Responsible Business Conduct

The minimum age for employment is 15, and never lower than the age at which compulsory schooling ends. Young workers aged 15 to 18 do no work that is likely to harm their health, safety or development, do not work at night and do not work in hazardous conditions. Their working hours must not get in the way of school or training.

The most severe risks lie in cotton farming and wet processing. That is why we ask suppliers to be transparent about their own suppliers and to request their social management systems, audit reports and certifications.

No bonded labour, debt bondage or prison labour that violates basic human rights. Employers do not require deposits and do not retain workers’ identity documents.

No one is discriminated against in hiring, pay, training, promotion, dismissal or retirement, including on the basis of gender, age, religion, origin, nationality, disability, union membership, political opinion, sexual orientation, family responsibilities or marital status. We also expect suppliers to actively support diversity and inclusion.

Migrant, seasonal and agency workers receive equal treatment and equal access to the grievance mechanism, and pay no recruitment fees.

Our partners apply a zero-tolerance policy. Their internal policies include at least:

• a commitment to a workplace free from harassment, bullying and violence;
• clear consequences for breaking the rules;
• a reprisal-free complaints procedure that protects the confidentiality of anyone who raises a concern.

All workers have the right to form and join trade unions and to bargain collectively. Where the law restricts this, the employer facilitates independent alternatives. Workers’ representatives are not discriminated against and have access to the workplaces they need to carry out their role.

Wages for a standard working week meet at least the legal or industry minimum, and are always enough to cover the basic needs of workers and their families, with some discretionary income. Deductions as a disciplinary measure are not permitted, and deductions never take pay below the minimum wage. Workers receive clear information about their wages and pay period.

Workers are not regularly required to work more than 48 hours a week and have at least one day off in every seven. Overtime is voluntary, does not exceed 12 hours a week, is not demanded on a regular basis and is always paid at a premium rate.

Suppliers provide a safe and hygienic working environment, with attention to the specific hazards of textile production and measures to prevent accidents. Physical abuse, threats, unusual punishments, harassment (including sexual harassment) and intimidation by the employer are prohibited.

Employers do not avoid their obligations through labour-only contracting or apprenticeships with no real intent to train. Agency and contracted workers enjoy the same terms and protections as directly employed staff. Younger workers are given the opportunity to take part in education and training.

Le Nouveau Chef prohibits bribery and corruption in every form, including facilitation payments and improper gifts or hospitality, whether involving public officials or private parties. We expect the same of our suppliers, with internal controls in line with OECD guidance.

Textile production is energy intensive. We ask suppliers to record their energy sources and emissions, measure and reduce their consumption, and set targets for using renewable energy such as wind and solar. We encourage an energy management plan for each production site, using efficient technologies and the best available techniques for the sector.

Most of the water in the textile chain goes into cotton farming: two thirds or more of the total. Processing uses far less water, but causes most of the pollution. Suppliers therefore measure their water use, take care when sourcing from water-stressed areas, and treat and test wastewater before releasing it. We also ask them about the source of their water and point them to the ZDHC wastewater guidelines.

No hazardous chemicals are used in processing or released into water or air. Workers are protected and trained, and chemicals are stored and labelled correctly. Suppliers keep an inventory of the chemicals they use.

Our suppliers receive our Restricted Substances List (RSL) and Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL). These cover substances that are restricted or banned in apparel, accessories and packaging under international regulations such as REACH, as well as substances flagged by NGOs. We review and update these lists periodically.

A valid OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certificate covers most of the legal requirements in our RSL. Processing standards such as GOTS, bluesign® and STeP go further.

If a supplier makes an environmental claim about materials, processes, products or packaging, they must be able to back it up on request with verifiable evidence, such as certificates, test reports or LCA data. Generic claims without evidence, such as ‘green’ or ‘eco-friendly’, are not permitted. This allows us to meet the EU rules on environmental claims (Directive (EU) 2024/825).

We aim to reduce the impact of our raw materials. Suppliers keep records of the content and origin of materials, offer alternatives to conventional materials and reduce material waste. They provide scope and transaction certificates and, on request, the recycled-content percentage with supporting evidence.

We ask suppliers of wool, silk, leather, down, feathers and other animal-derived fibres to prevent animal suffering and to provide animal welfare guarantees. We follow the Five Freedoms: freedom from hunger and thirst, from discomfort, from pain, injury and disease, freedom to express normal behaviour, and freedom from fear and distress.

• No materials from endangered species on the IUCN Red List, and no real exotic skins such as snake, alligator, crocodile, lizard and ostrich.
• No down or feathers from live-plucked or force-fed birds. Only down from meat production, preferably certified to the Responsible Down Standard.

We do not accept viscose, rayon, modal or lyocell from illegally logged sources or from ancient and endangered forests. We prefer wood from certified sources, such as FSC.

Le Nouveau Chef is the brand owner of its packaging and is therefore responsible under the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR, Regulation (EU) 2025/40). We draw up the Declaration of Conformity ourselves. Suppliers provide complete composition data for every packaging item and warrant that it is accurate, including compliance with the limits for heavy metals.

• Plastic: a preference for recycled plastic, backed by GRS or equivalent certification, and packaging designed for recyclability.
• Cardboard: recycled or FSC/PEFC certified. Our aim is cardboard and paper made from 100% recycled fibre.
• Waste: suppliers reduce material and packaging waste and preferably join a recycling programme.