About Us > Ethical Policy

21CL is a licensing programme that raises funds for charities through licensing partnerships. Crucially we do not wish this to be at the expense of those who make the products.

Therefore 21st Century Leaders requires partner brands to demonstrate that the suppliers in their supply chains provide good working conditions to their workers. For 21st Century Leaders this supply chain includes not just the main production sites but also the suppliers that make the packaging and other peripherals.

21st Century Leaders takes its core understanding of good labour standards from the International Labour Organisation (www.ilo.org) and uses the Ethical Trading Initiative's Base Code (www.ethicaltrade.org) as a tool to assess working conditions.

Supplier factories are independently assessed and, where necessary, 21st Century Leaders works together with brand partners and their suppliers to improve working conditions through a programme of corrective actions and training.

21st Century Leaders recognises that trading ethically and responsibly so that all in the supply chain benefit is not just a matter of a one-off assessment but of continuous engagement and we work with partner brands, suppliers and independent social verifiers to this end.

21st Century Leaders is just one project. We hope that we can raise awareness about responsible trade amongst consumers, retailers and suppliers alike so that we can all work together towards a new model of trading. One that includes production conditions as much as price and quality. So that all benefit.

What does this mean for prospective licensees?

Any prospective licensee should:-

1. provide 21CL with a copy of its ethical trading policy
2. demonstrate to 21CL how the production site is providing good working conditions (ILO Conventions being the reference point). This will usually be through: providing an independent audit report against the ETI base code (or code covering the same criteria) for the relevant production sites* developing and implementing, in consultation with 21CL, a plan of action to remedy any non-compliances found in the audit
3. in consultation with 21CL and the factory management and workers, implement other measures to improve working conditions and the quality of life for workers at the production site

Please note that 21CL, in line with current best practice on ethical trading, considers a social audit a tool in assessing working conditions, but not in and of itself an assurance of good labour standards. 21CL recognises that each situation is different and different solutions need to be applied.

However, 21CL recognises the expertise provided by local social auditing organisations - often NGOs. If a prospective licensee does not have pre-existing audit reports and/or certification for a site that can be submitted to 21CL then the licensee should work out, in consultation with 21CL, the most appropriate method of assessment and improvements for that supply chain.