Nations Sustainability Gender Equality goals 5.2 and 5.b. and Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions goal 16.1
Energy-conscious phone charging
Here at DV Safe Phone, we ensure your old mobile phones are given another life, by testing, repairing and giving mobile phones to victims of domestic violence, to use in an emergency. Any phone that is beyond repair is recycled to ensure nothing ends up in landfill. Charging hundreds of mobile phones a time uses significant electricity, so we have master switches in place that can shut down all the charging banks when we leave the office each day, ensuring there’s no energy wasted when we’re away from the office. You can donate your old phones to us through over 600 drop-off locations Australia wide. See www.dvsafephone.org for more information.
Proud partners of The Hunger Project Australia.
We have a Grant Agreement with The Hunger Project whereby a portion of our commission from the sale of each property is donated to The Hunger Project. The Hunger Project’s goal is to end world hunger. We understand first-hand the powerful impact the work of The Hunger Project has to end world hunger on a global scale and are passionate advocates for their incredible work. The Hunger Project believes in empowering people to become owners of their own development. Not based on handouts, but built on female empowerment through education, generating knowledge, capacity and capability that has a long-term sustainable impact. Women in rural disadvantaged arrears are trained to be elected to represent their communities over a 5 year term to become effective, respected leaders in their communities. As a result, they bring water, electricity, sanitation, education and more, to their villages.
Supporting our community
Each of our stores has an annual budget, where they choose to donate to a cause, charity or fundraiser for local events. Please pop into your nearest Bed Bath & Beyond store to complete a donation request form to be considered. For a complete list of each store's current causes, visit https://www.bedbathandbeyond.co.nz/bb-and-b/community/donations
Bed Bath & Beyond Supports Jammies in June
The Middlemore Foundation helps the counties Manukau community by raising funds for projects that highlight health and wellbeing. Jammies in June is an annual campaign to provide thousands of children in need across South Auckland. We are proud to have contributed to the Jammies in June campaign in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. To learn more about the Middlemore Foundation and the amazing work they do for the community, visit https://www.middlemorefoundation.org.nz/
We develop and manage the strictest standards in the industry.
These standards include hundreds of requirements covering the potential impacts of aquaculture – including water quality, responsible sourcing of feed, disease prevention, animal welfare, the fair treatment and pay of workers and maintaining positive relationships with neighbouring communities. To become ASC certified, a farm is assessed by an independent organisation against every single requirement in the relevant standard. If it passes the audit, seafood from the farm can be sold with the ASC logo, which allows consumers to reward these responsible farmers by purchasing their products.