FINANCIAL YEAR ENDING 31 JANUARY 2024

 

Introduction

This statement constitutes Castore’s slavery and human trafficking statement for the financial year ending 31 January 2024 and has been published in accordance with the UK’s Modern Slavery Act 2015.  It provides information on our activities and commitments to prevent modern slavery in our business operation and supply chains. 

 

We, Castore, are committed to improving our practices to combat slavery and human trafficking in our business and supply chain.  Castore is supportive of the enactment of the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015, specifically its provisions for driving greater transparency and disclosure of the actions taken by companies to identify and address forced labour and human trafficking in global supply chains. 

 

As a company, we have a zero-tolerance approach to all types of modern slavery and human trafficking within our business and supply chains and we are committed to improving our practices to ensure that our preventive and remedial efforts are effective, relevant and timely.  We are proud of the steps we have taken to combat modern slavery and human trafficking described in this statement and supporting documents.

 

Our Business

We are a manufacturer, supplier and retailer in the sporting goods sector.  We utilise advanced engineering and unique technical fabrics to create the highest quality sportswear in the world for athletes who demand the very best.  Our products are designed with a passion for innovation with specialist features to help to optimise athletic performance in all conditions. 

Our vision is to build Castore into a brand respected across the world for its deep and unrelenting commitment to engineering the highest quality sportswear in the world, with no stone left unturned in our search for innovation and performance enhancement.  This vision equally applies to doing the right thing and acting with integrity in how we do business.

As of January 2024, we have 602 employees predominately based in the United Kingdom.

We had an annual turnover of approximately £196 million for the financial year ending 31 January 2024.

 

Our Supply Chains

Castore manufactures garments in 80  factories globally, centred in seven key manufacturing locations. Our products are manufactured with tier 1 production facilities which are fully mapped and independently audited for social compliance.  Castore also monitors the cost of living, minimum wage, applicable local regulations and local market infrastructure.

 

No sub-contracting of production is allowed at any time, unless expressly requested in advance and approved by Castore following a detailed review process. Any sub-contracted factory is subject to all the same standards and approvals as any tier 1 factory as well as Castore staff visits and authorisation of sub-contracting and annual independent audits.

 

Our Policies on Slavery & Human Trafficking

We have appropriate policies in place that underpin our commitment to ensure that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in our supply chains or in any part of our business. We continuously review and update all our policies.

 

Our Anti-slavery Policy reflects our commitment to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business relationships and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure slavery and human trafficking is not taking place anywhere in our supply chains.

You can view a copy of our Anti-slavery Policy here.

 

Due Diligence for Slavery & Human Trafficking

We understand that the following areas give rise to the highest modern slavery risks:

High-risk locations in Central Asia, including Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and China’s Xinjiang (Uyghur) Region, have increased attention in relation to concerns over potential forced labour, child labour, and human rights abuses in the cotton industry.  As part of our initiative to identify and mitigate risk, we have engaged extensively with our Chinese suppliers and reiterated our strict prohibition on all forms of forced labour, including prison labour.

 

Where possible, we work with our suppliers to trace the sources of cotton fibres and where appropriate, we seek documentary evidence to support the transparency of our supply routes. We have issued advisories to those same suppliers, informing them of their obligations to meet relevant government sanctions and trade restrictions.  All of our tier 1 and a group of our tier 2 suppliers have received our cotton policy and provided assurances through a self-certification process.

 

We also have in place systems to:

• identify and assess potential risk areas in our supply chains;
• mitigate the risk of slavery and human trafficking occurring in our supply chains;
• monitor potential risk areas in our supply chains; and
• protect whistle blowers.

 

Supplier Adherence to our Values

We have zero tolerance to slavery and human trafficking. To ensure all those in our supply chain and contractors comply with our values, we have in place a supply chain compliance programme. This consists of:

• all of tier 1 suppliers being issued with copies of our current Code of Conduct and these requirements form part of the annual supplier manufacturing agreement. These are also aligned to International Labour Organisation Conventions (ILOC) and the ETI Base Code; and
• adherence to the Code of Conduct throughout our supply chain is monitored through our audit programme along with support from our local staff and head office to ensure improvements are met.

 

Training

To ensure a high level of understanding of the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking in our supply chains and our business, we provide training to our staff.

 

Our Effectiveness in Combating Slavery & Human Trafficking

This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes slavery and human trafficking statement for the financial year ending 31 Janaury 2024.  It has been approved by the board.

 

 

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NAME:  Phil Beahon

POSITIION: Co-Founder