Commitment
Martha LLC, hereinafter ('Martha') determines the code of conduct, operations manual, commitments, policies and evaluations corresponding to the decisions of the organization in its different areas and company relationships.
1- Commitment to the environment
Faced with the environmental context in which the world finds itself, and in particular the textile industry, Martha is committed to developing its business model with the mission of reducing the environmental impact of the textile industry in the world. The main activity to do so is the recycling and/or reuse of fabrics for the manufacture of their products and any environmental solution that respects the production of inputs and / or products of the textile industry.
Composition of products
Martha is committed to making all of its products with at least 50% reused, recycled and / or materials from sustainable sources; and to make the best possible effort to obtain the highest percentage possible.
All the possible types of textile discards are detailed below:
- Rolls or any form of fabric with some fault in the production
- Scraps or leftover textiles from finished product manufacturing workshops
- Scraps or leftover textiles from prints used for laboratory tests
- Scraps or leftovers from textile factories used for laboratory testing
- Point cuts of textile rolls from factories
- All types of finished textile product that is in disuse from shops
- All types of finished textile product that is in disuse from final consumers
- All types of finished product, whether textile or not, that is in disuse that can be used for the manufacture of textile products.
- Fibers composed of recycled materials. Ex: Polyester recycled from plastic bottles
- Fibers composed of organic and / or sustainable materials. Ex: Organic cotton.
- All types of finished product, whether textile or not, that is manufactured in a sustainable way or has a sustainable and environmentally friendly purpose.
Design Policy
- All raw materials used in the products must respond to the environmental commitment.
- Products should use the least amount of resources possible.
- Whenever possible, packaging should be made of recycled materials, certified or manufactured with processes that respond to Martha's environmental commitment.
- Whenever possible, accoutrements should be made of recycled materials, certified or manufactured with processes that respond to Martha's environmental commitment.
- The molds used must be ordered and designed in such a way that it consumes the least amount of waste possible in the cut.
- The products to be offered must be consistent with the principles established in the Code of Ethics.
- Martha will have a preference for those products with:
- Composition of recycled and / or reused materials
- FSC certification
- Compostable materials composition
- Compostable labels with seeds for planting
Metrics to measure performance
- Percentage of recycled and / or reused material in products
- Kilograms of recycled and / or reused material in products
- Percentage of recycled and / or reused material in packaging and supplies
- Kilograms of recycled and / or reused material in packaging and supplies
Carbon Neutrality
Martha is committed to measuring and offsetting its carbon footprint to achieve carbon neutrality. Details of carbon sequestration can be found here.
2- Commitment to the community
Customers
Martha is committed to establishing a fluid dialogue with the client attentive to their needs. Likewise, he will also have access to personally verify compliance with the established standards.
Product quality: Martha is committed to making products so that they are durable over time and that the reuse, recycling and useful life of the product is as long as possible.
Suppliers and employee candidates
Martha is committed to having an employee and supplier selection policy that responds to the following principles:
After the corresponding evaluation has been carried out and in case of having candidates with the same evaluation criteria:
- Martha will have preference for those workers and / or suppliers who belong to underrepresented groups.
- Martha will have a preference for those workers and / or suppliers who are in the informal sector in order to be part of their development and to be able to insert them into the labor system.
- Martha will have preference for those suppliers whose business model is certified by B Corporation
- Martha will have preference for workers and / or suppliers that are geographically close to Martha's offices, workshops, warehouses, distribution centers and / or shops.
Workers
Martha is committed to reporting results to all members of the organization.
3- Code of ethics
This Code has the purpose of guaranteeing that all people, workers, outsourced services and suppliers that participate within the organization are treated under the principles of respect, honesty, ethics and responsibility. We declare and guarantee to support and apply our fundamental principles in the areas of human rights, working conditions, the environment and the fight against corruption. The code of conduct applies both to members of the organization, as well as to customers, competitors and suppliers as appropriate.
Principles of Responsible Sourcing
Environment
Workers and suppliers must make the best efforts to ensure that:
A. the environmental commitment defined by Martha is fulfilled
B. raw materials, packaging and supplies are obtained from sustainable sources;
C. waste and pollutants are disposed of in an efficient, safe and environmentally responsible manner;
D. energy use is minimized;
and. International, national and sectoral codes of practice on the use of chemicals, including pesticides, are followed.
