Topshop is one of the leading style setters in fashion today and through their sourcing partner, Arcadia, they are implementing some impactful programs to increase their corporate social responsibility in the industry today. There are eight areas of ongoing activity that have seen improvement in Arcadia which are: the ethical audit program, country risk assessments, responsible and accountable garment sector project (RAGS), Joint Turkey Project, Strategic Labor Priorities, Code of Conduct Guidebook, HF Management Systems, and Prohibited Activities. The top three most important activities that we are feel are vital and the ones were choosing to comment on are: Country Risk Assessments, RAGS, and the Joint Turkey Project.
The Country Risk Assessments activity is stated as "As outlined in the Accord (on Fire and Building Safety in Bangledesh), we are committed to the goal of a safe and sustainable Bangladeshi Ready-Made Garment (RMG) industry in which no worker needs to fear fires, building collapses or other accidents that could be prevented with reasonable health and safety measures."
RAGS was created to focus on improving the management systems of garment manufacturers and providing better jobs through establishing a more stable and satisfied workforce, enhancing workers' pay, avoiding excessive hours worked, and improving productivity and quality in the longer term.
The Joint Turkey Project is solely a Topshop and Topman program that is defined on Arcadia's website as: ‘To develop and implement a strategic and holistic programme that will improve factory productivity, workers’ conditions, working hours, earnings and worker management dialogue. This will utilise proven processes of communication, training and industrial and other forms of engineering. The programme will benefit the workers, suppliers, factories, and retailers.' Currently this project is in the implementation stage
Along with these program's, the sourcing company for Topshop, the Arcadia group, is also invested in the environmental impacts their products have and the animal welfare of all of their products.
To help reduce the environmental impacts that the Arcadia Group's companies have on the environment they have created the Sustainable Clothing Action Plan (SCAP). This plan was created to help reduce the carbon, water and waste footprint. Along with this plan, Arcadia has signed up to 'learning member' of the Better Cotton Initiative. And about 20% of rejected garments are recycled back to fibers to be created into new clothing. Along with Arcadia's initiatives, Topshop has also created their own plans to help environmental impact in the clothing industry by creating their up cycled clothing line, Reclaim to Wear, and Homegrown, or 'made in the UK' project.
The animal welfare declarations that have been made by the Arcadia Group must follow these guidelines: leathers, skins, and feathers must be obtained as a by-product of an animal death and not be the sole cause for the slaughter of the animal; no products in full or in part may be sourced from an endangered species; leathers should not be obtained while the animal is alive; feathers must not be plucked while the animal is alive; angora, real fur, or pelts may be used on Arcadia sourced products; and cosmetics may not be animal tested.
Sources:
https://www.arcadiagroup.co.uk/fashionfootprint/our-products/
The Country Risk Assessments activity is stated as "As outlined in the Accord (on Fire and Building Safety in Bangledesh), we are committed to the goal of a safe and sustainable Bangladeshi Ready-Made Garment (RMG) industry in which no worker needs to fear fires, building collapses or other accidents that could be prevented with reasonable health and safety measures."
RAGS was created to focus on improving the management systems of garment manufacturers and providing better jobs through establishing a more stable and satisfied workforce, enhancing workers' pay, avoiding excessive hours worked, and improving productivity and quality in the longer term.
The Joint Turkey Project is solely a Topshop and Topman program that is defined on Arcadia's website as: ‘To develop and implement a strategic and holistic programme that will improve factory productivity, workers’ conditions, working hours, earnings and worker management dialogue. This will utilise proven processes of communication, training and industrial and other forms of engineering. The programme will benefit the workers, suppliers, factories, and retailers.' Currently this project is in the implementation stage
Along with these program's, the sourcing company for Topshop, the Arcadia group, is also invested in the environmental impacts their products have and the animal welfare of all of their products.
To help reduce the environmental impacts that the Arcadia Group's companies have on the environment they have created the Sustainable Clothing Action Plan (SCAP). This plan was created to help reduce the carbon, water and waste footprint. Along with this plan, Arcadia has signed up to 'learning member' of the Better Cotton Initiative. And about 20% of rejected garments are recycled back to fibers to be created into new clothing. Along with Arcadia's initiatives, Topshop has also created their own plans to help environmental impact in the clothing industry by creating their up cycled clothing line, Reclaim to Wear, and Homegrown, or 'made in the UK' project.
The animal welfare declarations that have been made by the Arcadia Group must follow these guidelines: leathers, skins, and feathers must be obtained as a by-product of an animal death and not be the sole cause for the slaughter of the animal; no products in full or in part may be sourced from an endangered species; leathers should not be obtained while the animal is alive; feathers must not be plucked while the animal is alive; angora, real fur, or pelts may be used on Arcadia sourced products; and cosmetics may not be animal tested.
Sources:
https://www.arcadiagroup.co.uk/fashionfootprint/our-products/