Journey to Mindful Movement

The earth loves us all deeply and gives us everything that we need to experience real and lasting happiness.

It is through every mindful movement and actively engaging with our communities, that we feel more connected to each other, ourselves, and our joy.

THE UPSIDE’s mission is to nurture you throughout your journey to wellness, by creating pieces that uplift and enrich the everyday moments that make up your life.

Our responsible business journey is built upon the pillars of Mother Nature and Community - a love letter that holds us accountable to honour, protect and nourish the things that mean the most.

Mindful/Movement - Protecting and nurturing Mother Nature and Community.

INTERNAL GOVERNANCE

As a responsible brand on a collective impact journey, we have aligned ourselves with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to guide us as we improve how we operate.

Each strategic step is aligned with a specific goal and provides us with a unified framework to work toward our key impact areas.

To support and enhance THE UPSIDE’s social and environmental platform we have established a Responsible Brand Committee. This committee aids our efforts by influencing, guiding, supporting and, where appropriate, seeking a mandate to ensure we remain focused on achieving our Sustainable Development Goals by being a sustainably focused and community minded organisation.

OUR MINDFUL/MOVEMENT TIMELINE

THE HEART OF OUR BUSINESS ~ COMMUNITY

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

THE UPSIDE believe wholeheartedly in the beauty and power of diversity. You don’t need to be more like this and less like that - you just need to BE YOU. This simple message of fierce self-love was once amplified through our #BEYOU social media campaign - an initiative designed to empower our community to accept and own their authentic self no matter what.

As an extension of this belief, THE UPSIDE is committed to developing and maintaining an inclusive workplace and business operation that embraces and celebrates diversity. We acknowledge the positive outcomes that can be achieved through a diverse business and also recognise that in order to have an inclusive workplace and business that discrimination, bullying, harassment, vilification and victimisation cannot and will not be tolerated. Diversity includes, but is not limited to gender, marital or family status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disabilities, ethnicity, religious beliefs, socioeconomic or cultural background, perspective and experience.

We also want to take this opportunity to recognise that since we began our operations, we have traded on the land of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. As a business we wish to we wish to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and gather in and pay respect to Elders - past, present and emerging.

We are privileged to be in our 10th year of operation as a business, many businesses dream of reaching this milestone. We could not have made it to this moment without the people and community around us. From the outset we have chosen to support organisations and charities that want to make a difference to the world, with the hope of creating ripples across many oceans.

OUR REASON FOR BEING ~ MOTHER NATURE

ANIMAL WELFARE

Our broad commitment is that no animal should suffer for the sake of business. This commitment is made from a place of strong personal belief and is ingrained through the business through the actions of our founder Jodhi Meares. Jodhi’s deep love of animals and a long history with the RSPCA has strongly influenced our animal welfare approach, teamed with an already thriving animal friendly office culture, it has resulted in our animal welfare policy becoming a natural extension to our Mindful Movement efforts.

As part of the policy, we recognise it is our responsibility to consider the impact of all our actions on animals and their natural environment. As part of our policy, employees ensure that they actively seek and take part in the monitoring of animal welfare standards through our operations and work to further strengthen our policy over time.

This policy is applicable to employees of THE UPSIDE, as well as any suppliers who are producing THE UPSIDE products, including but not limited to:

• Production partners of goods we make available for sale (finished goods suppliers etc)
• Production partners of goods not for sale (packaging suppliers etc)
• Service based suppliers (Marketing agencies etc)
• Partners and stakeholders  

We understand the impact THE UPSIDE can have through responsibly managing our practices leading to improvements to animal welfare in supply chains and in the fashion industry as a whole.

MANUFACTURING AND PROGRESS

THE UPSIDE understands the impact we can have in taking responsibility for management of our sustainability practices to see improvements to animal welfare in supply chains in the fashion industry as a whole.

And so, we are always striving to make each collection better than the last. Currently 82% of our range is made from preferred fibres, including recycled and organic cottons. We have exceeded our internal benchmark of 80% preferred fibres across our range for December 2023, with the range compiled of 87% preferred fibres.

Our designers are always proactively looking for fabrics to add to our ranges, which not only are made-to-last, so that you can feel confident in your purchase and also have minimal impact to the environment during their life cycle.

OUR RESPONSIBLE FIBRES

We are on a journey to ensure the responsible production and processing of our fibre portfolio and are undertaking ongoing work to ensure compliance against industry standards. As of March 2024, 82% of our fabrics are sourced with prefered fibres. In addition to this our design and production teams are always looking for new fabrics with certified credentials to add to our fibre portfolio which is our ongoing commitment.

TRIMS AND TAGS

Our recently redesigned swing tags will be reduced to a single fold tag with the information which would normally accessible via a scannable QR code. These are 100% recycled paper. The plastic toggle which attaches the tag to garments will also be replaced to a more environmentally friendly jelly loop.

All our garment tags are 100% recycled cotton and stitched into our garments. We have nearly replaced all of our care labels to 100% recycled polyester, again reducing these to one tab.

DYES AND PRINTS

Where required we use digital printing technology which minimises water usage compared to other printing methods.

 
CUSTOMER EDUCATION

Upon purchase THE UPSIDE believes it’s the business’ duty to provide a care guide to customers to help extend the life of their garments to inspire washing and wearing mindfully everyday. Tips to ensure the wearer is getting the best out of the garment include:

• Understandably garments are made to work up a sweat in which means utilising a washing machine for care. GUPPYFRIEND Microfibre wash bags can be purchased for washing of synthetic textiles. These bags collect the microplastics instead of them ending up in our rivers and oceans.

• Reducing the amount of washing by spot cleaning or hanging pieces in the fresh air is an alternative way of caring for garments. The sun’s UV rays can kill bacteria and act as a natural cleaning agent. Be mindful of sun bleaching on coloured items.

