Being an ethical clothing brand means more than just using sustainable materials. It means protecting people and the planet at every step of the production process.
Ethical manufacturing is the foundation of any sustainable product-based business, and at Tentree, we take it seriously. Every item we make is produced in a way that’s kind to the Earth and the people who call it home. That’s why we align with multiple global certifications such as B Corp and the Climate Label, and only work with manufacturers and suppliers who follow our Code of Conduct and align with international labour standards.
Our partners must provide safe, respectful working conditions and actively work to reduce their environmental impact. It’s non-negotiable, because you can’t do good for the planet without doing right by people.
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Our Code of Conduct
“Sustainability” has become a buzzword. To be transparent and accountable, we hold ourselves and our partners to a Code of Conduct, supported by regular audits, factory visits, and a clear Human Rights Policy Statement.
Our Code is rooted in international labour standards and designed to ensure that anyone involved in making a Tentree product is respected, protected, and treated fairly. All suppliers are required to sign our Code before any production begins, and they must train staff on its principles and post it in local languages on-site.
What Our Code Covers:
- Safe working conditions. A healthy, secure environment is a must.
- No forced or child labour. Every worker must be there by choice and of legal age.
- Fair treatment. No discrimination, harassment, or abuse of any kind.
- Living wages. Workers must be paid enough to support themselves and their families.
- Reasonable hours. No excessive overtime.
- Freedom of association. Workers have the right to unionize and collectively bargain.
- Environmental responsibility. Partners must take steps to minimize their environmental impact.
- Transparency and accountability. Our code applies across the full supply chain, and subcontracting requires prior approval.
Putting it into Practice
To ensure that ethical manufacturing isn’t just a checklist, we’ve built a full due diligence process, from vetting and onboarding new factories to conducting follow-ups and third-party audits. Here’s how it works:
- Self-assessment: Suppliers evaluate themselves and disclose factory and subcontractor info.
- Site visits: Our team meets with suppliers in person to review and verify assessments.
- Certification check: We collect and review valid social compliance certifications.
- Code of Conduct training: Suppliers post the Code onsite and train their teams.
- Audits and corrective actions: If issues are found, we collaborate on a plan to address them.
In 2024, we sent a Human Rights Due Diligence survey to all our Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers. 78% completed it, giving us critical insights into how ethical practices are being upheld and where there’s room to grow. We also trained our internal team to ensure everyone involved in sourcing understands how to support these standards.
Certifications & Continuous Improvement
As of 2024, 90% of our Tier 1 suppliers hold at least one social compliance certification, and we’re working to bring the rest up to speed.
To better understand environmental impact at the factory level, we use the Higg Index, which helps us track energy use, chemical safety, water consumption, and more. Some of our 2024 highlights include:
- 6 factories using renewable energy like solar or biomass
- 40% of our fabric volume certified for responsible chemistry, up from 34% the previous year
- A plan to eliminate the use of coal in all Tier 1 and Tier 2 factories by 2025
You can learn more about our ethical manufacturing improvements in our 2023 Impact Report.
Deeper Industry Engagement
We believe collaboration drives impact. That’s why we’ve joined Harvesting the Future – Cotton in India, an industry-wide initiative led by the Fair Labor Association. The program is designed to improve transparency, protect workers (especially women), and break cycles of poverty in cotton-farming communities.
We also source almost 30% of our cotton through Fairtrade International-certified cotton, helping fund community-led development like building schools and improving water access in India, where much of our cotton is grown.
Our Factories
Tentree is a Canadian-founded and based business. While all of our clothing is designed in Vancouver, BC, Canada, we currently manufacture our products in China, India, Indonesia, Turkey, and Vietnam.
Why? Well, where sustainability goes, we follow. We don’t own our factories, but we choose our partners carefully. We select manufacturing partners based on their commitment to ethical practices and environmental responsibility.
But we don’t just take their word for it. Our team conducts regular site visits, taking trips internationally to make sure our standards are being upheld and to maintain strong, transparent relationships. By working closely with our factories, we’re able to ensure that every Tentree product is made in a way that’s safe for workers, better for the planet, and aligned with our values.
Doing what’s right shouldn’t be the exception; it should be the standard. To us, being an ethical brand means showing up for both the planet and the people behind our products.
For more details regarding our ethical manufacturing guidelines, click here.
