Social Responsibility

The X2O Sports Social Responsibility Program is based on a policy of ethical business principles and the Exxel Outdoors Code of Conduct which seeks to improve working conditions and safeguard human rights in all factories throughout the world where our equipment and apparel are manufactured.

When judging vendor performance, social responsibility is as important a parameter as quality, cost, and delivery. Our stakeholders, including our customers, employees, and the general public, rely on X2O Sports to have a viable and sustainable social compliance program. We take the responsibility very seriously and strictly enforce our Exxel Outdoors Code of Conduct to ensure our exacting standards are upheld worldwide.

Human Rights Expectations

Criteria forming the basis of our Code of Conduct include:

• Expect and maintain high Ethical Standards
• Operate under legal Working Hour requirements
• Provide all legal Wages and Benefits
• Employ no Child Labor with age documentation of all workers
• Practice Environmental Safekeeping
• Assure Health and Safety for both factory complex and dormitories
• Abide by Legal Requirements of Country law
• Employ no Prison or Forced Labor
• Engage in Non-Discriminatory Policies
• Maintain acceptable forms of Disciplinary Practices
• Allow legal rights to Freedom of Association

   

  For more details see the Exxel Outdoors Code of Conduct. In reflection of our company’s global reach and the diversity in factories, our Code of Conduct is translated into ten languages.

  Rigorous Monitoring

  X2O Sports employs both an internal staff of compliance auditors and contracts independent monitors such as Bureau Veritas (BV), International Compliance Group (ICG), and UL Responsible Sourcing to conduct rigorous social compliance audits. The scope of the audits requires factories to provide detailed records including employment information, payroll and time data, and worker benefits to validate compliance. Monitoring is done on a routine and continuous basis.

  X2O Sports membership utilizes the collaborative resources of Fair Factories Clearinghouse (FFC), a valuable database tool for tracking and analysis of compliance efforts. Together with other textile industry leaders as members, the FFC is dedicated to improving workplace conditions internationally.

  Continuous Improvement

  Following factory audits, any violation, no matter the severity, is documented on a Corrective Action Plan. The factory must commit to a plan of action and time-frame for correction. Follow-up monitoring is done to verify improvements are implemented and sustained. Plus, our internal audit team will counsel and train factories, advising on solutions to pending issues. Our view in developing safe and humane work environments is not merely to audit and monitor –but to train and educate for continuous improvement. This creates a long term successful relationship.

  X2O Sports accepts factories that are certified through Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP). We have found this organization’s monitoring criteria to be aligned with our goals, and factories completing WRAP certification have well-implemented human rights practices. Certified factories must undergo periodic audits by independent monitors to maintain their WRAP status.

  A History of Social Responsibility

  X2O Sports is proud of our well-established Social Responsibility Program, having instituted our Code of Conduct in 1995, with continuous monitoring efforts throughout two decades. We expect dignity and ethical treatment of all factory employees who produce our products. The cornerstone of our program’s effectiveness is based on fair but strict enforcement, understanding unique factory operations, and working successfully with supplier management to facilitate process improvements affecting the worker’s quality of life.