Sitka Ethics
Environment
Sitka use efficient shipping options whenever possible heat their spaces with bio-fuels, print on recycled materials, all while reducing and recycling the waste they produce. Recently, they replaced their garment packaging with 100% corn-based biodegradable packaging.Sitka's store fixtures and tradeshow displays are made with reclaimed wood from the Rain Forest Alliance, an organization that harvests wood that has been persevered underwater by the creation of dams. Their Vancouver location also boasts one of the area’s first living ‘green walls’.
Sitka is involved with a number of organisations that aim to protect the environment and bring awareness to issues affecting the health and well-being of our ecosystems. A few of the major organisations that they support are the Surfrider Foundation, the Ocean Gybe Expedition and the Pacific Wild Foundation.
Social responsibility
Sitka contribute to organistations including World Vision, UNICEF and Power to Be - whose mission is to enrich the health, education and quality of life for vulnerable youth, adults and families.Most of Sitka’s clothing is manufactured in China or India - they say that this gives them access to the best fabric markets in the world. These markets give them the option to mill their own fabric blends and mixes – which, in many cases, are unique to Sitka.
They aim to have their production facilities as close as possible to where their fabric, hardware and fixtures originate in order to reduce the environmental impact of shipping.
Their fabric-knitting factory in India is one of the most advanced in the world. Numerous certifications, including OekoTEX and GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), certify the products produced there as free from harmful substances. The facility also has an advanced waste water treatment plant.
Recently, they’ve teamed up with Granted Knitwear in Vancouver to produce special edition knit wool sweaters. And, they’re also working with Love Jules Leather in Whistler, BC to create custom, hand-made leather pieces and accessories. They are also now completing production of some capsule collections within Canada.
In the future, and as the processes and manufacturing abilities improve, they aim to produce more Sitka products completely within Canada.
Working Conditions
When choosing factories, Sitka has chosen to follow Social Accountability International's SA8000 Standard. The SA8000 Standard is the world’s first auditable social certification standards for decent workplaces, across all industrial sectors.
SA8000 Standard stipulates:
- No use or support of child labor.
- No use or support for forced or compulsory labor.
- Provide a safe and healthy workplace.
- Respect the right to form and join trade unions and bargain collectively.
- No discrimination based on race, national or social origin, caste, birth, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, union membership, political opinions or age.
- Treat all personnel with dignity and respect; zero tolerance of corporal punishment, mental or physical abuse of personnel; no harsh or inhumane treatment.
- Respect right of personnel to living wage.
Please go to Social Accountability International's website to read about the SA8000 Standard in full.
Sitka have staff working at their overseas factories, charged with the position of managing factory and manufacturing standards and working conditions.