Ethical Labour Practices

In 2021, we enhanced our standing pledge with our apparel and footwear suppliers, expanding their commitment not to source cotton or textile products made with cotton produced in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan to also include the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) of China, due to widespread evidence that these countries employ forced and child labour in their cotton harvests. These regional restrictions are noted in our supplier agreements, and we now require relevant suppliers to complete an annual attestation confirming that they do not source from these regions.

Joe Fresh® apparel supports the ethical sourcing and humane treatment of animals. We have banned the use of fur, mohair (Angora goat), and Angora (Angora rabbit) in all Joe Fresh® products. We also clearly and properly label any synthetic materials that resemble animal by-products.

As part of Loblaw, Joe Fresh® relies on our network of suppliers — including vendors, manufacturers, agents, and others — to commit to and uphold our high standards of integrity, values, and operating principles as set out by Loblaw Companies Limited. These standards extend to the employees who work in our network of stores, offices, and facilities nationwide, and to the many workers within our wider supply chain network. We have taken significant steps to improve transparency within our international supply chain, and we work with leading international apparel brands, non-governmental agencies, and labour groups to improve industry working conditions.

In 2013, we were a founding member of the Accord on Building and Fire Safety in Bangladesh (The Accord). In 2023, we renewed our support for The Accord by signing the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry (The International Accord), which includes the following key features:

• A commitment to focus on the health and safety program in Bangladesh and to build a credible, industry-wide compliance and accountability mechanism.
• A commitment to expand the work of the International Accord based on feasibility studies in other markets.
• An option to expand the scope of the agreement to address human rights due diligence.
• An optional streamlined arbitration process to enforce the terms of the Accord.

Prior to sourcing goods from a supplier, Loblaw audits the factories and processing facilities that manufacture Joe Fresh® products. Facility compliance audits are conducted by third-party experts using a best-practice audit framework across all manufacturing regions. Find out more about our supplier code of conduct, human rights commitments, and our factories.

Cascale

In 2023, Joe Fresh® became a member of Cascale (formerly the Sustainable Apparel Coalition) and gained access to the Higg Index. Developed and owned by Cascale, the Higg Index serves as a standardized sustainability measurement framework for the consumer goods industry, assessing various aspects of sustainability within the supply chain. We have begun onboarding our direct vendor base to the Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM) and the Higg Facility Social & Labour Module (FSLM). 

Responsible Packaging

In 2022, we set a goal to make all Joe Fresh® in-store and e-commerce packaging recyclable* by 2025, and we are proud to have reached that goal in 2024. Moving forward, we’re focusing on further reducing packaging where possible. All apparel tags and labels have been converted to recycled materials, and we are working with our partners to replace other existing materials with recyclable alternatives, including e-commerce packaging.

* Packaging acceptable for collection in participating municipal programs only. All packaging may not be accepted for recycling in all regions of Canada. Consumers would be required to check their local municipality for more information on acceptability of packaging in their community.