Introduction

As a Certified B Corp, Dock & Bay is fully vetted and verified by B Lab to meet the highest industry standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability.  

This statement sets out Dock & Bay’s actions to understand all potential modern slavery risks related to its business and to put in place steps that are aimed at ensuring that there is no slavery or human trafficking in its own business and its supply chains. This statement relates to actions and activities during the financial year 2023/2024.

As part of the global Textile industry, we recognise that we have a responsibility to take a robust approach to slavery and human trafficking and we take our responsibility to the planet and the people working in our supply chain very seriously.

Our organisation is absolutely committed to preventing slavery and human trafficking in its corporate activities, and to ensuring that its supply chains are free from slavery and human trafficking.

1. Organisational structure and supply chains

This statement covers the activities of Dock & Bay 

• Dock & Bay works with vetted 3rd party suppliers and regularly carry out robust SMETA audits with our 3rd party suppliers to ensure the highest industry standards are met.  
• SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit) is an ethical audit methodology that encompasses all aspects of responsible business practice. SMETA is the most widely used social audit in the world. It was designed to enable businesses to evaluate working conditions within their supply chain.  We work with qualified and experienced auditors to ensure compliance and ethical standards in every step of our supply chain.

1.1 Countries of operation and supply

We currently operate in the following countries:

• Dock & Bay manages a global team across Australia, United Kingdom and United States of America and is dedicated to ensuring all employees are compensated fairly and according to industry standards in all markets.
• We work with 3PL Warehouses in Poland, Australia, UK, US & Canada and only work with trusted 3rd party warehouses
• Production takes place with trusted 3rd party suppliers in China who are fully audited by SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit)

The following is the process by which the company assesses whether or not particular activities or countries are high risk in relation to slavery or human trafficking:

• Dock & Bay is committed to investigating any report of modern slavery or human trafficking at any level of our supply chain and will take appropriate actions to support an ethical and trafficking free supply chain.

1.2 High-risk activities

The following activities are considered to be at high risk of slavery or human trafficking:

• 3rd Party Manufacturers - to combat this risk we regularly require audits of our 3rd party suppliers.  Dock & Bay uses the industry standard SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit), which is an ethical audit methodology that encompasses all aspects of responsible business practice. SMETA is the most widely used social audit in the world. It was designed to enable businesses to evaluate working conditions within their supply chain.

1.3 Responsibility

Responsibility for our anti-slavery initiatives is as follows:

• Policies: Our people and culture manager will regularly review and update these policies in line with legal and ethical requirements in the UK and internationally. 
• Risk assessments: We will regularly review audit reports and dates carried out with supplier partners to ensure we are taking the necessary steps to ensure a modern slavery free supply chain.
• Investigations/due diligence: We will regularly review audit reports and dates carried out with supplier partners to ensure we are taking the necessary steps to ensure a modern slavery free supply chain and Dock & Bay is committed to investigating any report of modern slavery or human trafficking at any level of our supply chain and will take appropriate actions to support an ethical and trafficking free supply chain.
• Training: New hires at Dock & Bay are required to take part in (DEI) diversity, equity and inclusion training to ensure our team and workforce is trained and dedicated to promoting a free and equitable supply chain at all levels of the business.

1.4 Relevant policies

We operate the following policies that describe our approach to the identification of modern slavery risks and steps to be taken to prevent slavery and human trafficking in its operations 

• Whistleblowing policy We encourage all our workers, customers and other business partners to report any concerns related to the direct activities, or the supply chains of, our organisation. This includes any circumstances that may give rise to an enhanced risk of slavery or human trafficking. 
• Employee code of conduct Our code makes clear to employees the actions and behaviour expected of them when representing our organisation. We strive to maintain the highest standards of employee conduct and ethical behavior when operating abroad and managing its supply chain.
• [Supplier/Procurement] We are committed to ensuring that its suppliers adhere to the highest standards of ethics. Through SMETA audits, our suppliers are evaluated for all aspects of responsible business practice in global supply chains, including labor standards, health and safety, the environment, and business ethics.
  

1.5 Due diligence

We undertakes due diligence when considering taking on new suppliers, and regularly reviews its existing suppliers. Our due diligence and reviews include:

• conducting supplier audits or assessments through [SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit)], which have a greater degree of focus on slavery and human trafficking where general risks are identified.
• taking steps to improve substandard suppliers' practices, including providing audit reports and results from SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit)
  

1.6 Performance indicators

We have reviewed our key performance indicators (KPIs). As a result, we are:

• Developing a system for supply chain verification where we aim to have SMETA audits carried out with our new suppliers in the first 12 months of partnership and with existing suppliers every 24 months, whereby we evaluate potential suppliers in our supply chain for legal and ethical treatment of staff.
  

1.7 Training

• New hires at Dock & Bay are required to take part in (DEI) diversity, equity and inclusion training to ensure our team and workforce is trained and dedicated to promoting a free and equitable supply chain at all levels of the business.