The principles we live by​​​​​​​

At Fristads, doing the right thing isn’t a slogan – it’s the way we work. Our Hultafors Group Code of Conduct, together with the Fristads Annex, sets non-negotiable expectations for everyone involved in making our products. It exists to secure fair, safe and healthy workplaces, uphold human rights and reduce environmental impact across our entire value chain. Based on the UN Global Compact, ILO Core Conventions, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development and amfori BSCI, our Code applies wherever we operate. If local law is weaker than our standard, our higher bar applies.​​​​​​​

The core of our code of conduct
  • Human rights & labour:
    no forced or child labour; freedom of association and collective bargaining; no discrimination, harassment or corporal punishment; written employment terms; lawful hours and overtime; wages paid on time, with living wage encouraged.

  • Health & safety:
    safe buildings and machinery, risk assessments, training, PPE and emergency preparedness.

  • Environment & chemicals:
    legal compliance plus continuous improvement on emissions, water, waste and energy; strict chemical control aligned with our Restricted Substances List (RSL), REACH and SVHC.

  • Business integrity:
    zero tolerance for bribery and corruption; responsible sourcing of conflict minerals.

  • Product compliance:
    adherence to specifications and, where relevant, CE requirements.
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  • Animal welfare:
    ​​​​​​​    animals should be treated with care and respect. Sheep mulesing, products with real fur and slaughter without stunning are not accepted.
How we ensure compliance with the code
  1. ​​​​​​​Risk assessment
    ​​​​​​​Every potential supplier is screened before onboarding. Country risk is evaluated using the World Bank’s Worldwide Governance Indicators across six areas; locations are classified as low or high risk to guide due diligence depth.

  2. Onboarding
    New suppliers complete a self-assessment, a Worldfavor questionnaire and sign our Code of Conduct and RSL (renewed annually). They must also verify compliance via an independent third-party audit before production begins.

  3. Ongoing support & training
    Our CSR and quality control teams monitor compliance during production and provide hands-on guidance. We run training for sourcing associates and approved suppliers, including forthcoming EU due-diligence requirements, so expectations are clear and up to date.

  4. Third-party factory audits
    Factories are audited against amfori BSCI and other recognised standards – typically annually or biennially, and at any time if needed. Where risks or incidents are flagged, we commission enhanced due-diligence audits on site.
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  5. Remediation & follow-up
    ​​​​​​​Any deviations trigger a corrective action plan with deadlines and evidence of closure. Progress is verified through follow-up audits or desktop reviews. Persistent or serious non-compliance can lead to termination of the business relationship.
SHARED RESPONSIBILITY​​​​​​​

Suppliers commit to cascade the Code through their own supply chains, keep accurate records, grant audit access to facilities, documents and workers for confidential interviews, and comply with our RSL and product specifications. We, in turn, invest in long-term partnerships, transparent dialogue and practical support that help factories improve performance over time. Concerns about potential breaches can be reported anonymously via our independent whistleblowing channel  (QR code/link available on site). All reports are handled confidentially by an external provider and investigated by a dedicated team.​​​​​​​

WHY OUR CODE OF CONDUCT MATTERS ​​​​​​​

Choosing Fristads means choosing more than durable workwear. It means robust standards, vetted factories and continual improvement built into the way we operate. For procurement teams, that reduces supply-chain risk and helps meet ESG and due-diligence obligations. For end users, it means garments produced responsibly – protecting both the people who make them and the people who wear them.
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