• Always read the care labels and follow washing instructions, delicate pieces must be given extra love and care.

• Washing on a full load saves on water and electricity, with cool water too!

• Try to avoid using the dryer when you can and hang in the fresh air instead – mother nature will thank you!

• Lay knitwear pieces flat to dry to stop them from stretching out of shape. Folding heavier knitwear pieces in your wardrobe instead of hanging too.

• Keeping wardrobe storage dry and clean to avoid any nasties.

• Remember minor repairs can be fixed with a needle and thread.

SUPPLIER MAPPING

SUPPLIER CODE OF CONDUCT

THE UPSIDE is committed to upholding human rights, fair working conditions and mitigating modern slavery. As a condition of working with THE UPSIDE, our suppliers are required to adhere to our supplier code of conduct which stipulates fair working conditions to make sure the appropriate actions are taken to protect workers.

Labour Rights

• Employment is freely chosen and there is no forced or bonded labour.

• Workers are not required to lodge deposits or their identity papers with their employer and are free to leave their employer after reasonable notice.

• Workers, without distinction, have the right to join or form trade unions of their own choosing and to bargain collectively.

• The employer adopts an open attitude towards the activities of trade unions or workers representative committees and their organizational activities.

• Workers representatives are not discriminated against and have access to carry out their representative functions in the workplace.

• Where the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining is restricted under law, the employer facilitates, and does not hinder, the development of parallel means for independent and free association and bargaining such as worker representative commitees. There should be a formal Policy for raising and handling of grievances including nomination of a specific senior member of management to handle these cases.

Working Conditions

• A safe and hygienic working environment shall be provided, bearing in mind the prevailing knowledge of the industry and of any specific hazards, including hazardous chemicals. Adequate steps shall be taken to prevent accidents and injury to health in the working environment.

• Workers shall receive regular and recorded health and safety training and such training shall be repeated for new or reassigned workers.

• Access to clean toilet facilities and to clean and drinkable water and where appropriate, sanitary facilities for food storage shall be provided.

• Accommodation, where provided, shall be clean, safe, and meet the basic needs of the workers.

• Suppliers will ensure that personal protective equipment is available, and workers are trained in its use. Safeguards on machinery must meet or exceed local laws.

• Suppliers shall assign responsibility for health and safety to a senior management representative who has appropriate certification.

Child Labour

• THE UPSIDE supports ILO Convention 138 in regards to the appropriate age of workers (NB: China’s minimum employment age is 16 years) and will not work with suppliers who use child labour)

• There shall be no new recruitment of child labour.

• Suppliers shall develop or participate in and contribute to policies and programs that provide for the transition of any child performing child labour to enable them to attend and remain in quality education until no longer a child.

Living Wages

• Wages and benefits paid for a standard working week must meet, at a minimum, national or local legal standards or industry benchmark standards, whichever is higher. In any event wages should always be enough to meet basic needs and to provide some discretionary income building to a fair wage and ultimately a Living Wage

• All workers shall be provided with written and understandable information about their employment conditions in respect to wages before they enter employment and about the particulars of their wages for the pay period concerned each time that they are paid

• Deductions from wages as a disciplinary measure or any deductions from wages not provided for by Law shall not occur without the expressed permission of the worker concerned. All disciplinary measures should be recorded

Working Hours

• Working hours comply with any Law and benchmark industry standards, whichever affords greater protection.

• In any event, workers shall not on a regular basis be required to work in excess of 48 hours per week and shall be provided with at least one day off for every 7 day period on average. Overtime shall be voluntary, shall not be excessive, shall not be demanded on a regular basis and shall always be compensated at a premium rate.

• Overtime shall be voluntary, and shall not exceed twelve hour per week, and shall not be required regularly.

Discrimination

There is no discrimination in hiring, compensation, access to training, promotion, termination or retirement based on race, caste, national origin, religion, age, disability, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, union membership or political affiliation.

Regular Employment

To every extent possible work performed must be on the basis of recognized employment relationship established through national law and practice.

Obligations to employees under labour or social security laws and regulations arising from the regular employment relationship shall not be avoided through the use of labour- only contracting, sub-contracting, or home-working arrangements, or through apprenticeship schemes where there is no real intent to impart skills or provide regular employment, nor shall any such obligations be avoided through the excessive use of fixed-term contracts of employment.  

Physical abuse or discipline, the threat of physical abuse, sexual or other harassment and verbal abuse or other forms of intimidation shall be prohibited.

 
Sub-Contracting and Home Working

There shall be no subcontracting unless previously agreed with THE UPSIDE

Suppliers must have adequate processes in place for properly managing sub-contracting or home workers to ensure subcontractors do not abuse, exploit, or provide unsafe working conditions for their employees

Direct suppliers are required to continuously monitor approved subcontractors and sub-suppliers for social and environmental responsibility using standards that meet or exceed our Policy. We expect our suppliers to support the ethical standards set out in this Policy. In order to ensure accountability all partners must supply certifications to social standards and/or annual audit reports. Our preferred standards, and audit reports include the following:

WRAP, SA8000, SEDEX SMETA P2&P4, BCSI

If non-compliances are detected, our expectation is that they will be closed within a three-month period, upon completion of a final audit. If for any reason, non-compliances are unable to be closed off, we will work together to find a solution, and expect that an effective remediation plan is put in place. If any partners are unwilling to follow this process, The UPSIDE has the right to cease business.

Bribery and Corruption

Suppliers shall not engage in acts of bribery and corruption and shall not falsify documents and records. We define corruption as “the misuse of a person’s position of power to influence an outcome within their control.” Bribes can include (but are not limited to) money, employment, discounts, gifts, or payment of expenses, including travel and entertainment.