SanMar is proud of its commitment to responsible sourcing

We seek out suppliers that adhere to our rigorous social compliance standards and global operating principles. These Principles are based on labor standards established by the International Labor Organization. All factory selection and vetting is based on these principles and labor standards established by the International Labor Organization, as well as a system of comprehensive compliance audits and a demonstrated commitment to product safety.

Partnership with Better Buying

Better Buying is a unique system which allows suppliers to anonymously communicate with buyers about purchasing practices. Buyers can then use this information to make continuous improvements in how they engage their suppliers over time.


SanMar’s partnership with Better Buying started in 2019 with our first supplier feedback scorecard. Learn more about Better Buying and see our full 2022 report and scorecard results by using the links below.

Social Responsibility Resources

Participating with the Fair Labor Association (FLA), Quality Certification Alliance (QCA) and Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC)

In November 2012, the Fair Labor Association (FLA) recognized SanMar for its dedication to the Fair Labor and Responsible Sourcing Principles when it accredited our compliance program.

Among our many obligations as an accredited participating Company, we have demonstrated our commitment to:

  • Upholding the FLA's code of conduct and established systems to identify and remedy ethical violations
  • Working with the FLA to develop and improve social compliance systems that flag issues and lead to sustainable solutions when workers are at risk.
  • Monitoring our supply chain partners to ensure they meet strict labor standards.

For a complete list of the fair labor and responsible sourcing principles that guide our sourcing activities and the FLA's Workplace Code of Conduct, please visit the FLA website at www.fairlabor.org.

In January 2014 the Quality Certification Alliance (QCA) recognized SanMar as an accredited company. A leading promotional products industry organization. the QCA verifies company practices to consistently provide quality, compliant and socially responsible promotional products into the marketplace. For more information about the QCA, please visit www.qcalliance.org.

In April 2017 SanMar joined the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), a group of nearly 200 global brands, retailers, manufacturers, government, non-profit environmental organizations and academic institutions committed to improving supply chain sustainability in the apparel, footwear and textile industries. As part of its SAC membership, SanMar will use the group’s sustainability measurement tool, the Higg Index, to drive environmental and social responsibility throughout its supply chain. Learn more at http://apparelcoalition.org/.

Supply Chain Disclosure

SanMar is committed to conducting business in a socially responsible manner. This includes acknowledging our responsibility to ensure that slavery and trafficking do not occur in our supply chain. We seek to comply with all applicable national laws where we do business and to respect international principles aimed at preventing and eradicating trafficking and slavery, as described in the 2000 United Nations "Palermo Protocol" and the 1926 Slavery Convention.

The 2010 California Transparency in Supply Chains Act (the Act), which became effective January 1, 2012, requires that companies disclose their efforts to eradicate slavery and human trafficking from our supply chain. Our Global Operating Principles – a set of principles based on the International Labor Organization's standards addresses forced labor, child labor, harassment or abuse, discrimination, wages, freedom of association, and more to protect against the risks associated with the trafficking and slavery of workers.

Monitoring Our Facilities

Third-party verification of our Global Operating Principles is rigorous and strengthened by the FLA's independent and random factory monitoring. As an FLA accredited participating company, our suppliers are required to submit to independent monitoring by the FLA. Factories that are selected for monitoring are chosen at random by the FLA without any prior knowledge to either the factory or to SanMar. We believe this creates a high level of accountability and transparency at the factories which manufacture our products.

In addition to the FLA's monitoring activities, both our Compliance Team and independent third-party auditors perform periodic announced and unannounced compliance audits at the facilities of each supplier involved in the production of our proprietary products. If remediation is required, our Compliance Team works closely with the supplier and the facility to ensure that timely corrective actions are taken, including appropriate monitoring and verification.

We are proud of our affiliation with the FLA and continue to evaluate and develop improved and comprehensive human rights policies, supplier monitoring and training programs, worker hotline channels, and other best practices aimed at ensuring full compliance throughout the supply chain of our private label products.

Click the links for SanMar's full Global Operating Principle (GOP) and Factory Compliance Benchmark.

For more information about SanMar's compliance program, please email supplierinquiries@sanmar.com.

SanMar’s Commitment to Fair Compensation

The United Nations and its International Labour Organization (ILO) have declared living wage a basic human right. SanMar is committed to ensuring that the people who make our products are treated with dignity and respect. Our commitment includes fair compensation, the principle that every worker has a right to compensation for a regular week that is sufficient to meet the worker’s basic needs and provide some discretionary income which, for example, can be used to pay for medical costs, towards education, and transportation. SanMar’s Global Operating Principles outline our standard and SanMar’s Factory Compliance Benchmarks provide details of our compensation and benefits requirements.

Learn more about SanMar’s commitment to fair compensation.

Additional Resources

  • The Quality Certification Alliance: Please visit www.qcalliance.org for more information.
  • SanMar Compliance Standards and Global Operating Principles are available in our Corporate Responsibility Report.
  • Anti-human trafficking and anti-slavery campaigns: Please see the Palermo Protocol for more information.
  • The Fair Labor Association: Please visit www.fairlabor.org for more information.
  • The California Transparency in Supply Chains Act: Please see the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act legislation, linked here, for more information.
  • Sustainable Apparel Coalition: Please visit http://apparelcoalition.org/ for more information.

Resources