Supply chain, product and corporate responsibility

At Alva, we are committed to ensuring that every product we make reflects the highest standards of social and environmental responsibility. As part of our Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) 7.0 certification, we maintain a structured due-diligence process that helps us identify, prevent, and address potential risks throughout our supply chain and products.

Alva Code of conduct

1. We conduct business complying with applicable laws and regulations, internal policies and procedures and the code of conduct.
2. We follow applicable data protection laws and regulations.
3. We conduct business ethically, transparently and honestly.
4. We prohibit all forms of bribery, corruption and other behavior that could cause improper influence.
5. We require our suppliers and subcontractors to have a matching code of conduct.
6. Employment is freely chosen – there shall be no use of forced, including bonded or prison, labour.
7. There is no discrimination in employment. Recruitment, wage policy, admittance to training programs, employee promotion policy, policies of employment termination, retirement, and any other aspect of the employment relationship shall be based on the principle of equal opportunities, regardless of race, color, sex, religion, political affiliation, union membership, nationality, social origin, deficiencies or handicaps.
8. No exploitation of child labour. There shall be no use of child labour. The age for admission to employment shall not be less than the age of completion of compulsory schooling and, in any case, not less than 16 years. There shall be no forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage and serfdom and forced or compulsory labour. Children (in the age of 16–18) shall not perform work which, by its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to harm their health, safety or morals.
9. Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining. The right of all workers to form and join trade unions and bargain collectively shall be recognized. The company shall, in those situations in which the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining are restricted under law, facilitate parallel means of independent and free association and bargaining for all workers. Workers’ representatives shall not be the subject of discrimination and shall have access to all workplaces necessary to carry out their representation functions.
10. Payment of a fair wage. Wages and benefits paid for a standard working week shall meet at least legal or industry minimum standards and always be sufficient to meet basic needs of workers and their families and to provide some discretionary income. Deductions from wages for disciplinary measures shall not be permitted nor shall any deductions from wages not provided for in any national law be permitted. Deductions shall never constitute an amount that will lead the employee to receive less than the minimum wage. Employees shall be adequately and clearly informed about specifications of their wage rates and pay period.
11. No excessive working hours. Hours of work shall comply with applicable laws and industry standards. In any event, workers shall not on a regular basis be required to work in excess of 48 hours per week and shall be provided with at least one day off every seven-day period. Overtime shall be voluntary, shall not exceed 12 hours per week, shall not be demanded on a regular basis and shall always be compensated at a premium rate.
12. Safe and healthy working conditions. A safe and hygienic working environment shall be provided, and best occupational health and safety shall be promoted, bearing in mind the prevailing knowledge of the industry and of any specific hazards. Appropriate attention shall be paid to occupational hazards specific to this branch of the industry and assure that a safe and hygienic work environment is provided for. Effective regulations shall be implemented to prevent accidents and minimize health risks as much as possible. Physical abuse, threats of physical abuse, unusual punishments or discipline, sexual and other harassment, and intimidation by the employer is strictly prohibited.
13. Legally-binding employment relationship. Obligations to employees under labour or social security laws and regulations arising from the regular employment relationship shall not be avoided through the use of labour-only contracting arrangements, or through apprenticeship schemes where there is no real intent to impart skills or provide regular employment. Younger workers shall be given the opportunity to participate in education and training programs.
14. Awareness training. Employees should be informed that they are producing under minimum conditions as outlined in Alva Linen Code of Conduct. These conditions should be explained in a way that the Code is made understandable. Alva Linen reserves the right to let an independent third party inform employees about the Code of Conduct.
15. Inspection and implementation. Alva Linen undertakes to assure that its contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and licensees abide by the standards established in this Code of Conduct and shall work toward the verification of these standards.
16. Breach of agreement. Alva Linen shall stipulate that contractors, subcontractors or licensees who demonstrably fail to comply with one or more of the standards laid down in the Code of Conduct take appropriate measures to ensure that the situation is improved. If necessary, the offending party shall be sanctioned by cancellation of its contract, thus prohibiting it from producing products for Alva Linen.
17. Verification. Alva Linen declares that it agrees to independent verification of its compliance with this Code of Conduct. Alva Linen reserves the right to make unannounced visits to all factories producing its goods and let an independent third party of Alva Linen’s choice undertake audits or inspections at any time. All suppliers are obliged to always keep Alva Linen informed about the locations in which each order is being produced.

How we identify and manage risks

In line with the requirements of GOTS 7.0, we:

• Conduct regular assessments of social and environmental risks across all certified stages of production.
• We regularly visit our suppliers’ facilities
• We use independent local agents with expertise and many years of experience to select and evaluate suppliers
• All our suppliers are GOTS certified
• All our suppliers are FairTrade certified
• Conduct regular assessments of product and product accessories and additives risks
• All product components and accessories are documented and verified to comply with the OEKOTEX or GOTS standard
• All packaging material is documented and verified to comply with the GOTS standard
• We review factors such as labour rights, workplace safety, chemical management, environmental protection, and the use of subcontractors.
• We regularly visit our suppliers’ facilities
• We use independent local agents with expertise and many years of experience to select and evaluate suppliers
• All our suppliers are GOTS certified
• All our suppliers are FairTrade certified
• We work closely with our certified partners and agents to ensure that any identified risks are addressed through corrective actions and continuous improvement.

Our Ongoing Improvements

When our due-diligence assessments highlight areas for improvement, we collaborate directly with our suppliers and agents to implement solutions. These may include additional training, upgraded safety procedures, improved traceability, or replacing non-compliant materials with GOTS-approved alternatives. We monitor the effectiveness of these measures through internal follow-ups and external GOTS audits.

Transparency and Responsibility

We believe that responsible production requires transparency. Each year, we review and update our due-diligence findings and actions. While we do not publish confidential supplier information, we share our overall approach so customers can feel confident that Alva products are produced with respect for people and the planet.