p. 15-16 "The Responsible Down Standard (RDS) is an independent, voluntary global standard, that was developed to recognise and reward best practices in animal welfare. In respecting the freedom of the animals, one of the key points within the standard is that each stage in supply chain is audited by a professional third-party certification body. )Every certification involves two people, an inspector and a certifier. On farms and slaughterhouses, the inspector checks the wellbeing of the animals, looks for any evidence
of live plucking or force-feeding, and makes sure everything
is done in accordance with the standard. Again, while not a
social accreditation, this process provides an additional
layer of visibility into Tier 3 of the supply chain as 100% of
the down used by Kathmandu is RDS certified.
p. 21 Kathmandu’s full social audit tool covers the standard
top-down management interviews, documentation review,
visual inspection, worker interviews, consultation with
unions or worker representatives and an occupational
safety and health review. In addition, the audit also
includes a confidential and anonymous worker survey to
provide a bottom up lens of the working condition
To ensure consistency in how Kathmandu standards are
assessed, Kathmandu also developed formal field
instructions for its monitoring program that are shared
with all auditors. The field instructions provide guidance on
numerous issues including the company’s approach to
auditing and the priority we place on transparency over
perfection, as well as the emphasis we place on worker
voice and the participation of union and/or worker
representatives in the opening and closing meetings during
the audit.
p. 22
All factories are audited at least once every two years.
The audit score is included in the overall risk score that is
used in the segmentation process of suppliers. This scoring
system is used internally to determine future business
investment as well as the type of support each factory
should receive.
For transactional suppliers, Kathmandu implemented a
shortened audit tool in 2018 called a Minimum Standard
Assessment. The shortened audit is a one-person, one-day
audit that focuses on Kathmandu’s minimum code of
conduct standards, including questions on policies and
procedures, hours of work, compensation, freedom of
association, grievance mechanisms, Kathmandu’s code of
conduct, health, safety and the environment.
This shortened audit also includes worker interviews, union
engagement, management interviews, document review,
and a factory walkthrough.
The evidence provided above and found in page 14 refers to certifications or accreditations that the company's Tier 3 and 4 have but that do not cover modern slavery issues. See page 15: "Again, while not a social accreditation, this process provides an additional layer of visibility into Tier 3 of the supply chain as 100% of the down used by Kathmandu is RDS certified". Therefore, this evidence cannot be captured in the answer options provided here.
Evidence below supports the answer Audits and on site visits (self-reporting) as there is no explicit mention of third-party auditors. Therefore, I have unchecked audits independent and site visits independent.
"Kathmandu’s full social audit tool covers the standard top-down management interviews, documentation review, visual inspection, worker interviews, consultation with unions or worker representatives and an occupational safety and health review. In addition, the audit also includes a confidential and anonymous worker survey to provide a bottom up lens of the working conditions (p.21)
All auditors are provided training by the Kathmandu CSR Specialist. Where the CSR Specialist identifies inconsistencies among auditors, she documents the case and either provides feedback to the auditor or further training. (p.21)
For transactional suppliers, Kathmandu implemented a shortened audit tool in 2018 called a Minimum Standard Assessment. The shortened audit is a one-person, one-day audit that focuses on Kathmandu’s minimum code of conduct standards, including questions on policies and procedures, hours of work, compensation, freedom of association, grievance mechanisms, Kathmandu’s code of conduct, health, safety and the environment. This shortened audit also includes worker interviews, union engagement, management interviews, document review, and a factory walkthrough. (p.22)