Sustainability

Purchasing process description

From supplier selection to purchasing conditions: how we safeguard our standards for people and the environment.

Purpose

To ensure that our purchasing activities meet our standards for people and the environment, as set out in our policy.

Rekken met garenklossen bij een textielproductielocatie — Yarns at one of our production sites — purchasing starts with the origin of the material.

01

Selecting new suppliers

When looking for new producers or agents, we always weigh social and environmental performance alongside price and quality.
New suppliers must sign our Supplier Code of Conduct before a first order is placed.
We assess new partners through requested certificates (for example GOTS, OEKO-TEX, BSCI) and audit reports.

02

Risk analysis and onboarding

Before we definitively enter into a cooperation, the site is included in our risk analysis.
For manufacturers in risk countries we carry out an additional assessment, including a wage gap analysis (the difference between the wage paid and a living wage).

03

Management and monitoring

We maintain an up-to-date list of all production sites, including addresses and numbers of workers (see: List of Suppliers in our risk analysis).
We evaluate our current suppliers on their performance annually.
Where shortcomings are identified (for example via an audit report or complaints), we draw up an improvement plan together with the manufacturer, with a reasonable deadline.

04

Purchasing conditions

Kessels B.V. avoids purchasing in countries subject to a broad international boycott due to serious human rights violations.
In contracts and purchase orders we stipulate that compliance with the Code of Conduct is a strict condition.