Martha is committed to making continuous improvements to her environmental performance and, at a minimum, meeting the requirements of local and international laws and regulations.
Workers must make practical efforts to minimize the use of energy, water, and raw materials; where possible, these resources should be renewable.
Workers must make practical efforts to minimize waste and dispose of it in a safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible manner.
Workers must avoid contamination of the local environment and ensure that air pollution, noise and odor remain within nationally defined limits.
Workers must minimize the use of chemicals and comply with specific international, national and industry codes of practice for the use of pesticides and chemicals.
Payments
Salaries and benefits should be at least fully comparable to local industry benchmarks, or national legal requirements, whichever is more important.
Salaries must always be sufficient to cover basic needs, while providing discretionary income. Wages must be paid in full and on time, at agreed intervals.
Deductions from wages, other than those required and permitted by national legislation, should not be allowed without the express consent of the respective worker. Deduction of wages for disciplinary purposes should not be allowed.
Work hours
Workers must comply with industry benchmarks and local and national laws. The schedules should not be excessive and should include adequate provisions for rest and rest time.
Workers are not expected to work more than 48 hours per week, or less, if there is a lower national limit or agreed industry benchmark.
Overtime must be voluntary, limited to no more than 12 hours per week, and not regularly requested; it must be paid at a higher price or in accordance with national law.
There must be an adequate provision for rest and repose. Intervals, vacations and periods of rest must be in full compliance with national legislation.
Working conditions
Martha is committed to providing adequate and safe work environments for all workers, and that, at a minimum, they comply with local regulations.
Every effort should be made to provide a safe and clean work environment.
No worker should be employed in potentially dangerous conditions without having received proper safety training and supervision.
Martha must provide essential items of weather-appropriate protective clothing and safety equipment at no charge to her workers.
Workers must have access to potable water, clean toilets, and washing facilities.
Where provided, accommodation must be safe, clean and meet the basic needs of workers.
If management provides dedicated transportation for the movement of the workforce to, from or within the workplace, the workplace must meet the minimum standards established in the relevant national transportation legislation.
Outsourced Services
Martha undertakes to demand that outsourced services comply with the principles of the Code of Ethics and that they are fully responsible for implementing them. Likewise, Martha agrees to assist the outsourced services for their correct implementation.
Employment of children and youth
Martha communicates and defines her policy of prohibiting child labor in the workplace.
Martha agrees not to employ any worker who is:
A. Younger than the applicable legal minimum age of employment; or
B. Of the age of completion of compulsory education, whichever is greater, as appropriate to local law.
Forced labor
All work must be carried out voluntarily and free from the imposition of sanctions or penalties. Martha allows her employees the right to leave after giving reasonable notice. Workers should not be required to deposit money or identification documents, unless it is a legal requirement to do so. In all circumstances, these must be promptly returned upon termination of employment.
Freedom of association and representation of employees
Martha employees should have the fullest rights to freedom of association.
Martha recognizes and respects the rights of workers to freely join associations (such as workers 'councils, unions, and workers' associations) that can collectively represent their interests.
Martha must respect the rights of such workers' associations to represent their members and bargain collectively as defined and interpreted by the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the national legal framework.
Martha is committed to sharing with her employees any information that affects working conditions and developing effective consultation mechanisms. In cases where the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining is not permitted by national law, Martha should facilitate the development of parallel means of free and independent association and bargaining.
Treatment of workers
Physical abuse or threat of physical abuse, sexual or other harassment, verbal abuse or other forms of intimidation are absolutely prohibited.
Disciplinary and complaint procedures are available to be made effective orally, by mail or by any means of communication.
Equal treatment
As long as all workers demonstrate sufficient ability and aptitude, Martha is committed to providing them with equal access to jobs.
There must be no discrimination in hiring, compensation, access to training, promotion, termination or retirement, based, among others, on sex, age, disability, national origin, race, marital status, sexual orientation, political opinion, membership (or no) union, religion or caste. Workers are expected not to perform tasks incompatible with their physical or mental abilities.
