Industry Contributions
We partner with organizations and industry initiatives to drive sustainable change throughout the value chain.
Our collaboration spans global and regional industry organizations, government bodies, NGOs, academic institutions and civil society. Our partners representing industry initiatives include:
Association of Professional Social Compliance Auditors (APSCA)
APSCA was created to enhance the professionalism, consistency and credibility of individual auditors and organizations performing independent social compliance audits, and to promote the use of independent social compliance audits as a tool to advance workplace conditions for workers globally. APSCA’s certification process will ensure auditors have consistent training, education, background checks, and demonstrated competencies which are standard requirements in comparable professional auditor associations. ELEVATE is a founding member of APSCA.
Responsible Business Alliance (RBA)
Founded in 2004 by a group of leading electronics companies, the RBA (formerly Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition, EICC) is a nonprofit coalition of electronics, retail, auto and toy companies committed to supporting the rights and well-being of workers and communities worldwide affected by the global electronics supply chain. RBA members commit and are held accountable to a common Code of Conduct and utilize a range of RBA training and assessment tools to support continuous improvement in the social, environmental and ethical responsibility of their supply chains. RBA partners with ELEVATE to execute the Validated Audit Process (VAP) protocol in 35 countries.
Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA)
Founded in 1944, FDRA represents the entire footwear industry from small family owned footwear businesses to global footwear companies. It also serves the full supply chain of the footwear industry from research, design and development, to manufacturing and distribution, to retailers selling to global consumers. FDRA supports the footwear industry as its business intelligence hub and voice in Washington, DC, USA, and around the globe. ELEVATE partners with FDRA to deliver the Footwear Sourcing and Compliance Center at www.footwearfactorycompliance.com.
amfori: the Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI)
The BSCI is a leading supply chain management system that supports companies to drive social compliance and improvements within the factories and farms in their global supply chains. BSCI implements the principle international labor standards protecting workers’ rights such as ILO conventions and declarations, the UNGP on Business and Human Rights and guidelines for multinational enterprises of the OECD. ELEVATE is approved to conduct BSCI audits worldwide.
ICTI Ethical Toy Program is the ethical supply chain program for the global toy industry. An independent, not-for-profit organization established in 2004, ICTI Ethical Toy Program works each day to improve working conditions at factories by implementing the ICTI Code of Business Practices. The organization works with thousands of brands, retailers, suppliers, NGOs and other civil society groups to monitor, manage and fix social sustainability issues in the toy industry supply chain, and to protect and improve labor standards. ELEVATE is approved under the ICTI Ethical Toy Program Audit program.
Sedex is a global non-profit membership organization that is home to the world’s largest collaborative platform for sharing responsible sourcing data on supply chains. It is used by more than 40,000 members in over 150 countries. Companies use Sedex to manage their performance around labor rights, health & safety, the environment and business ethics. ELEVATE is approved to carry out Sedex SMETA 2-pillar and 4-pillar audits.
The Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC)
The Sustainable Apparel Coalition is the apparel, footwear and home textile industry’s foremost alliance for sustainable production. The Coalition’s main focus is on building the Higg Index, a standardized supply chain measurement tool for all industry participants to understand the environmental and social and labor impacts of making and selling their products and services. ELEVATE has SAC approved Higg verifiers and trainers around the world.
FLA is a collaborative effort of universities, civil society organizations and socially responsible companies dedicated to protecting workers’ rights around the world. FLA places the onus on companies to voluntarily meet internationally recognized labor standards wherever their products are made. ELEVATE is accredited to monitor the full FLA Code of Conduct in Bangladesh and India.
American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA)
AAFA provides exclusive expertise in trade, brand protection, and supply chain & manufacturing to help members navigate the complex regulatory environment and lower costs. AAFA stands at the forefront as a leader of positive change for the apparel and footwear industry. With integrity and purpose, AAFA delivers a unified voice on key legislative and regulatory issues. AAFA enables a collaborative forum to promote best practices and innovation. AAFA’s comprehensive work ensures the continued success and growth of the apparel and footwear industry, its suppliers, and its customers. ELEVATE is an AAFA member.
Equitable Food Initiative (EFI)
EFI brings greater transparency to the supply chain while helping the produce industry address some of its toughest issues like labor, sustainability and food safety. The program enables growers to better compete in a rapidly changing, global marketplace. EFI is a new approach to doing business that engages everyone in the supply chain to raise the standards for food safety and production. ELEVATE is an approved certifying body, and ELEVATE’s VP of Food and Agriculture is on their Standards board.
Hong Kong Sustainable Seafood Coalition (HKSSC)
The HKSSC offers a practical and collaborative way to demonstrate good sourcing practices by its members committing to voluntary codes on responsible seafood sourcing. HKSSC members drive the agenda with the support of a Secretariat. Expert groups are engaged to ensure sourcing practices tackle pressing issues such as illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing, overfishing, traceability, harmful fish farming practices and risks to human health. ELEVATE is the HKSSC’s Secretariat.
Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP)
WRAP is the world’s largest independent certification program focused on the apparel, footwear, and sewn products sectors. WRAP’s goal is to ensure that production facilities operate in a safe, responsible, and ethical way. Through their 12 Principles, WRAP promote lawful, humane manufacturing in facilities throughout the world via their Certification programs. What sets them apart from other similar social compliance programs is focusing on the ground level of a supply chain. WRAP only certifies individual facilities, not brands or ownership groups, which means that each WRAP-certified facility has undergone a thorough inspection by a WRAP auditor and is subject to unannounced follow-up inspections. ELEVATE is an accredited Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP) monitoring firm.