Human Rights Policy
At Kindred Mugs, we are committed to upholding and promoting human rights across our supply chain. Our Supplier Code of Conduct sets out the minimum labour standards we require from any supplier involved in producing our own-brand products. This Code is rooted in the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) Base Code, which is founded on the principles of the International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions. It is widely recognised as an international benchmark for responsible labour practices.
The ETI Base Code enshrines key worker rights, including the prohibition of forced and child labour, the right to safe and hygienic working conditions, freedom of association, and fair wages. We regularly review and update our Code to ensure it reflects evolving human rights standards and best practices. Our most recent update was completed in 2025 and has been clearly communicated to our supply base.
In addition to adhering to our Code, all suppliers must comply with applicable national and local laws. Where there is a discrepancy between national law and our Code, we expect suppliers to uphold the higher standard to ensure maximum protection for workers.
Supplier Relationships and Ethical Oversight
Kindred Mugs currently works exclusively with a single, trusted supplier who has the capacity to meet all our production requirements in-house, without the need for sub-contracting. This close, ongoing partnership offers several advantages:
- Enhanced visibility and oversight of working conditions and labour practices
- Stronger, more consistent communication and training on ethical standards
- Greater ability to identify and address issues proactively through regular engagement
- Reduced risk of unethical practices associated with uncontrolled outsourcing or multi-tier production arrangements
By limiting our supplier base and building deep, transparent relationships, we are better able to monitor compliance with the ETI Base Code and promote continuous improvement.
Salient Human Rights Risks
In line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, salient risks refer to human rights at risk of the most severe negative impact through a company’s operations and business relationships. These are prioritised not based on risk to the business, but on the potential or actual harm to people.
The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises recommend that due diligence efforts focus on adverse impacts related to human rights, labour practices, the environment, corruption, and consumer interests. At Kindred Mugs, we use this framework to guide our due diligence, with a focus on identifying and mitigating risks that could cause the greatest harm to individuals in our value chain.
We recognise that human rights risks often increase further upstream in the supply chain where visibility and control are reduced. Even though our current supplier handles production internally, we continue to assess and engage them on their own sourcing practices to ensure alignment throughout the chain.
Potential Risks
While working with a single supplier provides strong control and consistency, it also carries certain risks:
- Overreliance on one source may limit agility and resilience in the face of disruption
- Lack of supplier diversification can concentrate risk, including ethical lapses, in one relationship
- Limited upstream visibility (e.g., raw materials or component sourcing) may obscure indirect risks
To mitigate these risks, we maintain ongoing due diligence, open dialogue, and risk assessments with our supplier, and retain the option to audit or expand our supplier network if necessary to uphold our human rights commitments.