Bribery and corruption
The workers agree not to bribe anyone, anywhere, for any reason, nor to allow anyone else to bribe on behalf of Martha. Offering or accepting anything of value, including money, gifts, favors, entertainment, or even employment for a family member of a government official, can be viewed as an attempt to influence a person's actions or professional decisions, and therefore, in a bribe. The provider should not make "facilitating payments", small payments, in cash or in kind, to expedite an action that a government official must take on a routine basis. She must keep accurate books and records showing all instances in which something of value is provided to a government official.
Fair competition
Martha must compete fairly based on product or service quality, innovation, price, advertising, and other legitimate means. She understands and complies with the competition law requirements applicable to her business and does not engage in anti-competitive behavior.
Providers
Martha expects our Suppliers to be fully responsible for implementing these principles and to manage any non-compliance. These principles must be applied at all times and in the meantime Martha will work with Suppliers to assist with compliance. If the necessary changes are not made, Martha may impose strict penalties on any Supplier that refuses to comply, such as ceasing to do business with that Supplier and will pass evidence of Supplier's non-compliance to Martha's Customers. Compliance with this Code of Ethics by Suppliers will determine the continuity of the business relationship between Suppliers and Martha.
Supplier will indemnify Martha for any loss suffered or any loss, cost, liability, claim or expense for which Martha may be held liable as a result of Supplier's breach of this Code of Ethics.
The Supplier will confirm that everyone who works for the Supplier must, at a minimum, be treated with respect for their basic human rights. Each Supplier must endeavor to ensure full compliance with all local and national laws and regulations.
Illicit trade
Martha must only engage in legitimate business, must not condone, facilitate or support counterfeiting, smuggling or other related crimes, such as money laundering.
Accounting
Meanwhile, Martha participates in Argentina, she must respond to the local accounting standards established by CENCyA.
4- Recycling policy
Scope: This policy applies to all Martha employees who have contact with any material that can be recycled. It is the responsibility of each employee to separate the waste to enforce this policy.
Objective: Martha seeks to recycle 100% of the materials that she uses in her work areas. Martha rescues and recycles them, all the non-reusable equipment from other brands, which is discarded and would end up in a sanitary landfill, giving a positive meaning to its final destination.
Procedure
Waste separation. All waste that is acquired must comply with a correct separation to be identified and recycled:
a) Organic
b) Recyclable
b.1) Cardboard
b.2) Paper
b.3) Glass
b.4) Plastic
Waste delivery
It is the responsibility of each collaborator of Martha to deposit the separated waste in the specialized containers. The recyclable material will be identified with a sign and will be dumped on the recycling sheet.
The waste generated and separated must be taken to Calle Blanco Encalada at 2200, at the municipal recycling point of the Municipality of San Isidro for subsequent recycling.
5- Virtual Office Work - Home Office
Scope: This policy is aimed at all workers who are working remotely or virtually.
Objective: To ensure responsible and friendly practices with the environment.
- Responsible practices
The preference for products from companies with good socio-environmental impact and performance will be valued.
It is important to make conscious use of resources and to recycle, reuse and reduce waste.
Have at least two cans in the house. One for food, leftovers and non-recyclable material and the other only for paper, cardboard and plastic. Ideally also separate plastics and glass for later recycling.
Have recycled paper at the printing and note-taking points in order to reduce the cost of clean paper. Make use of reusable bags instead of disposable plastic bags.
Unplug cell phone chargers, fans, computers and devices when they are charged.
It is recommended to take advantage of natural light and turn off lights, computers and equipment when they are not being used and when the working day is over. Hold teleconferences in cases where it is possible to avoid travel and prefer cycling and public transport to get to work.
When buying equipment, always opt for those that have better energy performance.
It is recommended to do without or use as little as possible air conditioning cooling.
- Safe disposal of hazardous materials, electronic waste, and other hazardous materials.
At Martha we are convinced that the correct management of waste, especially hazardous and electronic waste, plays a fundamental role in preserving the environment and contributing to a sustainable future.
Employees are advised to separate batteries, lamps, cell phone batteries, electronic scrap and other hazardous waste and send them to specialized recycling points.
Hazardous (and non-hazardous) recyclable materials can be approached at the Green Points of the municipality of San Isidro.
- Purchase of equipment and machinery
Consult the suppliers that are preferred to buy them environmental friendly office equipment.
Regarding cells and batteries: If possible avoid use. Otherwise, opt for the rechargeable ones and when buying them buy nickel batteries and batteries. This information is clearly differentiated on the label.