Collaborations and memberships

As part of our focus on stakeholder engagement, we are members of several global and local sustainability‑related initiatives and non-profit organizations. These provide us with a diversity of perspectives to develop new solutions to the sustainability challenges relevant to our industry and they add unique expertise, resources and knowledge sharing. Building partnerships with non-profit organizations and other stakeholders will enable us to raise the bar beyond organizational boundaries and contribute to a sustainable development in the rug industry.

Below are our global partnerships and collaborations, in alphabetical order. 

amfori

Rugvista is a member of amfori, a global, independent initiative for companies aiming to improve working conditions in the global supply chain. amfori brings together more than 2 400 companies around a common code of conduct, which Rugvista has also adopted, and their main mission is to support the network in the work of creating sustainable and ethical supply chains. The amfori BSCI Code of Conduct refers to international conventions, such as the Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Guiding Principles on Business, the OECD Guidelines, the United Nations Global Treaties and the International Labor Organization (ILO) conventions and recommendations for improving working conditions in the supply chain.

Read more about amfori BSCI 

 

CARE & FAIR

Rugvista is a member of CARE & FAIR, an industry initiative in the rug industry that aims to enable regular schooling for children to rug weavers in India and Nepal, create opportunities for the children’s mothers and older sisters to learn to read and write, and provide free health care for the whole family.

Read more about CARE & FAIR 

UN Global Compact (UNGC)

Rugvista has been a member of the UN Global Compact (UNGC) since 2020. UNGC is a strategic policy initiative for companies that want to adapt their activities and strategies to 10 generally accepted principles within human rights, labor law, the environment and the fight against corruption. Our code of conduct includes the ten principles of the UNGC, and we embody the basic concepts of justice, openness and respect for people and the environment affected by our business.

Read more about the UN Global Compact

GIAB

Since 2018, we have a close collaboration with GIAB, whose business concept is based on the resale of leftover or defective products to consumers. We send rugs to GIAB that are defective or do not meet our high-quality standards. In this way, the rugs are used by GIAB’s customers instead of being destroyed.

Read more about GIAB 

Label STEP

Those of our suppliers whose rugs are made by home weavers are examined by Label STEP, an independent non-profit organization that works to ensure fair trade and production of handmade rugs according to ten principles that include wages, health, discrimination, and inhuman treatment.

Read more about Label STEP

RISE Chemicals Group

Since 2019, Rugvista has been a member of the Chemicals Group, part of the Swedish Research Institute (RISE). It is a platform for knowledge about chemicals in the textile production chain and communication of chemical requirements to our suppliers. Through cooperation with the RISE Chemicals Group, we stay up to date on legislation and regulations concerning chemicals.

Read more about Rise Chemicals Group

Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) promotes ambitious climate action in the private sector by enabling companies to set science-based climate goals that are consistent with the objectives of the Paris Agreement. In 2021, Rugvista had its climate targets approved by the Science-Based Targets initiative, which ensures that greenhouse gas reduction targets are compatible with the levels required to meet the Paris Agreement’s objectives.

Read more about Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)

Svensk Handel (Swedish Trade federation)

Rugvista is a member of Svensk Handel, the employers’ federation that serves the entire trade sector. The federation represents trading companies in matters relating to employment and economic policy. Svensk Handel’s mission is to create the best possible conditions for both large and small trading companies.

Read more about Svensk handel

Textile Exchange

In 2022, Rugvista became a member of Textile Exchange, a global, non-profit organization with the goal of helping the textile industry achieve a 45% reduction in emissions from fiber and raw material production by 2030. Through close collaboration with its members, the non-profit works for a change of the textile industry in terms of choice of fibers, ethics and standards, and responsible supply chains. They identify and share best practices for agriculture, materials, processing, traceability, and longevity to reduce the negative effects of the textile industry on humans and the environment.

Read more about Textile Exchange